Health and Safety Policy for Man With a Van Northwood

Man With a Van Northwood is committed to providing removal and transport services in a way that protects the health, safety and welfare of our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks associated with domestic and commercial removals, loading and unloading, transportation, and related activities.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our primary objectives are to prevent injury, ill health and property damage, and to promote a safe working culture throughout our operations. We aim to:

Identify and control hazards associated with lifting, carrying, loading, driving and working in and around vehicles.

Ensure our staff are competent, trained and supervised to perform their duties safely.

Maintain vehicles, equipment and work practices to high safety standards.

Engage with customers and other parties to plan and complete moves in a safe and organised manner.

Legal Compliance and Responsibilities

Man With a Van Northwood complies with relevant health and safety legislation and any other applicable regulations governing manual handling, road safety and workplace welfare. We recognise our duty to provide a safe working environment, suitable equipment and appropriate training.

All employees and contractors are expected to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They must follow company procedures, use equipment correctly, and report hazards, incidents or near misses to management without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our removal and transport activities and review them periodically or when work practices change. These assessments consider factors such as manual handling, access routes, working at height for vehicle loading, traffic movement, confined spaces, and customer premises conditions.

Based on these assessments, we adopt safe systems of work for tasks such as:

Planning loading sequences to minimise unnecessary lifting and carrying.

Using appropriate lifting techniques and handling aids where available.

Securing loads within vehicles to prevent movement during transit.

Controlling vehicle movements in driveways, loading bays and streets to avoid collisions and protect pedestrians.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a significant part of removal work. To reduce the risk of strains, sprains and other injuries, we:

Provide instruction in safe lifting and carrying techniques, including team lifting for heavier or awkward items.

Encourage staff to assess each lift before starting, and to refuse any task they reasonably believe to be unsafe.

Plan moves to reduce the need to carry items over long distances or up multiple flights of stairs where alternative arrangements can be made.

Use appropriate equipment where available, such as trolleys or dollies, to support safer handling.

Vehicle Safety and Load Security

Our vehicles are central to our operations and are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition in line with manufacturer guidance and legal requirements. Drivers are responsible for carrying out basic pre-use checks and reporting defects immediately so that they can be investigated and rectified.

All loads are secured correctly before vehicles move off, with consideration given to weight distribution, stability and protection of the goods being transported. No vehicle should be overloaded or used in a manner that compromises safety.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

Removal activities often take place at customers homes, offices and shared spaces. We recognise our responsibility to minimise risk to customers, neighbours, pedestrians and other members of the public. To achieve this, we:

Assess access routes, stairs, lifts, parking and loading areas before starting work where practicable.

Keep walkways as clear as possible and manage trip hazards such as loose packaging or moving equipment.

Where necessary, use signage or verbal warnings to alert people to moving vehicles or heavy lifting activities.

Plan vehicle parking and manoeuvres to reduce the risk of accidents and avoid obstructing emergency access routes.

Training, Information and Supervision

We ensure that staff receive appropriate information and instruction so they can work safely and understand their responsibilities. This may include induction training, manual handling guidance, vehicle and equipment use, and updates when procedures change.

Supervision is provided appropriate to the level of risk and the experience of the workers involved. New or less experienced staff are supported and monitored to ensure they apply safe practices consistently.

Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

Any tools, straps or other equipment used in the course of our work are kept in a serviceable condition and inspected regularly. Defective items are removed from service until repaired or replaced.

Where necessary, suitable personal protective equipment, such as gloves or safety footwear, is used to provide an additional level of protection alongside our safe working methods. Staff are required to use such equipment correctly and to report any damage or defects.

Incident Reporting and Continuous Improvement

All accidents, injuries, near misses and hazardous conditions must be reported as soon as possible. We investigate these events to identify root causes and implement corrective actions, such as changes to procedures, additional training or improvements to equipment.

We are committed to continuous improvement in our health and safety performance and will review this policy periodically to ensure it remains effective, appropriate to our operations and reflective of any changes in legislation or industry practice.

Policy Communication and Review

This Health and Safety Policy is communicated to all employees and contractors working on behalf of Man With a Van Northwood. It is also made available to customers and other interested parties on request so they can understand our approach to safe removals and transport.

The policy is reviewed regularly by management and revised as necessary to reflect organisational changes, new services or updated legal requirements. Everyone working with or for us is expected to cooperate fully in its implementation and to contribute to a safe and healthy working environment.