Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Harmondsworth
Man with Van Harmondsworth is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our team, our customers, and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving, loading, transporting, and unloading goods for domestic and commercial customers.
Our Commitment to Health and Safety
We are dedicated to preventing accidents, injuries, and damage to property during all stages of our work. We will continually review our procedures and working methods to ensure they remain appropriate for the type of man and van and removal services we provide across our operating area.
Health and safety is a shared responsibility. All workers, contractors, and customers must play their part in supporting a safe and efficient service.
Legal Responsibilities
Man with Van Harmondsworth complies, so far as is reasonably practicable, with relevant health and safety legislation, regulations, and approved codes of practice that apply to transport, lifting, and manual handling activities. Our aim is not only to meet these standards, but where possible to exceed them through careful planning and sensible risk management.
Management Responsibilities
Management is responsible for implementing this Health and Safety Policy and for ensuring that suitable systems are in place to protect staff and customers. This includes:
Carrying out risk assessments for removal and transport tasks.
Providing clear procedures for loading, unloading, lifting, and carrying.
Ensuring drivers and operatives are appropriately trained and competent.
Maintaining vehicles and equipment in a safe, roadworthy condition.
Investigating any accidents, incidents, or near misses and taking corrective action.
Employee and Contractor Responsibilities
All personnel working for or on behalf of Man with Van Harmondsworth must:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others.
Follow all safety procedures, instructions, and training provided.
Use equipment, tools, and vehicles only for their intended purpose and in a safe manner.
Report hazards, defects, or unsafe conditions to management without delay.
Wear suitable clothing and footwear for lifting, carrying, and working in and around vehicles.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Before each job, we consider the specific risks related to access, parking, lifting requirements, and any special items to be moved. Where necessary, our team will adjust the method of work to carry out the job safely, even if this means taking longer or altering the planned route.
Our safe working practices include:
Planning loading sequences to avoid unstable loads and crush risks.
Ensuring that walkways, driveways, and internal routes are kept as clear as possible.
Stopping work if conditions are unsafe, for example due to blocked access, dangerous stairways, or aggressive behaviour.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a key part of our man and van and removal services, and it is a major focus of our safety controls. Our team is instructed to:
Assess the weight and shape of items before lifting or carrying.
Use correct lifting techniques, keeping loads close to the body and avoiding twisting movements.
Use handling aids such as trolleys or dollies where suitable and available.
Refuse to lift or carry items that are excessively heavy or awkward without additional support or equipment.
Seek assistance from another team member for large or bulky items.
Vehicle Safety and Loading
Our vehicles are essential to our services and must be used safely at all times. We aim to ensure that:
Vehicles are kept in a roadworthy condition, with regular checks of tyres, brakes, lights, and securing points.
Loads are evenly distributed and properly secured to prevent movement in transit.
Access to emergency exits, doors, and walkways within the vehicle is kept clear.
Drivers comply with road traffic rules, parking regulations, and any restrictions in residential or commercial areas.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
Our activities often take place in and around customer homes, workplaces, and public spaces. To minimise risks:
We take care when moving items through doorways, stairwells, and corridors to avoid damage and injury.
We position vehicles and equipment in a way that reduces obstruction to pedestrians and other road users where possible.
We may request that children and pets are kept away from working areas during loading and unloading.
Hazardous, Restricted, and Unsafe Items
For safety reasons, Man with Van Harmondsworth does not handle certain items, including but not limited to:
Explosives, flammable liquids, and gas cylinders.
Corrosive, toxic, or hazardous chemicals.
Illegal goods or items that may present a serious risk to health or safety.
We reserve the right to refuse to move any item that we consider unsafe, inadequately packaged, contaminated, or likely to cause injury or damage.
Accidents, Incidents, and Near Misses
All accidents, injuries, vehicle incidents, property damage, and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. We will review each event to identify the cause and to implement measures to prevent a recurrence where reasonably practicable.
Training and Information
We provide information and guidance to our team on safe working methods relevant to removal and transport services, including lifting techniques, load security, and safe driving practices. Periodic refreshers or updates may be given when procedures change or new equipment is introduced.
Customer Responsibilities
Customers also have an important role in ensuring safe working conditions. We ask customers to:
Provide accurate information about access, parking, and the nature of items to be moved.
Ensure that driveways, entrances, and internal routes are as clear as possible.
Inform us in advance of any particularly heavy, fragile, or unusual items.
Cooperate with any reasonable requests made by our team in the interests of safety.
Policy Review
Man with Van Harmondsworth will review this Health and Safety Policy periodically and whenever there are significant changes to our services, equipment, or legal requirements. Updated versions will supersede previous editions and will apply to all work carried out after the date of issue.
