Health and Safety policy
Man with Van Brixton Health and Safety Policy
Man with Van Brixton is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removals and transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risk in all aspects of our man and van and house removal services.
We recognise our responsibility to comply with relevant health and safety legislation and to promote a positive safety culture throughout the company. Safety is integral to the planning and delivery of every collection, loading, transport and unloading task we undertake.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Our key health and safety objectives are to:
Prevent injury and ill health arising from our work activities.
Identify, assess and control risks associated with removals, lifting, driving and site access.
Provide safe systems of work, suitable equipment and appropriate personal protective equipment.
Deliver ongoing training and information so staff can work safely and responsibly.
Continuously improve our health and safety performance through monitoring, review and feedback.
Management Responsibilities
Management at Man with Van Brixton has overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy. This includes:
Ensuring that all activities related to domestic and commercial removals are planned with health and safety as a priority.
Providing suitable and maintained vehicles, lifting aids and equipment for the work undertaken.
Carrying out risk assessments for typical and non-standard removal tasks and acting on the findings.
Ensuring staff receive appropriate induction and ongoing safety training.
Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses and implementing corrective actions.
Reviewing this policy regularly to ensure it remains current and effective.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee and regular contractor of Man with Van Brixton shares responsibility for maintaining safe working practices. All staff are expected to:
Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Follow all safety procedures, instructions and training provided.
Use equipment, vehicles and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately.
Refrain from taking unnecessary risks when lifting, carrying, loading or driving.
Report hazards, near misses, accidents or unsafe conditions to management as soon as possible.
Cooperate fully with any investigation, inspection or safety improvement initiative.
Safe Handling, Lifting and Carrying
The nature of our work involves regular lifting and moving of furniture, appliances and personal belongings. To reduce the risk of manual handling injuries, Man with Van Brixton will:
Provide manual handling training covering correct lifting techniques, team lifts and use of lifting aids.
Encourage staff to assess the weight, size and shape of items before lifting and to ask for assistance whenever required.
Use equipment such as trolleys, dollies and straps where appropriate to minimise strain.
Plan access routes in and out of properties to avoid slips, trips and falls, and to keep exits clear.
Prohibit staff from attempting to lift or move items that exceed safe handling limits.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Safe operation of our vans and other vehicles is essential to protect our staff, customers and other road users. Man with Van Brixton will:
Ensure all vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced and maintained in line with legal and manufacturer requirements.
Require drivers to hold the correct, valid licence and to follow road traffic laws at all times.
Provide guidance on safe loading, securing and distribution of weight inside vehicles to prevent load shift or instability.
Discourage excessive working hours and unsafe driving practices that could result from fatigue or time pressure.
Require drivers to report any vehicle defects, collisions or road incidents promptly so they can be properly addressed.
Customer and Public Safety
We are committed to protecting customers and the public while we are carrying out removal work at homes, offices and other premises. To do this, we will:
Plan arrival and parking locations carefully to reduce obstruction and maintain safe access.
Use safe loading and unloading zones wherever possible, keeping children, pets and bystanders away from moving items and vehicles.
Maintain clean and tidy work areas, promptly dealing with packaging waste, loose materials and other trip hazards.
Take care when moving large or awkward items through doorways, hallways and communal areas to avoid damage and injury.
Communicate clearly with customers about any potential risks and agree safe access routes before starting work.
Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment
Man with Van Brixton will provide suitable equipment and personal protective equipment required for the work undertaken. This may include safety footwear, gloves, high visibility clothing and lifting aids. Staff are required to use such equipment correctly whenever it is provided and to report any loss, damage or defect without delay.
Training, Communication and Consultation
We believe that effective communication and training are essential for good health and safety performance. Man with Van Brixton will:
Provide appropriate training for new starters, including an introduction to our safety procedures and expectations.
Offer refresher training and updates when new equipment, vehicles or methods of work are introduced.
Consult with staff about health and safety matters and encourage suggestions for improving safety on removal jobs.
Share information about incidents and lessons learned so that risks can be further reduced.
Risk Assessment and Continuous Improvement
We carry out risk assessments for our core activities, including packing, loading, transportation and unloading of goods. These assessments help us identify hazards such as manual handling risks, vehicle movements, property access issues and environmental conditions.
Controls are then implemented to minimise identified risks, and these controls are monitored for effectiveness. We review assessments regularly, and also when there are significant changes in our operations, equipment or working environments.
Policy Review
This Health and Safety Policy reflects the current arrangements at Man with Van Brixton for managing health and safety in our removal and transport services. It will be reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, company structure or work practices. All revisions will be communicated to staff so they understand any new or amended requirements.
By working together and maintaining high standards, we aim to deliver safe, reliable and professional removal services across our operating areas while protecting everyone affected by our work.
