Man with Van St Giles Health and Safety Policy
Man with Van St Giles is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our staff, customers, contractors, and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our aims, responsibilities, and working practices to minimise risks during home and office moves, loading, unloading, and driving operations within our service area.
Policy Aims and Objectives
The primary aim of this policy is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property arising from our work. We will achieve this by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and putting suitable controls in place for all removal and man and van services we provide. Our objectives are to:
Promote a strong health and safety culture throughout our operations.
Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards.
Provide information, instruction, training, and supervision to ensure work is carried out safely.
Review and improve our health and safety performance on a regular basis.
Management Responsibilities
Management at Man with Van St Giles has overall responsibility for ensuring this Health and Safety policy is implemented and maintained. This includes:
Ensuring risk assessments are carried out for key activities such as lifting, carrying, packing, loading, unloading, and driving.
Providing appropriate equipment, vehicles, and personal protective equipment that are suitable and in good condition.
Ensuring that staff receive adequate training, including induction and refresher training where required.
Monitoring adherence to safe systems of work and taking corrective action if standards are not met.
Investigating accidents, near misses, and incidents and using the findings to prevent recurrence.
Employee Responsibilities
All staff, whether full time, part time, or temporary, have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Employees must:
Follow all safety instructions, procedures, and guidance provided by the company.
Use vehicles, equipment, and protective gear properly and report any defects immediately.
Adopt safe lifting and handling techniques at all times.
Report hazards, accidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions to management without delay.
Not misuse or interfere with anything provided for health, safety, or welfare.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Man with Van St Giles conducts risk assessments for typical removal tasks in homes, offices, and other premises within our operating area. These assessments consider potential hazards such as manual handling, trips and slips, vehicle movements, working in confined spaces, staircases, and adverse weather conditions. Based on the findings we implement safe systems of work, which may include:
Planning moves in advance, including assessing access routes, parking locations, and any restrictions.
Allocating sufficient staff and time to complete tasks safely.
Using handling aids such as trolleys and straps where suitable.
Ensuring clear communication between team members during lifting and moving activities.
Manual Handling and Lifting Safety
Manual handling is a key activity in any man and van or removal service. To reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries, we ensure that:
Staff are trained in safe lifting techniques, including posture, team lifts, and load assessment.
Heavy, awkward, or bulky items are lifted by two or more people whenever necessary.
Where possible, items are dismantled into smaller, more manageable parts before moving.
Routes are cleared of obstacles prior to carrying heavy loads.
Staff are encouraged to stop and reassess if a load is too heavy or difficult to move safely.
Vehicle, Driving, and Road Safety
The safe operation of vehicles is critical to our work. Man with Van St Giles is committed to:
Maintaining vehicles in a roadworthy condition, with regular checks and servicing.
Ensuring that drivers hold the correct licence, are competent, and follow road traffic laws.
Planning routes to allow sufficient time for journeys, reducing the pressure to rush.
Securing loads correctly to prevent movement during transit, which could cause injury or damage.
Discouraging the use of mobile phones while driving, other than legally compliant hands free systems used only when it is safe to do so.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
During moves, our staff work in customers premises and in public areas such as pavements, parking spaces, and shared access routes. To protect customers and the public, we:
Take care when carrying items through doorways, corridors, and communal areas.
Avoid blocking fire exits, stairways, or emergency routes.
Position vehicles, ramps, and equipment so as not to create unnecessary risks.
Communicate with customers about any hazards that cannot be removed immediately.
Training, Information, and Supervision
We provide appropriate training and information so that staff understand the risks associated with removal work and know how to control them. This may include induction training, manual handling training, vehicle safety guidance, and toolbox talks on specific tasks. New or less experienced staff are supervised until they are competent to work safely on their own or as part of a team.
Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, injuries, near misses, and dangerous occurrences must be reported to management as soon as possible. This allows us to investigate what happened and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. Staff are briefed on emergency procedures, including what to do in the event of fire, serious injury, or road traffic collisions involving our vehicles.
Review of Policy
This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in our operations, legislation, or best practice. Man with Van St Giles is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance and welcomes feedback from staff and customers on how we can make our services even safer.
By implementing this policy, Man with Van St Giles aims to provide a professional, reliable, and safe removal service throughout our operating area, protecting everyone involved in or affected by our work.
