Man With a Van Tooting Health and Safety Policy

Man With a Van Tooting is committed to providing removal and transport services in a manner that protects the health, safety and welfare of our employees, customers, contractors and the public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to preventing injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment during all moving and delivery activities.

Our Health and Safety Commitment

We recognise that removal work, lifting, loading, driving and handling customer belongings carry particular risks. We are committed to managing these risks systematically and proportionately. Our aim is to operate safely on every job, from small flat moves to larger property relocations, and to continuously improve our standards and working practices.

The management of Man With a Van Tooting accepts overall responsibility for health and safety within the company and will provide the resources, training and supervision required to meet our legal and moral obligations.

Health and Safety Objectives

To support this commitment, Man With a Van Tooting will:

Identify, assess and control risks associated with lifting, carrying, loading, unloading, driving and on-site work at customer premises.

Provide employees with information, instruction, training and equipment needed to perform their duties safely and competently.

Maintain vehicles, lifting aids and equipment in a safe and roadworthy condition.

Promote a positive safety culture in which all staff are encouraged to report hazards, near-misses and concerns without fear of blame.

Investigate incidents and near-misses to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.

Review this policy periodically and revise it where necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, operations or best practice.

Responsibilities

Management is responsible for implementing this policy, setting safety standards and ensuring that our removal services are planned and carried out safely. This includes scheduling work to avoid undue time pressure, ensuring adequate staffing levels and providing appropriate equipment for the tasks to be undertaken.

Employees are required to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Staff must follow training and safe systems of work, use equipment correctly, cooperate with management on health and safety matters and report any hazards, defects, accidents or near-misses immediately.

Customers and third parties are expected to cooperate with our team on site, provide clear access where reasonably possible and inform us of any known hazards at the property, such as loose flooring, restricted stairwells or structural issues.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Procedures

Man With a Van Tooting carries out risk assessments relevant to removal services, including manual handling, vehicle operations, working in customer homes and handling fragile or heavy items. These risk assessments inform our safe working procedures, which are communicated to all staff.

Where necessary, site-specific assessments will be made on arrival, taking into account access routes, staircases, steps, parking, traffic conditions and weather. Work will only proceed where it can be carried out safely. Where a risk is considered unacceptable and cannot be controlled, our team is authorised to stop work and consult management.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a core part of our removal work. To reduce the risk of injury, we:

Train staff in safe lifting and carrying techniques, including team lifts for bulky or heavy items.

Use equipment such as trolleys, dollies, straps and blankets where appropriate to reduce strain and protect items.

Plan routes within properties to avoid unnecessary carrying distances, awkward turns and trip hazards.

Assess the suitability of moving particularly heavy, oversized or delicate items and, where needed, adjust the method, increase manpower or decline unsafe tasks.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

All vehicles used by Man With a Van Tooting are maintained in a roadworthy condition and are subject to regular checks. Drivers are required to perform daily pre-use inspections and report any defects without delay.

Drivers must hold the appropriate valid licence and follow all road traffic laws. Journeys and schedules are planned to allow adequate time so that speed limits and safe loading practices are never compromised. Loads must be evenly distributed, properly restrained and within the permitted weight limits of the vehicle.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

When operating at customer premises or on public roads, our staff will take reasonable steps to protect members of the public and minimise disruption. This may include controlling access to loading areas, using warning signs when appropriate and positioning vehicles to reduce risk from moving traffic.

We take care to prevent damage to property while moving items through doorways, hallways, stairs and communal areas, and will discuss any particular concerns with the customer before work begins.

Training, Information and Supervision

All staff receive induction training that covers key health and safety risks relevant to removal work, along with regular refresher training where appropriate. Topics include manual handling, safe loading and unloading, use of equipment, vehicle safety, working in residential and commercial environments and incident reporting.

Less experienced staff are supervised by senior team members until they are deemed competent to work independently. Safety instructions and procedures are communicated clearly and updated when working practices or regulations change.

Accidents, Incidents and Near-Miss Reporting

All accidents, injuries, dangerous occurrences and near-misses must be reported as soon as possible to management. Records are kept and reviewed to identify trends and opportunities for improvement. Where necessary, procedures will be amended and additional training provided to prevent recurrence.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains suitable, adequate and effective for the nature and scale of our removal operations. Man With a Van Tooting is committed to continual improvement and to conducting all activities in a way that protects people, property and the wider community.