Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Perivale Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Perivale 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 removal and delivery activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving, loading, transporting and unloading goods for residential and commercial clients.

Our objective is to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing effective control measures in every part of our removals service.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Man with Van Perivale accepts overall responsibility for health and safety performance within the company. Management will provide appropriate resources, information, training and supervision to ensure that work is carried out safely and in accordance with relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice.

We will regularly review working methods, equipment and vehicles used for local and longer-distance removals, ensuring they remain safe, suitable and properly maintained. Managers will monitor compliance with this policy through inspections, audits, incident investigations and feedback from staff and customers.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee, driver and porter has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions during a move. All staff must:

Follow the procedures and safe systems of work set out by Man with Van Perivale, including manual handling and lifting techniques. Use vehicles, trolleys, straps, blankets and any other equipment only as instructed and report any defects immediately. Co operate with management on all health and safety matters, including attendance at training and toolbox talks. Report accidents, near misses, unsafe conditions and any concerns about customer premises or access routes as soon as possible. Refrain from horseplay, unsafe shortcuts or any practice that could jeopardise safety during collection, loading, transport or delivery.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We are committed to identifying and managing the specific risks associated with removal work in homes, offices, storage facilities and other locations. Before or at the start of each job, we will assess factors such as access, parking, stairs, lifts, floor conditions, item size and weight, and any particular customer needs.

Findings from risk assessments will be used to plan staffing levels, equipment requirements and safe routes for movement of goods. Where necessary, we will adjust methods of work, split large items, or decline to move items that cannot be handled safely with the resources available.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of our work and is a significant source of potential injury. Man with Van Perivale will minimise manual handling risks by:

Providing regular training on correct lifting and carrying techniques, including team lifts for heavy or bulky items. Using handling aids such as sack trucks, dollies, skates, straps and ramps where appropriate. Planning load distribution in vehicles to avoid overloading and to facilitate safe unloading at the destination. Refusing to allow unsafe lifting or carrying practices, even where customers request them to save time.

Staff must never attempt to move items that exceed safe weight limits or that cannot be manoeuvred safely in confined or awkward spaces.

Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety

Our vehicles are critical to our operations and are maintained in a roadworthy and safe condition in line with legal requirements and manufacturer recommendations. Drivers must carry out daily walk around checks, report any defects immediately and not use a vehicle that is unsafe.

We require our drivers to adhere to road traffic laws at all times, including speed limits, parking rules and restrictions around loading and unloading. Loads must be securely restrained and distributed to maintain vehicle stability. Drivers must not drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication that impairs their ability to operate the vehicle safely.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

Our work often takes place in or near busy residential streets, office buildings and shared spaces. We take care to protect customers, neighbours and the general public by:

Maintaining clear walkways and avoiding obstruction of entrances and exits. Using warning signs or verbal communication where loading or unloading may affect others. Taking particular care with doors, gates, staircases, corridors and lift shafts. Protecting floors, walls and fixtures from damage where reasonably practicable to prevent hazards such as slips and trips.

Where access is restricted or unsafe, we will discuss options with the customer and agree alternative arrangements that maintain an appropriate level of safety.

Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

Man with Van Perivale will provide suitable equipment for lifting and moving goods and will ensure it is inspected and maintained regularly. Where necessary, we will provide personal protective equipment, such as safety footwear and gloves, and ensure staff know how and when to use it.

Employees are responsible for taking care of equipment provided and reporting any damage or malfunction immediately. Faulty or unsafe equipment must not be used under any circumstances.

Training, Communication and Consultation

We recognise that good communication and training are essential to safe working. New staff will receive induction training covering key health and safety risks, safe lifting, vehicle safety and reporting procedures. Ongoing refresher training and briefings will be provided to ensure skills and knowledge remain current.

We welcome suggestions from employees on how to improve health and safety and we encourage open reporting of concerns without fear of blame. Lessons learned from incidents and near misses will be shared with the team to prevent recurrence.

Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries and significant near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible and recorded. We will investigate incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective actions. Where required, we will comply with statutory reporting obligations.

Staff will be briefed on emergency procedures, including what to do in case of fire, serious injury, vehicle breakdown or collision. Drivers must follow company procedures for roadside incidents and cooperate with emergency services as needed.

Continuous Improvement and Policy Review

Man with Van Perivale is committed to continual improvement in health and safety performance. We will review this policy regularly and whenever there are significant changes in legislation, industry guidance, our operations or the nature of the services we provide.

This Health and Safety Policy is supported by detailed procedures and guidance which are communicated to all employees. Compliance with this policy is a condition of employment and forms an integral part of delivering a professional, reliable and safe removal service.