Health and Safety policy

Man With Van Chelsea Health And Safety Policy

Man with Van Chelsea 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 policy explains our approach to managing health and safety across all removal and delivery services we provide.

Our Health And Safety Objectives

We aim to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property by managing the risks associated with household and commercial removals, loading and unloading, driving, and working at customers premises. Our objectives are to:

Identify and control hazards connected with moving, lifting and transporting goods.

Provide clear procedures and instructions so work is carried out safely and responsibly.

Ensure our vehicles and equipment are suitable, properly maintained and used correctly.

Promote a positive safety culture in which all staff take responsibility for their own safety and that of others.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man with Van Chelsea has overall responsibility for health and safety within the company. This includes:

Implementing and reviewing this policy on a regular basis.

Ensuring that appropriate resources, information, training and supervision are provided.

Carrying out and updating risk assessments for all significant activities, including packing, lifting, loading, transport and unloading.

Investigating accidents, near misses and incidents to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

Ensuring that staff understand and comply with legal and regulatory health and safety requirements relevant to removal services.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and regular contractors are required to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. This includes:

Following all health and safety instructions, training and safe systems of work.

Using equipment, trolleys, straps and vehicles as instructed and not misusing or interfering with safety equipment.

Reporting accidents, injuries, near misses and hazards to management as soon as possible.

Wearing suitable clothing and footwear for manual handling and working on customer premises.

Cooperating with management on any health and safety matters, including attending training and briefings.

Risk Assessment And Safe Working Practices

We conduct risk assessments for our key activities and service types. These assessments identify potential hazards and set out control measures. Typical areas include:

Manual handling of furniture, appliances, boxes and other items.

Use of lifting aids, trolleys and moving equipment.

Loading and securing items in vehicles to prevent movement during transit.

Working in stairwells, narrow hallways, gardens, driveways and shared spaces.

Driving, parking and working by the roadside during collections and deliveries.

Our teams are briefed on the findings of risk assessments and are expected to apply safe systems of work at all times. When arriving at a job, staff will dynamically assess the site and may adapt methods to maintain safety.

Manual Handling And Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of removal work, and poor technique can lead to injury. We reduce this risk by:

Providing training in safe lifting techniques and team lifting methods.

Using suitable equipment such as sack trucks, furniture dollies, straps and blankets.

Planning the route for carrying large items, removing obstacles where reasonably practicable.

Encouraging staff to refuse unsafe lifts, including items that are too heavy or awkward without mechanical aid or extra manpower.

Breaking down loads into smaller, manageable parts wherever possible.

Vehicle Safety And Driving Standards

Our vehicles are essential to our services, and we manage them in a way that protects drivers, passengers and other road users. Our measures include:

Ensuring vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced and maintained in a roadworthy condition.

Checking tyres, lights, securing points, ramps and access steps as part of routine pre use inspections.

Ensuring all loads are properly distributed and secured to prevent shifting during transit.

Requiring drivers to follow road traffic laws and company driving guidelines, including appropriate speed, safe parking and consideration for pedestrians and neighbours at customers addresses.

Discouraging the use of mobile phones while driving and promoting rest breaks on longer journeys.

Working At Customer Premises

We recognise that many jobs take place within homes, offices and shared buildings. To protect customers, the public and our staff, we will:

Take care to protect flooring, walls, doors and fixtures with covers and padding where practical.

Keep pathways and access routes as clear as possible, reducing trip hazards from boxes, tools and packing materials.

Use safe lifting and carrying routes, taking extra care on stairs, landings and tight corners.

Maintain good conduct at all times and avoid unsafe shortcuts that could endanger people or property.

Follow any reasonable site specific safety requirements that customers may have in place.

Welfare, Health And Fitness For Work

We understand that removal work can be physically demanding. To support staff welfare we will:

Encourage safe workloads, breaks and realistic scheduling of jobs.

Discourage staff from working if unfit through illness, injury, fatigue, alcohol or drugs.

Provide guidance on hydration, posture and safe working in hot or cold conditions.

Respect any medical or fitness restrictions notified by staff, and adapt work where appropriate.

Training, Communication And Consultation

We provide initial and ongoing training so workers understand their duties and how to perform tasks safely. This may include induction training, refresher sessions, toolbox talks and updates when procedures change. We encourage staff to raise concerns, suggestions or improvements relating to health and safety, and we will consider these in reviews of our arrangements.

Accident Reporting And Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported to management promptly. We will record relevant details and, where required, take further action. Staff are briefed on what to do in the event of fire, injury, vehicle collision, spillage or other emergencies, including contacting emergency services when necessary and safeguarding customers and the public.

Monitoring And Review

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 Chelsea is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance and expects all members of the team to support this commitment in their daily work.