Health and Safety policy
Man with Van Eltham Health and Safety Policy
Man with Van Eltham is committed to providing a safe, healthy and secure 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 approach to managing risks associated with household and commercial removals, loading and unloading, and the transportation of goods.
We aim to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and avoidable disruption to our customers. Health and Safety is an integral part of the way we plan and deliver all removal services.
Policy Aims and Objectives
The primary aims of this policy are to:
Promote a positive Health and Safety culture throughout our business and on every job. Comply with all relevant Health and Safety legislation and recognised industry practice. Identify, assess and control risks arising from our removal and transport operations. Provide appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision to our workers. Ensure safe systems of work for lifting, carrying, loading, unloading and driving. Minimise risks to customers, neighbours and the public at collection and delivery addresses. Review our Health and Safety performance regularly and make improvements where required.
Management Responsibilities
Management at Man with Van Eltham accepts overall responsibility for Health and Safety. Management will:
Implement and maintain this Health and Safety policy and associated procedures. Ensure that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for our activities. Provide and maintain vehicles, equipment and tools in a safe and serviceable condition. Arrange appropriate Health and Safety training, guidance and supervision for staff. Ensure that incidents, near-misses and concerns are reported, investigated and addressed. Allocate adequate resources to meet Health and Safety obligations and improvements. Monitor compliance with safe working practices on-site and while driving.
Employee and Contractor Responsibilities
All workers engaged by Man with Van Eltham, including contractors and temporary staff, share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Every worker must:
Take reasonable care of their own Health and Safety and that of others who may be affected by their work. Follow all Health and Safety instructions, training and safe systems of work. Use vehicles, equipment and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately. Cooperate with management in implementing this policy and any related procedures. Report hazards, unsafe conditions, near-misses, injuries or incidents without delay. Avoid reckless behaviour, horseplay or shortcuts that could put anyone at risk. Never work under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that may impair judgement.
Safe Handling, Lifting and Carrying
Lifting and carrying is a core part of our removal work and a key area of risk. To minimise the risk of injury, Man with Van Eltham will:
Provide manual handling training appropriate to the nature of our work. Encourage the use of team lifts and handling aids for bulky or heavy items. Plan lifting tasks to avoid unnecessary carrying distances and awkward routes. Require staff to assess the weight, size and stability of items before moving them. Prohibit lifting loads that are beyond individual capability or which cannot be moved safely. Ensure workers use correct posture, grip and technique when lifting and setting down items. Where practical, dismantle large or awkward furniture before moving.
Use of Vehicles and Driving Safety
Our vehicles are essential to our removal services and must be operated safely at all times. Man with Van Eltham will:
Ensure all drivers hold valid licences and are competent to drive the allocated vehicle. Carry out regular checks and maintenance on vans to keep them roadworthy and safe. Require drivers to carry out basic pre-use checks before starting a journey. Plan routes, loading and parking to minimise risk to staff, customers and the public. Secure loads properly to prevent movement, damage or instability in transit. Comply with road traffic laws, speed limits and parking regulations in all service areas. Manage working hours and driving time sensibly to reduce fatigue-related risk.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
Our work is often carried out in and around customer homes, business premises and public areas. To protect customers, visitors and the public, we will:
Assess access routes, stairways, lifts, paths and driveways before moving items. Keep routes as clear as reasonably possible to avoid trips and collisions. Use caution and communication when moving large items through doors and shared areas. Take reasonable steps to protect floors, walls and fixtures from damage that could create hazards. Position vehicles considerately to avoid blocking footpaths, exits or emergency access. Use warning where activities may present short-term risks, such as loading on a narrow street. Respect neighbours and nearby businesses, reducing noise and disruption as far as possible.
Equipment, Tools and Personal Protective Equipment
Where appropriate for the task and location, Man with Van Eltham will provide equipment such as trolleys, dollies, lifting straps, moving blankets and protective covers. We will:
Ensure equipment is suitable for its intended use and maintained in safe condition. Instruct staff in correct use and storage of all provided equipment. Provide personal protective equipment where risk assessment identifies a need, such as gloves or safety footwear. Require staff to use provided protective equipment and report loss or damage promptly.
Risk Assessment and Incident Reporting
Risk assessments are used to identify hazards associated with removal work and driving and to put controls in place. Man with Van Eltham will:
Carry out and review risk assessments for typical removal activities and environments. Adapt controls on-site where specific risks are identified at collection or delivery addresses. Encourage workers to stop work if they believe the situation is unsafe and to seek guidance. Record and investigate any accidents, injuries, property damage or near-misses. Use incident findings to improve training, procedures and risk controls.
Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work
The physical demands of removal work require attention to health and fitness. To support welfare, we will:
Discourage individuals from undertaking work that is beyond their physical capability. Encourage regular breaks during demanding jobs, especially in extreme temperatures. Promote hydration and sensible working pace to reduce the risk of strain or exhaustion. Recognise and manage limitations arising from temporary or long-term health conditions. Require that any medication taken by staff does not adversely affect safe performance of duties.
Customer Cooperation
To maintain a safe working environment, Man with Van Eltham asks customers to:
Provide accurate information about access, parking and any known hazards at the addresses. Ensure driveways, entrances and internal routes are as clear as reasonably practicable. Secure pets and supervise children away from moving operations and loading areas. Inform our team of any fragile structures, weak floors, loose steps or other concerns. Refrain from assisting with lifting or carrying unless agreed and it is safe to do so.
Training, Communication and Review
Health and Safety responsibilities and safe working methods are communicated to all staff on joining and reinforced as needed. Man with Van Eltham will:
Provide induction and ongoing training relevant to removal and driving tasks. Keep staff informed of changes in procedures or identified risks. Review this Health and Safety policy periodically and following any significant incident or operational change. Update working practices to reflect experience, feedback and current legal requirements.
This Health and Safety policy applies to all services provided by Man with Van Eltham across its service area and is supported by more detailed procedures and guidance where necessary.
