Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Waterloo Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Waterloo is committed to providing a professional, safe and healthy environment for our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transportation activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and arrangements that guide the way we plan and deliver our man and van and removal services.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property arising from our work. We aim to identify and control risks associated with household removals, office moves, collection and delivery of goods, and related handling and transport tasks within our service area.

We will ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that:

All work is carried out safely and without unacceptable risks to health.
Vehicles, tools and equipment used in our removal services are safe, well maintained and suitable for their intended purpose.
Employees receive appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision to work safely and competently.
Customers and members of the public are protected from foreseeable risks during collections, loading, transport and unloading.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Man with Van Waterloo has overall responsibility for health and safety performance. Management will:

Implement, monitor and review this Health and Safety Policy on a regular basis.
Ensure that risk assessments are carried out for key activities such as lifting, carrying, loading, unloading and driving, and that appropriate control measures are in place.
Provide and maintain safe vehicles and equipment for all removal and delivery operations.
Promote a positive health and safety culture through open communication and example.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and working crew members 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 health and safety instructions, safe systems of work and training provided.
Use vehicles, equipment and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately.
Cooperate with management in implementing safety measures, risk controls and emergency procedures.
Report accidents, near misses, unsafe conditions or practices without delay so that corrective actions can be taken.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our removal services, including but not limited to:

Manual handling of furniture, appliances, boxes and bulky items.
Use of trolleys, lifting straps and other moving equipment.
Working in stairwells, narrow corridors, communal areas and shared driveways.
Vehicle movements in residential streets, commercial premises and loading areas.

From these assessments, we develop safe working practices such as planning lifting routes, using appropriate handling aids, team lifting for heavy items, securing loads in vehicles, and taking extra care in shared or busy spaces. Our crews are instructed not to take unnecessary risks and to stop work if a job cannot be carried out safely.

Manual Handling and Personal Safety

Manual handling is a core part of our removal work and can pose a risk of strains and injuries if not carried out correctly. To manage this risk we:

Provide manual handling guidance and on-the-job instruction to our teams.
Encourage dynamic risk assessments at each location so that staff assess the safest way to move each item before lifting.
Use handling equipment such as sack trucks and sliders wherever reasonably practicable.
Require staff to avoid lifting loads that are too heavy or awkward and to request additional assistance or equipment when needed.

Personal safety is also important. Staff are instructed to remain aware of traffic, pedestrians, pets and children while moving items to and from the vehicle, and to keep access routes clear where possible.

Vehicle and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are essential to our man and van and removal operations and must be operated safely at all times. We will:

Maintain vehicles in a roadworthy condition with regular inspections and servicing.
Ensure drivers are competent, hold valid licences, and follow road traffic laws and safe driving practices.
Plan routes where practicable to minimise time pressure, reduce stress and support safe driving.
Ensure loads are distributed and secured correctly to prevent movement, damage or instability during transit.

Drivers must not operate a vehicle if they are unfit to drive through fatigue, alcohol, drugs or any other cause that may impair their ability.

Customer and Public Safety

We recognise our duty to protect customers, neighbours and members of the public from hazards associated with our activities. To achieve this we:

Position vehicles, ramps and equipment to minimise obstruction and trip hazards.
Keep doors, hallways and pathways as clear as reasonably possible during removals.
Advise customers of any temporary access restrictions needed for safe loading or unloading.
Take care to prevent damage to property, fittings and fixtures during removal operations.

Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

Where necessary for the tasks being performed, we provide suitable equipment and, where reasonably required, personal protective equipment such as gloves or safety footwear. All equipment must be used as instructed and must be inspected regularly for damage or wear. Defective items are to be removed from use immediately and reported to management.

Training, Information and Supervision

We are committed to providing staff with the knowledge and skills needed to work safely. This includes:

Induction information on health and safety responsibilities and procedures.
Task-specific guidance on manual handling, loading, driving and use of equipment.
Ongoing supervision and feedback during daily work activities.
Updates and reminders when procedures or risk assessments change.

Accidents, Incidents and Near Misses

All accidents, incidents and near misses that occur during removal or transport activities must be reported to management as soon as possible. We will record such events, investigate their causes and implement corrective actions where needed. This may include changes to procedures, additional training or improvements to equipment and vehicles.

Monitoring and Policy Review

We continually monitor our health and safety performance through observation, feedback from staff and customers, and review of incidents and near misses. This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly, and revised as necessary, to reflect changes in our operations, industry practice or legal requirements. Any significant updates will be communicated to all employees and applied across our removal services.

By working together and following this Health and Safety Policy, Man with Van Waterloo aims to deliver reliable removal and man and van services while protecting the wellbeing of our staff, customers and the wider community.