Health and Safety Policy for Man With a Van Epsom

Man With a Van Epsom is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, subcontractors, customers 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 house moves, office relocations, item collection and delivery, and related removal services.

Our Health and Safety Commitments

We recognise that professional removal work involves manual handling, driving, use of equipment and working in a variety of domestic and commercial properties. To manage these risks responsibly, Man With a Van Epsom will:

Assess and manage health and safety risks associated with our services, including lifting, carrying, loading, unloading and transportation.

Comply with relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice.

Provide appropriate information, instruction and supervision to staff and subcontractors so they can work safely.

Ensure that vehicles, tools and equipment are maintained in a safe and serviceable condition.

Promote a culture where safety concerns can be raised without hesitation and are acted upon promptly.

Review this policy regularly and update our procedures as our services, fleet or working methods change.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man With a Van Epsom holds overall responsibility for the effective implementation of this Health and Safety Policy. This includes:

Setting clear safety standards and ensuring they are communicated to everyone working on behalf of the company.

Ensuring risk assessments are carried out for typical removal tasks and for any non-standard or higher-risk work.

Providing suitable training and refresher training for manual handling, safe driving and safe use of any equipment used in the removal process.

Checking that vehicles are roadworthy, correctly loaded and operated in line with legal and safety requirements.

Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses to identify causes and implement corrective actions.

Allocating sufficient resources so that health and safety is not compromised by time pressure or commercial considerations.

Employee and Subcontractor Responsibilities

All employees and subcontractors engaged by Man With a Van Epsom share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Every worker is expected to:

Follow all safety instructions, procedures and safe systems of work provided by the company.

Use correct manual handling techniques and ask for assistance or equipment when an item is too heavy or awkward to move alone.

Wear suitable clothing and footwear that provide good grip and protection when carrying out removal work.

Inspect vehicles and equipment before use and report any defects or concerns immediately.

Drive safely, comply with road traffic laws and plan routes to allow sufficient time, avoiding rushed or unsafe driving.

Keep work areas, access routes and vehicle loading areas as clear and tidy as possible to reduce slips, trips and falls.

Report all accidents, injuries, near misses and hazards to management at the earliest opportunity.

Risk Assessments and Safe Working Practices

Before undertaking removal work, Man With a Van Epsom will consider the nature of the items being moved, the access at each property, parking arrangements and any particular risks such as stairs, narrow doorways or long carrying distances. Where necessary, a more detailed risk assessment will be carried out.

Safe working practices adopted by the company include:

Planning moves to minimise unnecessary lifting and carrying by using suitable equipment such as trolleys and blankets.

Assessing the weight and stability of items before attempting to move them and breaking down loads where possible.

Using team lifting for heavy, bulky or awkward objects and ensuring good communication between team members.

Loading vehicles in a secure and balanced way to prevent movement of goods in transit and reduce the risk of injury when unloading.

Taking extra care in poor weather, low light conditions or when working in unfamiliar or confined spaces.

Vehicles, Equipment and Maintenance

Our vehicles and equipment are central to our removal and delivery services and must be safe to use at all times. Man With a Van Epsom will:

Ensure that vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced and maintained in line with manufacturer instructions and legal requirements.

Check tyres, brakes, lights, mirrors and securing points routinely to ensure safe operation.

Provide and maintain appropriate removal equipment such as straps, blankets, trolleys and ramps where required.

Ensure that any defects or issues reported by drivers or operatives are addressed promptly and that unsafe vehicles or equipment are taken out of use until repaired.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise that our work often takes place in homes, offices, storage facilities and other premises that are not under our control. When working at customer locations, Man With a Van Epsom will:

Respect customer property and take reasonable steps to prevent damage, such as using protective coverings where appropriate.

Identify and, where possible, reduce risks arising from steps, uneven surfaces, low ceilings, fragile items and other hazards.

Position vehicles and equipment to minimise obstruction to neighbours, pedestrians and other road users.

Work in a way that prioritises the safety of customers, their families, visitors and members of the public nearby.

Training, Communication and Monitoring

Man With a Van Epsom is committed to ongoing training and clear communication on health and safety matters. We will:

Provide induction training for new workers covering safe lifting, driving expectations, emergency procedures and incident reporting.

Offer additional instruction when new equipment, vehicles or working methods are introduced.

Encourage feedback from staff and customers about any safety concerns or improvement opportunities.

Monitor performance against this policy and make improvements based on experience, incident data and changes in best practice.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy reflects the current operations of Man With a Van Epsom and the typical risks associated with our removal and man and van services. It will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to ensure it remains effective, relevant and aligned with applicable legal requirements and industry standards.