Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Surrey Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy explains how Man with Van Surrey manages health, safety and welfare for our customers, employees, contractors and members of the public. Our work involves the handling, loading, transporting and unloading of household and commercial goods, which carries specific risks that we manage through clear procedures, training and supervision.

Our Health and Safety Commitment

Man with Van Surrey is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment during all stages of the moving process. We aim to prevent accidents, injuries and damage to property by planning our work carefully and following recognised good practice for removal and transport activities. Health and safety is an integral part of our service, not an optional extra.

We will regularly review this policy to reflect changes in our services, vehicles, equipment and legal responsibilities, and to incorporate lessons learned from any incidents or near misses.

Responsibilities and Duties

Overall responsibility for health and safety within Man with Van Surrey rests with our management. They ensure that appropriate procedures, resources and training are in place and that risk assessments are carried out and updated when necessary.

Team leaders and drivers are responsible for applying this policy on each job, including safe loading and unloading, supervising any additional helpers and communicating with customers about safety considerations at their premises.

All staff 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. They must follow safe working practices, use equipment correctly, report hazards promptly and cooperate fully with any health and safety instructions.

Customer and Public Safety

We are committed to protecting customers and members of the public while our teams are working on site or on the road. This includes:

Planning access routes through the property to minimise trip hazards and congestion.

Keeping doorways, stairways and driveways as clear as reasonably possible during loading and unloading.

Using appropriate lifting techniques and equipment to move heavy or awkward items safely.

Positioning vehicles so that loading can be carried out safely, with attention to visibility, traffic flow and pedestrian routes.

Where necessary, temporarily restricting access to work areas to avoid the risk of injury while large items are being moved.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before starting work, our team assesses the main risks associated with the job, taking into account access, parking, stairways, floor surfaces, weather conditions and the nature of the goods being moved. Where needed, we adapt our approach to reduce the risk of slips, trips, falls, manual handling injuries and vehicle-related incidents.

Key elements of our safe working practices include:

Using correct manual handling techniques, including team lifting for heavy or bulky items.

Using moving aids such as trolleys and straps where appropriate and available.

Securing items properly within the vehicle to prevent movement during transit.

Planning the order of loading and unloading to minimise unnecessary handling.

Stopping work if a situation appears unsafe and consulting with the customer and management to identify a safer alternative.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide relevant health and safety information and guidance to our staff, appropriate to their roles. This includes manual handling principles, safe loading techniques, use of equipment, vehicle safety and customer care in relation to safety.

New staff members are introduced to our safety procedures and are supervised until they have demonstrated that they can work safely and responsibly. Ongoing support and oversight are provided to maintain standards and address any unsafe practices that may arise.

Vehicles, Equipment and Maintenance

Our vehicles and equipment are essential for safe removals. We aim to ensure that:

Vehicles used for removals are suitable for the job, properly maintained and kept in a safe condition.

Loads are secured using straps or other means appropriate for the type of goods and the journey.

Any trolleys, ramps or other handling aids are used correctly and checked regularly for obvious damage or defects.

Faulty equipment or vehicle issues are reported promptly and taken out of service where necessary until they are safe to use.

Manual Handling and Personal Safety

Manual handling is a key part of removal work and presents a risk of musculoskeletal injuries if not managed properly. To reduce this risk we:

Avoid unnecessary lifting and carrying where there is a safer alternative.

Encourage team lifting for heavy items and realistic assessment of what can be moved safely.

Support staff in maintaining good posture and using safe lifting techniques, such as bending at the knees, keeping loads close to the body and avoiding twisting while carrying items.

Allow time to plan each lift and to remove or minimise obstacles along the route.

Hazardous Items and Restricted Goods

Certain items can present particular safety risks during transport, such as flammable or corrosive substances, gas cylinders, fuel containers, chemicals or other hazardous materials. We reserve the right to decline to move such goods or to require that they are made safe before transport. Customers are expected to inform us in advance about any items of this nature so that appropriate decisions can be taken.

Incident and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, injuries, property damage and near misses that occur during our work must be reported to management as soon as reasonably possible. We record and review these events to identify causes and to help prevent similar incidents in the future. Where appropriate, we may adjust our methods, provide additional training or introduce new control measures as a result of these reviews.

Cooperation with Customers and Third Parties

Effective health and safety relies on cooperation between our team, customers and any other parties present at the premises. We may ask customers to assist by providing clear access, advising us of any known hazards such as loose steps, uneven surfaces or low ceilings, and keeping children and pets away from work areas while heavy items are being moved.

Where we work alongside other contractors or service providers, we will seek to coordinate our activities to maintain a safe working environment for everyone involved.

Continuous Improvement

Man with Van Surrey is committed to continually improving our health and safety performance. We monitor working practices, listen to feedback from staff and customers, and keep our procedures under review to ensure they remain practical, effective and appropriate to our services and service areas.

This Health and Safety Policy is made available to all staff and customers on request and is reviewed periodically to ensure it remains current and fit for purpose.