Man with Van Balham Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Balham is committed to maintaining high standards of health and safety for our staff, customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our work. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks associated with our removal and delivery services, including packing, loading, transporting and unloading goods.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

We aim to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and avoidable disruption during all moving and transport activities. Our objectives are to:

Identify and control significant risks associated with removals and related services.

Provide safe systems of work, clear instructions and appropriate supervision.

Ensure staff are trained and competent to carry out their duties safely.

Keep vehicles, equipment and tools in a safe and serviceable condition.

Promote a positive safety culture where concerns can be raised without hesitation.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man with Van Balham is responsible for implementing and monitoring this Health and Safety Policy. This includes:

Ensuring suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for our activities, including domestic and commercial removals.

Putting in place safe working procedures for lifting, carrying, use of moving equipment, driving and parking.

Providing appropriate safety equipment and ensuring that it is correctly used and maintained.

Ensuring employees receive initial and ongoing training relevant to their roles.

Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses and taking action to prevent recurrence.

Reviewing this policy periodically and when there are changes in our operations.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and contractors working for Man with Van Balham 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 are expected to:

Follow all safety instructions, training and procedures provided by the company.

Use vehicles, tools and moving equipment only for their intended purpose and in a safe manner.

Immediately report accidents, near misses, hazards or defective equipment to management.

Wear any personal protective equipment supplied for specific tasks when required.

Cooperate with management to enable all legal and company health and safety responsibilities to be met.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before commencing a move, we assess the risks associated with the property, access routes, parking, lifting requirements and any special items such as fragile, bulky or heavy goods. Where necessary, a more detailed assessment is carried out to plan safe methods of work.

We aim to:

Plan lifting operations to avoid or minimise manual handling where reasonably practicable.

Use suitable lifting and moving aids, such as trolleys, dollies and straps, when required.

Organise safe access and egress, paying particular attention to stairs, narrow corridors and uneven surfaces.

Maintain good housekeeping during loading and unloading to prevent slips, trips and falls.

Ensure that loads are secure and evenly distributed in vehicles to maintain stability during transport.

Manual Handling and Personal Safety

Manual handling is a key part of our removal operations. Our staff receive guidance and instruction on safe lifting techniques, including team lifts for heavy or awkward items. We aim to:

Avoid unnecessary lifting and carrying by planning efficient loading routes.

Assess the weight, shape and condition of items before attempting to move them.

Use team lifting or mechanical aids for items that present a higher risk of injury.

Encourage staff to stop and seek assistance if they believe a task cannot be carried out safely.

Take into account individual capabilities and any declared health conditions when allocating tasks.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are essential to our services and are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition in line with legal requirements and manufacturer recommendations. We require our drivers to:

Hold the appropriate driving licence for the vehicle they are operating.

Carry out basic pre-use checks and report any defects immediately.

Drive in a safe, considerate and lawful manner, taking account of road, traffic and weather conditions.

Ensure loads are secured and that vehicle doors and ramps are correctly closed and stowed before moving off.

Park safely and legally, taking care to protect pedestrians, other road users and property.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our responsibility to safeguard customers, neighbours and the general public while we are working. To minimise risks, we will:

Maintain clear walkways and access routes where practicable.

Use safe techniques when moving items through communal areas, entrances and on public pavements.

Take care to protect floors, walls and doorways where reasonably practicable to prevent damage and reduce trip hazards.

Position vehicles to reduce the risk from loading and unloading near roads or busy areas, so far as is reasonably practicable.

Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work

We expect employees to present themselves fit for work and not under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or misused medication. Any employee who feels unwell or believes they may not be able to work safely must inform management at the earliest opportunity.

We encourage staff to raise any concerns regarding workload, fatigue, stress or physical strain so that appropriate support or adjustments can be considered.

Training, Information and Supervision

Man with Van Balham provides staff with information and training relevant to their roles, which may include manual handling, safe use of equipment, vehicle operation and incident reporting. New employees are given an introduction to our health and safety expectations and are supervised as appropriate until they are competent to work without close supervision.

Accidents, Incidents and Continuous Improvement

All accidents, incidents, injuries and near misses that occur during our removal and transport activities must be reported to management. We review these events to understand their causes and to identify any improvements to our procedures, equipment or training.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains suitable for the range of removal and delivery services provided by Man with Van Balham and reflects any changes in our operations or applicable requirements.