Health and Safety policy

Man With a Van Covent Garden Health and Safety Policy

Man With a Van Covent Garden is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of our workers, customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety across all moves, from small home collections to larger property relocations.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to carry out all man and van, moving and delivery services in a way that prevents injury, ill health, and damage to property. We will provide safe systems of work, appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure that all tasks associated with lifting, loading, transport and unloading are completed safely and professionally.

We recognise our legal and moral responsibilities and we aim to continuously improve our health and safety performance. This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, best practice and the nature of our services.

Responsibilities for Health and Safety

Overall responsibility for health and safety within Man With a Van Covent Garden rests with management, who will ensure that appropriate resources are made available to implement this policy.

Managers and supervisors are responsible for:

Ensuring that risk assessments are carried out and control measures are implemented and maintained. Making sure staff receive suitable induction and ongoing training for removal and driving activities. Monitoring working practices, correcting unsafe behaviour and promoting a positive safety culture. Ensuring equipment and vehicles are maintained in a safe condition and removed from service if defective.

All workers, including drivers, porters and casual helpers, are responsible for:

Taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Following all safety instructions, procedures and training provided by the company. Using equipment correctly and reporting any damage, defect or hazard immediately. Wearing appropriate clothing, footwear and personal protective equipment as required.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before beginning any move or delivery, a suitable and sufficient risk assessment will be carried out to identify potential hazards and determine appropriate control measures. This may include assessment of access routes, stairways, parking arrangements, traffic conditions, manual handling requirements, weather conditions and any special risks associated with the property or items being moved.

From these assessments, safe working practices will be established that may include:

Planning the route for carrying items to avoid slips, trips and falls. Using team lifts, trolleys and other equipment to reduce manual handling risks. Ensuring clear communication between team members when lifting and moving furniture or appliances. Avoiding overloading vehicles and ensuring loads are evenly distributed and properly secured. Allowing sufficient time for each job to prevent rushing and unsafe shortcuts.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of removal work and is managed carefully to minimise the risk of injury. Staff will receive training in safe lifting techniques, including assessment of weight, size, shape and stability of loads before attempting to move them.

Where an item is too heavy or awkward for one person, a team lift will be used or appropriate handling aids will be provided. Workers are expected to refuse unsafe lifts and to request assistance when required. Items that present unusual risk, such as large appliances, fragile equipment or high-value items, will be handled in line with specific procedures and guidance.

Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety

All vehicles used by Man With a Van Covent Garden must be roadworthy, regularly inspected and maintained according to relevant standards. Pre-use checks will be carried out by drivers to identify any defects that may affect safe operation.

Drivers must hold the appropriate licence for the vehicle they operate and must comply with road traffic laws and company rules. This includes obeying speed limits, using seat belts, avoiding the use of mobile phones while driving and only driving when fit and not impaired by fatigue, alcohol or drugs.

Loads will be properly distributed, secured and covered where necessary to prevent movement, damage or danger to other road users. Routes will be planned to minimise risk and delays, taking into account access restrictions, congestion and weather conditions.

Use of Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

Equipment such as trolleys, straps, blankets and ramps will be provided as necessary to reduce manual handling risks and protect property. Workers must inspect equipment prior to use and report any defects immediately. Faulty or damaged equipment will be removed from service until repaired or replaced.

Where required, personal protective equipment such as gloves, high-visibility clothing or safety footwear will be provided. Employees and contractors must use such equipment correctly and look after it. Any loss or damage must be reported without delay.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

When working at customer premises or in shared areas such as corridors, pavements and car parks, the safety of occupants, neighbours and the public is a priority. Our teams will take care to keep access routes as clear as reasonably practicable, use warning signs or verbal warnings where necessary, and avoid blocking fire exits or emergency access.

We will treat all properties with care, aiming to prevent damage to structures, fixtures and fittings through the use of appropriate protection and careful handling techniques.

Training, Communication and Consultation

Health and safety training is provided on induction and refreshed as necessary. Topics may include manual handling, use of equipment, road safety, emergency procedures and dealing with challenging environments or conditions.

We encourage open communication on health and safety matters. Workers are urged to raise concerns, suggest improvements and report near misses as well as accidents, with no fear of blame for genuine mistakes. Lessons learned from incidents are used to improve our procedures and guidance.

Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, near misses and cases of work-related ill health must be reported to management as soon as practicable. Where appropriate, details will be recorded and investigated to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

Our teams are briefed on emergency procedures including what to do in the event of fire, injury, road collision or sudden illness during a removal job. This may involve contacting emergency services, making the area safe, providing basic first aid within the limits of training and informing management.

Review and Monitoring of This Policy

This Health and Safety Policy is a living document. It will be monitored on an ongoing basis and formally reviewed at regular intervals, as well as after any significant change in our operations or following a serious incident. Updates will be communicated to all relevant parties to ensure the continued safety of our removal and transport services.

By following this policy, Man With a Van Covent Garden aims to deliver a reliable, efficient and safe moving service for every customer and every job.