Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Chelsea

Man with Van Chelsea is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers 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 risks associated with house moves, office relocations, packing, loading, transport and unloading of goods.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our primary objectives are to prevent injury and ill health, to protect property, and to minimise risks arising from our operations. We aim to achieve this by identifying hazards in advance, implementing proportionate control measures, and continuously improving the way we manage safety during all moving and delivery work.

Health and safety is a core part of how we run our removal services and is considered in planning, supervision and delivery of every job, regardless of its size or complexity.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man with Van Chelsea holds overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy. This includes:

Ensuring that appropriate risk assessments are carried out for typical removal activities and that findings are communicated to employees.

Providing information, training and instruction so that staff understand safe working methods, correct handling techniques and proper use of equipment.

Supplying and maintaining vehicles, tools and lifting equipment in a safe condition, and arranging inspections where necessary.

Ensuring that adequate resources are available to meet our health and safety commitments, including time, equipment and supervision.

Reviewing incidents, near misses and feedback to identify areas for improvement and to update procedures when required.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee and contractor working for Man with Van Chelsea has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. This includes:

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

Using vehicles, trolleys, lifting straps, protective clothing and any other equipment correctly and only for their intended purpose.

Reporting hazards, defects, near misses, accidents or unsafe practices to management without delay so that appropriate action can be taken.

Not undertaking tasks for which they are not trained, competent or physically capable, particularly where manual handling or working at height is involved.

Maintaining good standards of personal conduct, avoiding horseplay and never working under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We conduct risk assessments relevant to our removal and delivery services. These assessments cover common hazards such as manual handling, vehicle movements, slips and trips, working in stairwells and confined spaces, use of ramps and loading equipment, and handling fragile or heavy items.

From these assessments, safe systems of work are developed, which may include planning suitable access routes, deciding appropriate staffing levels for lifts and carries, using moving aids such as dollies and sack trucks, and taking additional precautions where there are narrow staircases, poor lighting or uneven surfaces.

Staff are required to follow these safe systems of work and to adapt them sensibly to the specific conditions at each address, in consultation with the customer where necessary.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a significant part of removal work, and we place strong emphasis on reducing the risk of strains, sprains and other injuries. Our approach includes:

Assessing the weight, size and shape of items before lifting or moving them.

Using appropriate handling aids and equipment whenever reasonably practicable.

Encouraging team lifts for heavy or awkward loads and avoiding lone lifts where they present unnecessary risk.

Training staff in correct lifting techniques, posture and pacing of work.

Ensuring that any lifting straps, blankets, trolleys, ramps and related equipment are kept in good condition and removed from service if damaged.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are essential to our removal services and must be operated safely at all times. We are committed to:

Maintaining vehicles in roadworthy condition, with regular inspections and timely repairs.

Ensuring drivers hold the appropriate licence, are competent for the vehicle they operate and follow all road traffic requirements.

Loading vehicles safely and securely so that items do not move in transit, are not over-stacked, and do not obstruct exits or driver visibility.

Planning routes and schedules to reduce unnecessary time pressure on drivers, and encouraging rest breaks where needed.

Promoting defensive driving and courteous behaviour on the road, particularly in busy residential streets and city areas.

Protecting Customers and the Public

We recognise our responsibility to protect customers, visitors, neighbours and the general public during our work. To achieve this, we will:

Organise loading and unloading areas so that bystanders are kept away from moving vehicles and lifting operations where reasonably possible.

Use clear communication and, where necessary, simple barriers or signs to mark work areas and minimise the risk of trips or collisions.

Take care when moving items through shared hallways, entrances and stairwells to avoid blocking fire exits and to keep escape routes clear.

Handle customer property with respect, aiming to prevent damage to belongings, fixtures and fittings while maintaining safe working methods.

Training, Communication and Supervision

We provide appropriate induction and ongoing training for staff so they understand our health and safety standards and how these apply in day to day removal work. Training may cover manual handling, vehicle loading, use of equipment, hazard awareness and incident reporting.

Supervisors and senior staff are expected to lead by example, reinforce safe practices on site, and address any unsafe behaviour immediately. Health and safety matters are communicated regularly, and employees are encouraged to raise questions and suggestions.

Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, injuries, damage and near misses that occur during the course of work must be reported to management as soon as possible. We will record and, where appropriate, investigate these events to identify root causes and implement corrective actions. Lessons learned are shared with staff so that similar incidents can be prevented in future.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes in our operations, legislation, or industry best practice. We are committed to continually improving our health and safety performance and welcome feedback from employees and customers to help us refine our procedures.

By working together and following this policy, Man with Van Chelsea aims to provide safe, reliable and professional removal services while protecting the wellbeing of everyone involved in or affected by our work.