Health and Safety policy
Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Finsbury Park
Man with Van Finsbury Park 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 transportation activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks and promoting a culture of safety across all moving and delivery services.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Our primary objectives are to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property during every removal, loading, unloading, and driving operation. We aim to continually improve our health and safety performance by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing proportionate control measures tailored to the nature of our man and van services.
Legal Duties and Industry Standards
We comply with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised best practices relevant to the removals and light transport sector. Our management team reviews changes in legal and industry requirements and updates procedures to ensure our activities remain safe and compliant.
Responsibilities and Accountability
Health and safety is a shared responsibility across the business:
The management of Man with Van Finsbury Park is responsible for establishing, implementing, and maintaining safe systems of work, providing resources for training and equipment, and ensuring that this policy is communicated and understood.
Employees are responsible for following safe working procedures, using equipment correctly, attending training, reporting hazards, near misses, and incidents, and cooperating fully in all health and safety matters.
Contractors and subcontractors working on our behalf are required to follow our safety standards and any site-specific rules provided by customers, as well as relevant legal duties.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We conduct risk assessments for our core activities, including packing, lifting, carrying, loading and unloading vehicles, securing loads, driving, and working in residential and commercial premises. These assessments consider hazards such as manual handling, slips and trips, working in confined spaces such as stairwells, vehicle movement, and interaction with members of the public.
Safe systems of work are developed based on these assessments and are regularly reviewed to reflect changes in our operations, equipment, or client requirements.
Manual Handling and Lifting Operations
Lifting and moving items is central to our removal services. To reduce the risk of strains, sprains, and other injuries, we:
Provide manual handling guidance and training appropriate to the work being undertaken.
Encourage assessment of each lift, including weight, size, shape, and route, before moving any item.
Promote team lifting for heavy or awkward objects and use trolleys or other aids where reasonably practicable.
Discourage unsafe shortcuts, such as rushing, twisting while lifting, or carrying loads that impair visibility.
Vehicle Safety and Load Security
Our vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition through regular inspections and servicing. Drivers must complete basic pre-use checks before leaving for any job, including tyres, lights, mirrors, and load areas.
Loading and securing items is carried out to minimise the risk of movement during transit, using straps, blankets, and appropriate packing methods. Drivers and crew are instructed to ensure that exits, doors, and emergency access points are not obstructed and that the vehicle is never overloaded.
Safe Driving Practices
All drivers are required to hold the appropriate licence and follow safe driving practices, including compliance with speed limits, adherence to parking regulations, and consideration for pedestrians and other road users. Journey planning allows sufficient time for loading, travel, and unloading, helping to reduce pressure and the temptation to rush or take risks.
Use of mobile phones and other distractions while driving is prohibited, except through legally compliant hands-free systems when absolutely necessary and safe to do so.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
Our teams often work in and around homes, offices, communal areas, and public spaces. We take care to protect customers, neighbours, visitors, and passers-by by:
Maintaining clear access routes and keeping doorways, staircases, and pathways as free from obstruction as possible.
Positioning ramps, trolleys, and equipment safely and removing trip hazards promptly.
Handling customers belongings carefully to avoid damage to property or fixtures.
Communicating clearly with customers about any restrictions or temporary hazards during the removal process.
Information, Instruction, and Training
We provide our staff with information, instruction, and training appropriate to their role and level of responsibility. This may include manual handling techniques, safe loading procedures, basic vehicle safety, use of equipment, and emergency response arrangements.
New workers receive an induction that covers general safety rules, reporting procedures, and expectations for behaviour on customer sites and on the road.
Accident, Incident, and Near Miss Reporting
All accidents, injuries, incidents, and near misses must be reported to management as soon as reasonably practicable. These events are recorded, investigated, and reviewed to identify root causes and actions to prevent recurrence. Where necessary, we update our risk assessments and procedures following any incident.
Health, Wellbeing, and Fit for Work
We recognise that the physical demands of removal work require workers to be fit for the tasks they are performing. Employees are encouraged to report any health issues that may affect their ability to work safely, including fatigue, illness, or injury. We will consider reasonable adjustments to duties and workloads where practicable to support safe working.
Consultation and Continuous Improvement
We value feedback from staff and customers on health and safety matters. Workers are encouraged to raise concerns, suggest improvements, and participate in developing safer working methods. Management reviews this Health and Safety Policy periodically and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, ensuring it remains relevant and effective.
Policy Review and Availability
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to reflect operational changes, updated legislation, and lessons learned from experience. A current version is made available to employees and can be shared with customers on request. By working together and following the principles set out in this policy, Man with Van Finsbury Park aims to deliver reliable, efficient, and safe removal services at all times.
