Health and Safety policy
Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Mitcham
Man with Van Mitcham is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our staff, contractors, customers, and members of the public who may be affected by our activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out how we manage safety risks associated with our removal and transport services, including packing, loading, unloading, and moving items at homes, offices, and other premises within our service areas.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
The primary objectives of this policy are to prevent injury, protect property, and reduce risks wherever reasonably practicable. We aim to:
Identify, assess, and manage risks associated with removals and transportation activities.
Provide suitable information, instruction, and guidance to our workers.
Maintain vehicles and equipment in a safe and roadworthy condition.
Encourage a culture where health and safety concerns can be raised and addressed promptly.
Continually improve our health and safety performance and working practices.
Management Responsibilities
Management is responsible for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy. This includes:
Ensuring compliance with relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice.
Conducting and reviewing risk assessments for typical removal tasks and environments.
Providing appropriate guidance on manual handling, lifting techniques, and use of equipment such as trolleys and straps.
Ensuring that drivers and team members are competent to perform their roles safely.
Investigating any accidents, incidents, or near misses and taking corrective action where necessary.
Employee and Contractor Responsibilities
All employees and contractors working on behalf of Man with Van Mitcham have a duty to:
Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.
Follow the safety instructions and procedures provided by the company.
Use equipment, vehicles, and protective aids correctly and report defects immediately.
Adopt safe manual handling techniques when lifting, carrying, or moving items.
Report hazards, near misses, and incidents as soon as possible so that appropriate action can be taken.
Safe Working Practices for Removals
We recognise the specific risks involved in removal work, including manual handling, working in confined spaces, and operating in busy streets and shared access areas. To manage these, we apply the following principles:
Plan each job in advance, considering access routes, parking, loading areas, and any special handling needs.
Use mechanical aids such as trolleys and moving equipment where reasonably practicable.
Encourage team lifting for heavy or bulky items to avoid single-person strain.
Keep walkways clear of trip hazards such as packing materials, tools, or loose items.
Pause work immediately if conditions become unsafe, for example due to structural concerns, aggressive behaviour, or extreme weather, and reassess the risk.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a core part of our work and presents a significant risk if not performed correctly. To reduce the risk of injury:
Heavy loads are assessed before lifting, and alternative methods considered where possible.
Staff are instructed to keep loads close to the body, bend the knees, avoid twisting, and lift steadily.
Team members are expected to refuse to lift items they judge unsafe due to weight, size, shape, instability, or environmental conditions.
Where appropriate, items may be partially dismantled to reduce weight and ease handling.
Driver and Vehicle Safety
Driver and road safety are essential to the safe delivery of our services. We therefore:
Ensure vehicles used for removal services are maintained, inspected, and kept in a roadworthy condition.
Require drivers to comply with traffic laws, speed limits, and parking regulations.
Expect drivers to be fit to drive, free from the influence of drugs or alcohol, and adequately rested.
Secure loads properly within vehicles using suitable restraints to prevent movement during transit.
Discourage the use of mobile phones or other distractions while driving, except where permitted by law and used hands-free.
Customer Responsibilities and Access Conditions
We ask our customers to support our health and safety standards by:
Providing accurate information in advance about access, stairs, lifts, parking, and any unusual or heavy items.
Ensuring safe access to the premises, including the removal of trip hazards where reasonably possible.
Keeping children, pets, and bystanders away from loading and unloading areas to prevent accidents.
Informing our team of any known hazards on the property, such as damaged steps, loose floor coverings, or restricted access areas.
Not asking team members to undertake tasks that are clearly unsafe, such as moving excessively heavy items without proper access or equipment.
Working Environment and Welfare
Man with Van Mitcham strives to ensure that the working environment for our teams is as safe and comfortable as reasonably practicable. This includes:
Encouraging regular breaks during lengthy or physically demanding jobs.
Providing guidance on hydration and appropriate clothing for varying weather conditions.
Expecting team members to maintain good personal conduct and respect for customers and their property.
Taking steps to prevent violence, aggression, or harassment directed at our staff, including the right to suspend work if they feel threatened.
Accidents, Incidents and Near Misses
We are committed to learning from incidents to improve safety. All accidents, injuries, damage to property, and near misses must be reported to management as soon as reasonably practicable. Where appropriate, records will be kept, causes analysed, and measures introduced to help prevent recurrence.
Review of This Policy
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, or our working practices. All staff and contractors are expected to familiarise themselves with the current version and follow it at all times when representing Man with Van Mitcham.
By working together and following this policy, we aim to provide a safe, efficient, and professional removal service for all customers within our operating areas.
