Man with Van Harringay Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Harringay is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, contractors, and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with domestic and commercial removals, loading and unloading, transportation, and related services.

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and putting effective control measures in place. We will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised best practice for the moving and handling sector.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man with Van Harringay has overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy. This includes providing the resources, equipment, information, and supervision necessary to work safely in all service areas we cover.

Management will ensure that:

All work is planned and organised to minimise risks to employees, customers, and others.
Suitable and sufficient risk assessments are completed and reviewed regularly.
Safe systems of work and operating procedures are developed, communicated, and followed.
Vehicles, lifting aids, and equipment are properly selected, maintained, and fit for purpose.
Employees receive appropriate health and safety training and instruction for their roles.
Accidents, near misses, and incidents are recorded, investigated, and used to improve standards.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee and contractor working on behalf of Man with Van Harringay has a duty to protect their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.

All staff are expected to:

Follow the health and safety procedures, guidance, and instructions provided.
Use vehicles, tools, and equipment correctly and only for their intended purpose.
Wear any personal protective equipment provided, where appropriate.
Report hazards, defects, and unsafe conditions without delay.
Stop work and seek guidance if a task cannot be carried out safely.
Cooperate with management in the investigation of accidents and incidents.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Man with Van Harringay will carry out risk assessments for typical removal and transport activities, including lifting and carrying items, loading and unloading vehicles, working in confined or restricted spaces, working at height when required, travelling between locations, and handling fragile, bulky, or heavy goods.

These assessments will be used to establish safe working practices that may include:

Planning each move in advance to understand access routes, parking arrangements, and potential hazards.
Confirming item sizes, weights, and special handling requirements prior to collection wherever possible.
Allocating an appropriate number of staff for each job, based on the volume and nature of the items to be moved.
Using mechanical aids or additional assistance where manual handling risks are high.
Implementing safe loading patterns in vehicles to ensure stability, even weight distribution, and secure transport.
Taking precautions when working in public or shared areas to protect passers-by and neighbours.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

The nature of our removal services involves significant manual handling. To reduce the risk of injury, we will:

Provide manual handling guidance and training to staff on safe lifting techniques.
Avoid or reduce the need for manual lifting where possible through the use of equipment.
Assess loads in terms of weight, shape, and stability before attempting to move them.
Use appropriate equipment such as trolleys, straps, ramps, and blankets where needed.
Ensure all equipment is regularly inspected and maintained in good working order.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are central to the services we provide in the local area. Man with Van Harringay will ensure that:

All vehicles are roadworthy, properly maintained, and regularly inspected.
Drivers hold the appropriate licences and are competent for the type of vehicle they operate.
Loads are evenly distributed, secured, and within legal weight limits.
Drivers follow road traffic laws and drive in a safe, courteous, and professional manner.
Journey times are planned realistically to avoid excessive pressure and encourage safe driving.

Customer and Public Safety

We recognise our duty to protect customers and members of the public who may be present while we carry out removal work.

To safeguard others we will:

Maintain clear communication with customers regarding timings, access, and any restrictions.
Identify and control risks at collection and delivery addresses, including trip hazards, narrow stairs, and shared corridors.
Where reasonably practicable, separate moving operations from areas used by customers and the public.
Take care when moving items through communal spaces, parking areas, and on public pavements.
Work in a respectful and considerate manner in residential and commercial environments.

Training, Information, and Supervision

Man with Van Harringay is committed to ensuring that all staff involved in removal and transport activities are competent to perform their work safely.

We will provide:

Induction training covering key health and safety responsibilities.
Ongoing instruction on safe manual handling, use of equipment, and vehicle loading.
Guidance on hazard awareness, dynamic risk assessment, and incident reporting.
Appropriate supervision, particularly for less experienced staff or new starters.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, near misses, and cases of work-related ill health must be reported promptly to management. We will investigate these events to identify underlying causes and implement measures to prevent recurrence.

Emergency procedures will be followed in the event of serious injury, fire, road traffic incidents, or other significant hazards. Staff will be briefed on how to respond, who to notify, and what information to provide in emergencies.

Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary, for example after significant changes to our operations, the introduction of new equipment, or following a serious incident.

We will monitor performance through feedback from staff and customers, review of incident reports, and periodic checks of working practices on removal jobs. Lessons learned will be used to improve the safety and quality of our services across the areas we serve.

By working together and following this policy, Man with Van Harringay aims to deliver a reliable and efficient removal service while maintaining high standards of health, safety, and care for everyone involved.