Health and Safety policy
Health and Safety Policy for Man and a Van Putney
Man and a Van Putney is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removals and delivery activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with domestic and commercial moves, furniture transportation and related services.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property arising from our work. We will manage health and safety with the same priority as quality and customer service. We will comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice relevant to the removals sector.
This policy applies to all employees, including temporary staff and subcontracted drivers or porters working under our control. It also sets out expectations for customers and others present at collection and delivery locations to cooperate with our safety measures.
Responsibilities for Health and Safety
Overall responsibility for health and safety within Man and a Van Putney rests with the company management. Management will provide leadership, resources and support to implement this policy effectively and review its performance regularly.
Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for ensuring that safe systems of work are followed on site and in vehicles, and that staff use appropriate equipment and techniques. They must report hazards, incidents and near misses promptly so that corrective action can be taken.
Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Staff must follow training and instructions, use equipment properly, wear any required personal protective equipment and report hazards or incidents without delay.
Risk Assessment and Risk Management
We will identify, assess and manage health and safety risks associated with our removal and transport operations. This includes risks linked to manual handling of furniture and boxes, vehicle movements, loading and unloading, working in customers homes and premises, and handling fragile or heavy items.
Risk assessments will be completed and reviewed periodically, and whenever there are changes in our activities, equipment or work locations. Control measures will be implemented to reduce risks to an acceptable level, and staff will be informed of the significant findings of these assessments.
Safe Working Practices for Removals
We will maintain safe systems of work that reflect the specific demands of moving household belongings, office equipment and bulky items. These include planning access routes, assessing parking and loading areas, checking stairways and lifts, and agreeing safe working zones with customers.
Whenever possible, large or heavy items will be handled by two or more team members. Mechanical aids such as trolleys and dollies will be used where appropriate, and loads will not exceed safe lifting limits. Special care will be taken when moving items through narrow spaces or over uneven surfaces to protect both people and property.
Manual Handling and Musculoskeletal Health
Manual handling is a significant part of our removals work and presents a key health and safety risk. We will provide training on safe lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling techniques tailored to furniture and box removals.
Staff are expected to assess each lift before starting work, considering the weight, shape, stability of the load and the distance to be moved. No employee should attempt to lift or carry a load they consider unsafe. Team lifting will be used for bulky or awkward items, and rest breaks will be taken as needed to prevent fatigue and strain injuries.
Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety
Our vehicles will be maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition in line with legal requirements and manufacturer recommendations. Drivers must carry out basic pre-use checks, report any defects and follow safe driving practices at all times.
Loads must be distributed and secured properly to prevent movement during transit. Access ramps, doors and tailgates will be operated in accordance with training. Drivers must comply with speed limits, parking regulations and restrictions at collection and delivery sites, especially in residential streets and busy urban areas.
Use of Equipment and Protective Gear
Equipment such as moving blankets, straps, trolleys, ramps and basic tools will be used and maintained in a safe condition. Staff must not use damaged or defective equipment and should report any faults immediately.
Where necessary, personal protective equipment will be provided and used, such as gloves for handling items, safety footwear for protection from dropped loads and high visibility garments where there is a risk from traffic or vehicle movements.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
We recognise that our work often takes place in occupied homes, office buildings and shared areas such as corridors, driveways and pavements. We will arrange our work to minimise disruption and hazards to customers, neighbours, employees of other businesses and the general public.
Trip hazards such as loose packaging or tools will be managed, and access routes will be kept as clear as reasonably practicable. Doors and gates will be held open securely where appropriate, and warning will be given when carrying large items that may block vision or access.
Training, Information and Supervision
All employees will receive appropriate health and safety training relevant to their role, including induction training for new starters and refresher training where necessary. Subjects will include manual handling, vehicle safety, use of equipment and dealing with hazards at customer locations.
Supervision will be provided to ensure that safe working procedures are followed, especially for new or less experienced staff. Information about risks and control measures will be communicated clearly and updated as our operations develop.
Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, injuries, near misses and significant incidents must be reported as soon as possible to management. We will investigate incidents to identify root causes and implement improvements to prevent recurrence.
Staff will be briefed on emergency procedures including what to do in the event of fire, serious injury, vehicle collision or other urgent incidents. First aid provision will be arranged as appropriate to the scale and nature of our work.
Policy Review and Continuous Improvement
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in our activities, legal requirements or best practice in the removals industry. We will use feedback from employees, customers and incident reports to improve our performance and ensure that health and safety remains central to the way Man and a Van Putney operates.
