Health and Safety Policy for Man and a Van Earls Court
Man and a Van Earls Court 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 moving services. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with lifting, loading, transport, property access, and on-site operations.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
We aim to prevent accidents, injuries, and work-related ill health arising from our man and van and removal activities. We will continually improve our standards by reviewing working practices, providing relevant training, and ensuring that all work is carried out in a safe, responsible, and professional manner.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Man and a Van Earls Court complies with all relevant health and safety legislation and codes of practice applicable to transport, removals, and on-site work. We will monitor changes in legal requirements and industry guidance to ensure our procedures remain up to date and effective.
Roles and Responsibilities
Management holds overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this policy. This includes ensuring that suitable resources are made available for health and safety, that risk assessments are completed, and that staff receive appropriate guidance and supervision.
Employees, including drivers, porters, and removal staff, are responsible for following safe systems of work, using equipment correctly, reporting hazards, and cooperating with all health and safety measures. Every member of the team has a duty of care to themselves, colleagues, customers, and the public.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Before beginning any removal or transport job, we assess foreseeable risks connected to the task. This includes reviewing access routes, stairways, parking, loading spaces, manual handling requirements, and any specific customer needs. Where required, we will adjust our methods or equipment to reduce risks to an acceptable level.
We implement safe systems of work for loading and unloading vehicles, securing items in transit, navigating confined spaces, and handling fragile or heavy goods. Work will only proceed where it is safe and reasonably practicable to do so.
Training, Information, and Supervision
All staff receive training relevant to their roles, including induction training, practical guidance on manual handling, safe driving practices, use of moving equipment, and emergency procedures. Refresher training is provided where appropriate or when work methods change.
Supervisors and senior staff monitor on-site work and driving standards, providing feedback to ensure that agreed safety procedures are followed consistently. Staff are encouraged to raise health and safety concerns at any time without fear of criticism.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a significant part of our removal work. We minimise risks by planning lifts carefully, using team lifting methods, and employing appropriate equipment such as trolleys, dollies, straps, blankets, and ramps wherever reasonably practicable.
Our staff are instructed to avoid unnecessary lifting, to keep loads close to the body, to bend the knees rather than the back, and to refuse any lift that they consider unsafe. All equipment is maintained, inspected, and used only for its intended purpose.
Vehicle Safety and Safe Driving
We maintain our vans to a safe and roadworthy standard through regular inspections and servicing. Drivers are required to carry out basic pre-use checks and report any defects immediately so that they can be addressed before further use.
Safe driving is essential in urban and residential areas, where space is limited and pedestrians may be present. Our drivers are expected to obey the Highway Code, comply with speed limits, use seat belts at all times, and drive in a considerate and defensive manner. Fatigue, alcohol, drugs, and the use of mobile phones while driving are strictly prohibited.
Customer and Property Safety
We take care to protect customers, their property, and their neighbours during all removal and man and van work. This includes planning safe access routes, controlling vehicle movements, and maintaining clear walkways to prevent slips, trips, and falls.
Our team will use protective coverings where appropriate, handle items carefully to avoid damage, and take particular care in shared spaces such as corridors, stairwells, and communal entrances. Customers are asked to keep children, pets, and non-essential persons away from active work areas.
Housekeeping and Site Management
Good housekeeping is maintained on all jobs. Packing materials, straps, and tools are kept tidy and stored in designated areas when not in use. Rubbish and surplus materials are cleared promptly to avoid tripping hazards and obstructions.
Where parking or access is restricted, we will position vehicles to minimise risk to other road users and pedestrians, using hazard lights and, where necessary, cones or similar visual markers to highlight the work area.
Accident, Incident, and Near-Miss Reporting
All accidents, injuries, near misses, and dangerous occurrences must be reported to management as soon as possible. This allows us to investigate the circumstances, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Where appropriate, we will record incidents and review risk assessments, work practices, or training needs in light of what has been learned. We encourage open reporting and learning from mistakes as part of a positive safety culture.
Emergency Procedures
Our staff are briefed on what to do in the event of an emergency such as fire, serious injury, road traffic collision, or sudden illness. This includes calling the emergency services where required, making the area safe, and reporting the incident to management.
On customer premises or shared buildings, our team will follow the site-specific emergency procedures, including evacuation routes and assembly points, as instructed by the responsible person or building management.
Consultation and Communication
Health and safety is a shared responsibility. We consult with staff about any planned changes to work methods, equipment, or vehicles that may affect their safety. Feedback from employees and customers is welcomed and used to improve how we manage risks during removals and man and van services.
Policy Review
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated whenever there are significant changes to our operations, legal requirements, or industry best practice. The latest version is made available to all employees and can be provided to customers on request.
By following this policy, Man and a Van Earls Court seeks to deliver efficient and reliable removal services while safeguarding the health, safety, and wellbeing of everyone involved.
