Health and Safety policy
Man with Van Raynes Park Health and Safety Policy
Man with Van Raynes 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 transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out how we manage risks associated with moving, loading, transport and delivery of household and commercial items.
Policy Statement
Our aim is to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment arising from our work. We will comply with relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice for removal and transport services. Health and safety is an integral part of how we plan and deliver each move, whether for small home moves or larger office relocations.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for leading by example, while every worker has a duty to take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others. We expect the same standards from any subcontractors engaged to support our moving and delivery services.
Responsibilities
The management of Man with Van Raynes Park is responsible for:
Ensuring suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for our activities and that control measures are implemented and maintained.
Providing appropriate training, information and instruction to all staff engaged in lifting, carrying, driving and customer service work.
Supplying and maintaining vehicles, equipment and personal protective equipment in a safe condition.
Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses and taking corrective action to prevent recurrence.
Employees and contractors are responsible for:
Following all safety procedures, training guidance and instructions provided.
Using vehicles, trolleys, straps and other equipment only for their intended purpose and reporting defects immediately.
Assessing loads before lifting, using safe manual handling techniques and asking for assistance or equipment where necessary.
Maintaining a clean and orderly work area in vehicles, at collection points and at delivery locations.
Risk Assessment and Planning
Before each removal job, a risk assessment will be completed that considers access routes, parking, stairs, lifts, distance to vehicles, size and weight of items, and any particular customer requirements. Where necessary, site visits or detailed customer discussions will be used to identify potential hazards and plan safe methods of work.
Control measures may include use of additional staff, trolleys, ramps, lifting straps, or dismantling of larger items. Where the work presents a higher level of risk, a written method statement will be prepared and communicated to the team.
Manual Handling and Safe Lifting
Manual handling is a central part of removal work and is managed carefully to reduce the risk of strains, sprains and long term musculoskeletal disorders. We are committed to:
Training all staff in safe lifting and carrying techniques, including team lifting and use of handling aids.
Avoiding manual lifting of very heavy or awkward items where mechanical aids or additional manpower can be provided.
Planning routes to avoid unnecessary carrying distances and to minimise use of stairs where possible.
Encouraging staff to speak up if a load is too heavy or the task feels unsafe, without any pressure to proceed.
Vehicle Safety and Driving
Our vehicles are central to the safe delivery of our services. We maintain them in a roadworthy condition and ensure that drivers:
Hold the appropriate valid driving licence and have received relevant training for the type of vehicle and nature of the work.
Carry out basic pre use checks covering tyres, lights, brakes and load securing points.
Drive in accordance with road traffic laws, observing speed limits and adapting to traffic and weather conditions.
Avoid distractions while driving and take regular breaks on longer journeys to reduce fatigue.
All loads must be secured so that items cannot move unexpectedly during transit. This includes the use of straps, blankets and appropriate stacking methods to protect both people and property.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
Our teams work in a range of environments including homes, offices, storage facilities and shared access areas. We take care to protect customers, neighbours and members of the public by:
Maintaining clear access routes and keeping doorways, stairs and pavements free from obstructions wherever possible.
Using caution when moving large items through narrow spaces, doorways, corridors and communal areas.
Adopting safe parking and loading practices to minimise obstruction and ensure emergency access routes are kept clear.
Using warning signs or verbal communication where there is a risk to others, such as moving large furniture or using ramps.
Equipment, Tools and Personal Protective Equipment
Where appropriate, our teams use handling equipment such as sack trucks, dollies, furniture sliders and protective coverings. The company will:
Provide suitable equipment that is maintained in a safe condition and inspected regularly.
Ensure that only trained staff use specialised equipment or tools.
Provide personal protective equipment where required by risk assessment, such as gloves or high visibility clothing for work near traffic.
Training, Information and Supervision
We are committed to ongoing training and supervision so that all staff understand the hazards involved in removal work and how to control them. This includes:
Induction training for new starters covering general health and safety, manual handling, vehicle safety and customer care.
Refresher training where procedures change or where risks have been identified through incident reviews or customer feedback.
Clear communication of job specific instructions before each move, including any particular hazards identified for that task.
Accidents, Incidents and First Aid
All accidents, near misses and cases of work related ill health must be reported to management as soon as possible. These reports will be reviewed to identify trends and areas for improvement. Where required, incidents will be recorded in an accident log.
Vehicles and teams will have access to basic first aid supplies suitable for minor injuries likely to occur during removal work. At least one person in each team will have received basic first aid awareness training.
Review of Policy
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, types of moves undertaken, or applicable legal requirements. Updates and improvements will be communicated to all staff and, where relevant, to customers and contractors. By working together and following this policy, Man with Van Raynes Park aims to provide a safe, reliable and professional removal service across our service area.
