Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Cockfosters Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Cockfosters is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our team members, customers and the general public. This Health and Safety Policy outlines our approach to managing risk in connection with our removal and transport services, including packing, loading, unloading and moving items between homes, offices and storage locations.

Policy Aims and Objectives

The aim of this policy is to prevent injury, ill health, property damage and unsafe practices in all aspects of our work. We seek to:

Identify and control hazards associated with removals and transport services.

Provide appropriate training, information and supervision for all workers.

Maintain our vehicles, equipment and work methods in a safe condition.

Protect customers, visitors and members of the public from avoidable risks.

Comply with applicable health and safety law and recognised industry standards.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for leading on health and safety standards within Man with Van Cockfosters. This includes:

Implementing and reviewing this Health and Safety Policy on a regular basis.

Ensuring that risk assessments are carried out and updated when work practices or conditions change.

Providing and maintaining safe vehicles, lifting equipment and work tools.

Making sure that all workers understand their health and safety responsibilities.

Investigating accidents, near misses and incidents and taking corrective action.

Worker Responsibilities

All workers have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. This includes:

Following all safe working procedures and instructions.

Using equipment, vehicles and protective gear correctly.

Reporting hazards, defects, near misses, incidents and injuries without delay.

Maintaining good housekeeping in vehicles, loading areas and work locations.

Refraining from working under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication that may impair safe performance.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We conduct risk assessments for our activities, including domestic and commercial removals, small moves, furniture deliveries and transport to storage. These assessments consider hazards such as manual handling, slips and trips, work at height, traffic and parking, weather conditions and working in confined or shared spaces.

Findings from risk assessments are used to develop clear, practical safe working practices, which are communicated to all workers. These procedures are reviewed periodically and whenever significant changes occur in our services or work environment.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of our removal services, and we place strong emphasis on safe lifting techniques. To minimise the risk of strain, musculoskeletal injury and accidents:

Workers receive guidance on correct lifting, carrying and team-handling methods.

We encourage the use of trolleys, dollies, straps and other aids to reduce physical load.

Heavy or awkward items are planned and managed as team lifts where possible.

Routes are cleared of trip hazards before items are moved.

Workers are expected to refuse lifts they believe to be unsafe and to request assistance or alternative methods.

Vehicle and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are central to our work, and their safe operation is a priority. We are committed to:

Keeping vehicles in good mechanical condition through regular servicing and inspections.

Carrying out daily visual checks for issues such as tyres, lights and securing points.

Ensuring loads are evenly distributed and properly secured to prevent movement in transit.

Planning routes and parking to minimise reversing and manoeuvring risks.

Promoting safe driving practices, including observance of speed limits, rest breaks and road regulations.

Working at Customer Premises

Our teams frequently work in homes, offices and shared premises. To safeguard customers and other occupants:

We assess access routes, stairways, lifts and doorways before moving items.

Protective measures such as blankets, floor coverings and corner protectors are used where appropriate.

Walkways are kept as clear as reasonably possible during loading and unloading.

We communicate with customers about any foreseeable safety concerns linked to tight access, fragile surfaces or structural issues.

Children, pets and bystanders are kept away from active loading and unloading zones where possible.

Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

We provide and maintain suitable moving equipment for the work we undertake. This may include trolleys, sack trucks, lifting straps, ramps and protective blankets. Equipment is inspected regularly and taken out of service if found to be defective.

Where risk assessments identify a need for personal protective equipment such as gloves or safety footwear, workers are required to use it correctly. Any loss, damage or defect in such equipment must be reported immediately.

Training, Information and Supervision

We recognise that training and information are essential for a strong health and safety culture. Man with Van Cockfosters ensures that:

New workers receive an induction covering our health and safety expectations and procedures.

Workers are informed about risks associated with removal tasks and how these are controlled.

Additional guidance is provided where tasks are complex, unusual or higher risk.

Supervision is appropriate to the experience and competence of the team involved.

Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported as soon as possible. We record incidents, investigate underlying causes and implement remedial actions to reduce the chance of recurrence.

Workers are made aware of basic emergency actions, including what to do in the event of fire, serious injury, traffic incidents or property damage while carrying out removal services.

Continuous Improvement and Policy Review

Man with Van Cockfosters is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. We review this policy periodically and whenever there are significant changes in legislation, our activities or the nature of risks we face.

Feedback from workers and customers is welcomed and used to improve our safety standards. Everyone involved in our services is encouraged to raise concerns and offer suggestions to enhance health, safety and overall risk management.

This Health and Safety Policy applies to all activities undertaken by Man with Van Cockfosters and should be read and followed by all workers engaged in our removal and transport services.