Man and Van Bayswater Health and Safety Policy

Man and Van Bayswater is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public affected by our removals and transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving, lifting, loading, transport and storage of household and commercial items within our service area.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our primary objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property during every removal, delivery and collection. We aim to:

Identify and control hazards related to lifting, carrying, working in and around vehicles, and working in customers homes and business premises.

Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and accepted industry best practice.

Continually improve our health and safety performance through training, supervision and regular review of working methods.

Promote a positive safety culture in which all team members and customers understand their role in maintaining a safe environment.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man and Van Bayswater has overall responsibility for implementing this Health and Safety Policy. This includes:

Ensuring that appropriate resources, equipment and information are provided for safe working.

Carrying out and reviewing risk assessments for removal and transport activities.

Maintaining safe systems of work for packing, lifting, loading, securing and transporting items.

Ensuring vehicles and equipment used for removal services are suitable, well maintained and inspected regularly.

Monitoring health and safety performance and investigating any incidents, accidents or near misses.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and regular contractors working with Man and Van Bayswater have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of those around them. Staff are required to:

Follow all health and safety procedures, instructions and training provided.

Use equipment, personal protective equipment and vehicles correctly and safely.

Report hazards, defects, unsafe conditions, accidents and near misses to management without delay.

Cooperate with management in the implementation of this policy and any related safety measures.

Refrain from any reckless or unsafe behaviour, including lifting beyond their capability or ignoring safe loading practices.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Methods

We conduct risk assessments for our core activities, including house and office removals, furniture moving, packing, loading, unloading and transportation. These assessments consider hazards such as manual handling, slips and trips, working at height for vehicle access, traffic risks, and work in confined or restricted spaces such as stairwells.

Findings from risk assessments are used to develop and maintain safe systems of work. These include:

Planning each removal in advance, including access routes, parking locations and handling of heavy or awkward items.

Using appropriate lifting techniques, shared lifting and equipment such as trolleys and straps to reduce strain.

Ensuring heavy or bulky items are secured safely in vehicles to prevent movement during transit.

Assessing customer premises for hazards such as loose floor coverings, poor lighting or obstructed walkways and taking steps to reduce risk.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of our work, and we take particular care to reduce the risk of injury. Our policy is to:

Avoid unnecessary lifting and carrying wherever reasonably possible by using mechanical aids and planning vehicle positioning.

Train staff in correct lifting and carrying techniques to minimise the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

Encourage team lifting for heavier or awkward items, with clear communication and coordination.

Refuse to move items that present an unacceptable risk to staff or others unless a safer method can be arranged.

Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety

Man and Van Bayswater recognises that safe driving and vehicle operation are essential to our removal services. We will:

Ensure all drivers hold the appropriate valid driving licences and are competent to drive the vehicles they operate.

Keep vehicles in a roadworthy condition through regular inspections, servicing and prompt repair of faults.

Require that loads are distributed and secured correctly to maintain vehicle stability and prevent movement or spillage.

Promote safe driving practices, including adherence to speed limits, safe parking, and awareness of pedestrians and other road users in busy residential and commercial areas.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

Our work frequently takes place in and around customer homes, offices and public spaces. To protect customers, visitors and the public, we will:

Maintain clear access routes wherever possible and highlight any temporary hazards such as trailing straps or equipment.

Take care to prevent damage to property, fixtures, fittings and neighbouring premises during moves.

Supervise loading and unloading activities to minimise risks in shared spaces such as pavements, courtyards or car parks.

Stop work if conditions become unsafe, for example due to severe weather, structural concerns, or aggressive behaviour.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide staff with appropriate health and safety training relevant to their role in the removal process. This includes induction training, instruction in manual handling, safe loading, use of equipment, and working safely at customer locations.

Information on safe systems of work is communicated clearly and reinforced through supervision and ongoing guidance. Less experienced staff are supervised by more experienced team members, particularly on complex or high risk moves.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents and near misses that occur during removal activities must be reported to management as soon as possible. We keep records of such events and investigate where necessary to identify causes and prevent recurrence.

Staff are briefed on emergency procedures, including what to do in the event of personal injury, fire, road traffic incidents or damage to property. Where required, we cooperate fully with emergency services and relevant authorities.

Health and Safety Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated as required to reflect changes in legislation, industry practice, or the nature of our removal services. Feedback from employees and customers is considered as part of this review process.

Man and Van Bayswater expects all employees, contractors and partners to work in line with this policy to ensure that our removal services are delivered safely, responsibly and with respect for the wellbeing of everyone involved.