Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Crayford

Man with Van Crayford is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our staff, customers, visitors, and members of the public who may be affected by our removals and transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving services, loading and unloading, driving, and handling customer belongings.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property by managing health and safety risks in a sensible and proportionate manner. We aim to:

Identify, assess, and reduce risks associated with our work, especially manual handling, vehicle use, and working in and around domestic and commercial premises.

Provide our team with information, instruction, training, and supervision to carry out their duties safely and competently.

Ensure vehicles, equipment, and tools used for removals are suitable, maintained, and used correctly.

Promote a positive health and safety culture, where staff are encouraged to raise concerns and report hazards or incidents.

Review and update this policy when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, industry standards, and company operations.

Responsibilities for Health and Safety

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who are responsible for implementing and maintaining this policy throughout Man with Van Crayford.

Management responsibilities include:

Ensuring that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for removals, loading and unloading activities, and driving tasks.

Providing appropriate training, guidance, and resources to staff so they can work safely.

Making sure vehicles, lifting aids, and other equipment are properly maintained and inspected.

Investigating accidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions and implementing measures to prevent recurrence.

Monitoring compliance with this policy and taking action where standards are not met.

All employees and workers have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions while at work. They must:

Follow safety procedures, safe systems of work, and instructions given by management.

Use vehicles, equipment, and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately.

Cooperate with management in implementing this policy and in maintaining a safe working environment.

Report hazards, near misses, incidents, and any health and safety concerns as soon as they arise.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Man with Van Crayford carries out risk assessments for typical moving and transport tasks, taking into account manual handling, confined spaces, access routes, working at height where applicable, and driving conditions.

Where risks are identified, we implement control measures such as:

Planning removal routes to minimise manual handling distances and avoid obstacles.

Using suitable lifting techniques and team lifting for heavy or awkward items.

Employing handling aids where appropriate, such as trolleys, straps, and ramps.

Ensuring items are securely loaded, evenly distributed, and properly restrained in vehicles.

Adjusting work methods to suit the conditions at the property, such as narrow staircases, limited access, or shared areas.

Safe working practices are communicated to staff through briefings, job instructions, and ongoing supervision.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a significant part of removals work and is a key focus of our safety arrangements. We aim to reduce manual handling risks by:

Assessing loads for weight, size, shape, and stability before moving them.

Using team lifting techniques where single-person handling would be unsafe.

Encouraging staff to refuse lifts they consider unsafe and to request assistance.

Providing training in safe lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling methods.

Organising loads in the vehicle and on-site to minimise unnecessary handling.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are central to our services and are managed to high safety standards. Man with Van Crayford will:

Ensure that all vehicles are fit for purpose, roadworthy, regularly inspected, and maintained in accordance with manufacturer guidance and legal requirements.

Check that drivers hold the appropriate licences, are competent, and understand their responsibilities for safe driving.

Require drivers to follow safe driving practices, including adherence to speed limits, parking safely and considerately near customer properties, adjusting driving to weather and road conditions, and securing loads to prevent movement during transit.

Discourage the use of mobile devices while driving, other than through permitted hands-free methods and only when safe to do so.

Customer, Public, and Property Protection

We take reasonable steps to protect customers, their belongings, neighbours, and the wider public during moves and deliveries. This includes:

Positioning vehicles to reduce obstructions and trip hazards as far as reasonably practicable.

Using safe lifting and carrying routes to avoid damage to property and reduce the risk of falls or collisions.

Maintaining clear walkways, keeping doors and gates managed during moves, and using protective coverings when appropriate.

Monitoring behaviour on-site to ensure that staff conduct themselves safely and respectfully.

Training, Information, and Supervision

Man with Van Crayford provides information and instruction so that staff understand their roles and the hazards associated with removals work. This may include:

Induction training covering basic health and safety rules, housekeeping, and emergency arrangements.

Task-specific training on manual handling, use of equipment, and safe loading of vehicles.

Ongoing guidance, toolbox talks, and refresher briefings where necessary.

Supervision of new or inexperienced workers until they are able to work safely and independently.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses, and dangerous occurrences must be reported to management as soon as possible. We maintain records of incidents to identify trends and implement improvements.

In the event of an emergency, such as serious injury, fire at a property, or a road traffic incident, staff are expected to:

Prioritise their own safety and that of others.

Call the emergency services where required and follow their instructions.

Inform management as soon as reasonably practicable.

Cooperate with any subsequent investigation or reporting requirements.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically and when there are significant changes to our operations, relevant legislation, or recognised best practice. Updated versions will be communicated to staff and will replace any previous editions. By following this policy, Man with Van Crayford aims to deliver reliable moving services while safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of everyone involved.