Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Gunnersbury

Man with Van Gunnersbury 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 removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with domestic and commercial removals, loading and unloading vehicles, and working in a variety of homes, offices and premises.

Our aim is to prevent accidents and work-related ill health, and to continually improve our health and safety performance in all areas of our removal services.

Policy Objectives

Our primary health and safety objectives are to:

Identify, assess and control risks associated with lifting, carrying, loading, driving and working on customer premises. Comply with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice for removal companies. Provide and maintain safe equipment, vehicles, and systems of work. Ensure all staff are properly trained, supervised and competent to carry out their duties safely. Promote a positive health and safety culture where everyone takes responsibility for safe working. Review and update this policy on a regular basis and whenever our operations or legal requirements change.

Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety within Man with Van Gunnersbury rests with the company management. Management will ensure that appropriate resources are made available to implement this policy and will lead by example in promoting safe working practices.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day-to-day implementation of this policy, including carrying out checks, monitoring safe working procedures and addressing unsafe behaviour or conditions immediately.

Every employee and contractor has a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Staff must follow all safety instructions and training, use equipment correctly and report hazards, near misses and accidents without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for typical activities involved in our removal services, including manual handling of furniture and boxes, use of trolleys and ramps, loading and unloading vehicles, securing loads for transport, and moving items in confined or multi-level spaces. For higher risk or unusual environments, task-specific assessments will be undertaken.

Based on these assessments, we develop safe systems of work and clear procedures, which may include limits on manual lifting weights, team lifting of heavy or awkward items, use of lifting aids where practicable, securing and strapping of loads within vehicles, and safe access routes to and from premises.

Manual Handling and Preventing Injury

Manual handling is a significant part of removal work. To minimise the risk of strains, sprains and other injuries, we ensure that staff receive manual handling training covering posture, lifting techniques, team coordination, and recognition of personal limits.

Where practical, handling aids such as dollies, sack trucks, sliders or straps will be used to reduce physical effort. Heavy or bulky items will only be moved by sufficient numbers of staff, and routes will be checked for obstructions, slippery surfaces, steps and tight corners before moving large loads.

Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety

Our vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition in line with legal requirements and manufacturer recommendations. Regular checks are carried out on tyres, lights, brakes, securing points and access steps or ramps.

Only authorised and competent drivers are permitted to drive our vehicles. Drivers must comply with road traffic laws, speed limits and parking regulations, and must not drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any medication that may impair their ability. Vehicles must be loaded evenly and safely, with loads secured to prevent movement during transit.

Customer Premises and Site Safety

Our work often takes place at customer homes, offices and other premises. On arrival, the team will consider access routes, stairs, lifts, doorways and outdoor areas to identify any immediate hazards. Where reasonably practicable, we will reduce risks by planning safe routes, using warning signs or verbal warnings where appropriate, and keeping work areas as tidy and unobstructed as possible.

We will take care to protect customer property and surfaces, for example by using floor protection where suitable. However, staff will not carry out activities that they judge to be unsafe or beyond their competence or equipment, such as moving items that are excessively heavy, unstable or cannot be moved safely within the available space.

Training, Information and Supervision

All staff receive induction training which includes our health and safety rules, emergency arrangements and safe working procedures for removal activities. Additional training is provided as necessary, for example for manual handling, use of equipment and driving company vehicles.

Supervision levels will reflect the experience and competence of staff and the risks associated with the work. We provide ongoing information and reminders about health and safety requirements to ensure that safe working remains a priority.

Personal Protective Equipment

Where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means, appropriate personal protective equipment will be provided, which may include gloves, safety footwear or high-visibility clothing. Staff are required to use such equipment properly, keep it in good condition and report any defects or losses immediately so that replacements can be arranged.

Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. This enables us to keep accurate records, comply with legal reporting duties where they apply, and learn from events to prevent recurrence.

Staff are made aware of emergency procedures, including what to do in case of fire, serious injury or road traffic incidents. Where work is carried out at customer premises, we will follow the site-specific emergency arrangements where they exist.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Man with Van Gunnersbury is committed to monitoring the effectiveness of this Health and Safety Policy. We review our procedures periodically, taking into account feedback from staff, incident reports, changes in our services and relevant legal or guidance updates.

As our service area and range of removal activities evolve, we will continue to adjust and improve our health and safety arrangements so that our staff and customers benefit from safe, professional and reliable service at all times.