Man with Van Fitzrovia Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Fitzrovia is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transportation activities. This policy sets out our approach to health and safety management across all man and van and removal services.

We recognise our responsibilities under relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice. Our aim is to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and environmental harm arising from our work activities.

Health and Safety Objectives

Our primary health and safety objectives are to:

Identify, assess and control risks associated with removal work, loading and unloading, driving, and handling customer goods. Provide and maintain safe vehicles, equipment and working methods. Ensure that employees are properly trained, supervised and competent to carry out their duties safely. Promote a positive health and safety culture where everyone understands their responsibilities. Continuously improve our health and safety performance through monitoring, review and feedback.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Man with Van Fitzrovia has overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this policy. Management will:

Ensure that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for all key activities, including lifting and carrying, use of trolleys and moving equipment, driving and parking at collection and delivery locations. Provide and maintain vehicles, lifting aids and equipment in a safe and serviceable condition. Ensure appropriate personal protective equipment is available and used where required. Provide information, instruction and training so that staff can work safely and understand the health and safety requirements relevant to their roles. Investigate all accidents, near misses and incidents to identify causes and implement corrective actions.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and contractors working for Man with Van Fitzrovia share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Every worker is required to:

Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. Follow all health and safety procedures, safe systems of work and instructions provided by management. Use vehicles, equipment and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately. Refrain from any behaviour that could put themselves or others at risk, including unsafe lifting practices or careless driving. Report hazards, accidents, near misses and any health and safety concerns without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Risk assessments are carried out for typical removal and man and van tasks, and additional dynamic assessments are completed on site where conditions differ from expectations. These assessments consider:

Manual handling of furniture, boxes and appliances. Use of stairways, lifts and narrow access routes. Parking and loading on busy streets and residential roads. Securing loads within vehicles to prevent movement during transit. Working in customers properties, shared spaces and commercial premises.

From these assessments, safe working procedures are developed, communicated to staff and reviewed regularly. Staff are instructed to stop work if they believe a situation is unsafe and to contact management for guidance.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a key part of our removal services. To reduce the risk of injury, we:

Provide training in safe lifting and carrying techniques. Use appropriate handling equipment such as sack trucks, dollies and straps where possible. Plan lifts to avoid awkward postures, excessive weight and unnecessary carrying distances. Encourage team lifting for heavy or bulky items.

All equipment is checked periodically for damage or wear. Any faulty equipment is taken out of service until repaired or replaced.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Safe operation of vehicles is essential to protect drivers, passengers, other road users and pedestrians. Man with Van Fitzrovia will:

Ensure vehicles are maintained, serviced and inspected in line with manufacturer recommendations and legal requirements. Conduct routine checks of tyres, brakes, lights and securing points. Require drivers to hold appropriate licences and follow road traffic regulations at all times. Prohibit driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including substances that impair concentration. Require drivers to plan routes and loading procedures to minimise risk, taking account of access restrictions and customer locations.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

Our teams operate in a variety of residential and commercial settings. To protect customers and the public, we:

Take care when moving items through shared spaces, corridors and entrances. Use safe lifting and carrying methods to avoid collisions with people or property. Where reasonably practicable, mark or control areas where loading or unloading is taking place. Keep walkways as clear as possible and tidy away equipment when not in use. Treat customer premises with respect and report any accidental damage promptly.

Training, Information and Supervision

Ongoing training and supervision are essential for safe operations. Man with Van Fitzrovia will:

Provide induction training for new staff covering health and safety responsibilities, manual handling, vehicle safety and incident reporting. Offer refresher training where necessary, particularly when new equipment or methods are introduced. Ensure that less experienced staff are supervised by competent personnel until they can safely work independently.

Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents, near misses and cases of work-related ill health must be reported to management. We maintain records to:

Identify patterns and recurring hazards. Support investigations into root causes. Implement corrective and preventive measures. Comply with applicable legal reporting requirements.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Man with Van Fitzrovia regularly reviews this health and safety policy and associated procedures to ensure they remain effective and up to date. Reviews are carried out following significant changes in operations, introduction of new equipment or methods, or after serious incidents.

Feedback from employees and customers is welcomed and used to improve our approach. This policy is communicated to all staff and is available to customers who wish to understand how we manage health and safety within our removal and man and van services.

By working together and following this policy, we aim to deliver efficient, reliable and safe removal services for every customer.