Health and Safety policy

Man With a Van Crofton Park Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitments and procedures of Man With a Van Crofton Park to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our workers, customers, visitors, and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport services.

Our goal is to deliver reliable and efficient moving services while preventing accidents, injuries, and damage to property. Health and safety are central to how we plan, manage, and carry out every job, from small local moves to larger household and office removals.

Policy Aims and Objectives

The aims of this Health and Safety Policy are to:

Promote a positive health and safety culture across all removal and delivery activities.
Identify, assess, and manage risks associated with lifting, loading, transport, and customer premises.
Ensure all staff and contractors are competent, trained, and properly equipped for their tasks.
Prevent accidents, work-related ill health, and near misses wherever reasonably practicable.
Protect customers, neighbours, road users, and the public from foreseeable risks arising from our work.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for providing leadership and resources to maintain safe systems of work. This includes:

Developing and reviewing health and safety procedures for all moving and transport activities.
Carrying out and recording risk assessments for typical and non-routine removal tasks.
Ensuring that vehicles, trolleys, lifting aids, and other equipment are suitable, well maintained, and safe to use.
Providing information and instruction to workers regarding site-specific risks at customer properties.
Monitoring performance, investigating incidents, and taking corrective action where required.
Reviewing this policy regularly and updating it to reflect changes in legislation, industry guidance, and company operations.

Employee Responsibilities

Every worker has a duty of care to themselves, their colleagues, customers, and the public. All staff are expected to:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Follow all training, safe working procedures, and instructions provided by the company.
Use vehicles, tools, and equipment only for their intended purpose and report defects immediately.
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment where required, such as gloves or safety footwear.
Report accidents, injuries, near misses, unsafe conditions, or health concerns at the earliest opportunity.
Refrain from working under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or any substance that may impair safe performance.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before starting any removal job, a risk-based approach is taken to plan safe working methods. This includes consideration of:

Access routes, stairs, lifts, and parking arrangements at both collection and delivery addresses.
The size, shape, and weight of items being moved, and any need for dismantling or specialist handling.
Potential manual handling risks, including awkward loads, repetitive lifting, and confined spaces.
Environmental factors, such as poor lighting, uneven surfaces, weather conditions, and traffic.

Where significant risks are identified, suitable control measures are put in place. These may include additional staff, lifting aids, revised routes, or alternative methods of loading and unloading.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of our removal work and is carefully managed to reduce the risk of injury. We will:

Provide training in correct lifting and carrying techniques, including team lifting where required.
Encourage staff to assess each lift before commencing work, and to refuse unsafe lifts.
Use trolleys, dollies, straps, and other equipment to minimise strain and awkward postures.
Plan the order of loading and unloading to reduce unnecessary handling and twisting.

Workers are required to avoid overreaching, rushing, or attempting to carry items that are too heavy or bulky for safe handling.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are essential to our removal services and are operated with safety as a priority. Man With a Van Crofton Park will:

Ensure vehicles are roadworthy, regularly serviced, and subject to routine safety checks.
Secure loads properly using appropriate restraints to prevent shifting during transport.
Require drivers to hold the correct licences, follow road traffic laws, and drive responsibly.
Plan routes to minimise risk where feasible, taking into account local road conditions and restrictions.

Drivers must not use handheld devices while driving and must not drive when tired or unfit for duty.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our duty to minimise disruption and risk at customer locations and in public spaces. To achieve this, we will:

Maintain clear walkways and avoid blocking exits or emergency access routes.
Use warning signs or verbal warnings where trip hazards or moving loads are present.
Handle customer property with care to prevent damage and avoid creating unsafe conditions.
Consider neighbours, pedestrians, and other road users when parking and loading.

Customers are encouraged to keep children and pets away from working areas during loading and unloading.

Training, Information, and Supervision

All staff involved in removal activities receive appropriate training and guidance. This includes:

Induction training on company health and safety procedures and expectations.
Instruction on manual handling, use of equipment, and vehicle safety.
Ongoing refresher training where needed and updates when procedures change.
Supervision and mentoring for new or less experienced staff during removal tasks.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses, and unsafe conditions must be reported as soon as reasonably practicable. We will:

Record health and safety incidents and investigate the causes.
Take appropriate action to prevent recurrence, including changes to procedures or equipment where necessary.
Provide first aid provisions appropriate to the scale and nature of our work.

In the event of a serious incident, emergency services will be contacted immediately, and the area will be made safe as far as possible.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains suitable and effective for the services offered by Man With a Van Crofton Park. We are committed to continuous improvement and welcome feedback from staff and customers on ways to enhance safety during removal and transport activities.

By working together, following procedures, and maintaining awareness of risks, we aim to provide a safe, professional, and reliable moving service for every customer.