Health and Safety policy

Man With a Van Bromley Health and Safety Policy

Man With a Van Bromley is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with removal, transport and related services, and applies to all locations where we operate.

Our Health and Safety Commitments

We recognise our duty to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and best practice relating to the removals and transport sector. Our key commitments are to:

Identify, assess and control risks that arise from our work activities.

Provide and maintain safe systems of work, safe equipment and safe handling procedures.

Ensure all staff receive appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision.

Promote a positive health and safety culture where everyone takes responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others.

Continually review and improve our health and safety performance.

Responsibilities

Effective health and safety management is a shared responsibility. The company, its managers, drivers, porters and customers each have important roles to play.

Company Responsibilities

Man With a Van Bromley will:

Maintain this Health and Safety Policy and review it regularly.

Carry out and record suitable and sufficient risk assessments for our operations.

Provide appropriate manual handling equipment and ensure that vehicles and tools are maintained in a safe condition.

Ensure that staff are competent to perform their tasks, through recruitment, induction and ongoing training.

Provide clear procedures for reporting accidents, incidents and near misses, and investigate them to prevent recurrence.

Consult with employees on health and safety matters, and encourage suggestions for improvement.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and regular contractors working on behalf of Man With a Van Bromley must:

Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.

Follow all safety procedures, instructions and training given by the company.

Use equipment correctly and not misuse or interfere with anything provided for health and safety.

Report any hazards, defects, accidents, near misses or unsafe practices to a manager as soon as possible.

Wear appropriate clothing and personal protective equipment as required by the task or risk assessment.

Customer Responsibilities

We ask our customers to support safe working by:

Providing clear and accurate information about access, parking, property layout and any known hazards before the job begins.

Ensuring that access routes, stairs and hallways are as clear as reasonably possible on the day of the move.

Supervising children and pets so they are kept away from moving vehicles, lifting operations and loading areas.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Procedures

Risk assessments are carried out for key activities involved in our removal and transport services. These assessments consider hazards such as manual handling, use of vehicles, working at height when loading, slips and trips, and working in customers homes or business premises. Findings from these assessments are used to develop practical control measures and procedures.

Staff are trained to:

Assess the weight, size and shape of items before lifting or moving them.

Plan the route for moving items, checking for obstacles, fragile surfaces and tight corners.

Use lifting aids, trollies, straps and team handling where appropriate, rather than attempting to lift heavy items alone.

Stop work and seek guidance if a task appears unsafe or significantly different from what was planned.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of removal work and presents a significant risk of injury if not managed properly. Man With a Van Bromley promotes safe lifting techniques and sensible workload planning to reduce the risk of strains and other musculoskeletal injuries.

Our approach includes:

Training all staff in safe lifting, carrying and team-handling practices.

Using appropriate lifting equipment where it is practicable to do so.

Avoiding the need for manual handling where possible by planning routes and using vehicles and equipment effectively.

Encouraging staff to speak up if they believe an item is too heavy or awkward to move safely.

Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety

Our vehicles are central to our operations and must be used safely at all times. We undertake regular inspections and maintenance to ensure vehicles are roadworthy and suitable for the loads they carry.

Drivers must:

Hold the appropriate licence and be authorised by the company to drive our vehicles.

Carry out basic pre-use checks before each journey, such as tyres, lights and load security.

Secure loads properly to prevent movement during transit.

Observe all road traffic laws and drive responsibly, taking account of weather, traffic and local conditions.

Never drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that may impair their ability to drive safely.

Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, injuries, vehicle incidents and near misses involving Man With a Van Bromley staff or vehicles must be reported promptly to management. Accurate reporting helps us identify trends and implement corrective actions.

We will:

Record details of accidents and incidents in an internal log.

Investigate the causes and, where necessary, review risk assessments and procedures.

Take appropriate steps to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work

We recognise the physical nature of our work and the need for staff to be fit and able to perform their duties safely. Employees are encouraged to inform management of any health conditions that may affect their ability to carry out specific tasks, so that suitable adjustments can be considered.

We do not permit staff to work while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. The misuse of prescription or over-the-counter medication that impairs safe working is also prohibited.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, our services or the nature of the work we undertake. The latest version of this policy is available to all employees and can be provided to customers on request.

By implementing and maintaining this policy, Man With a Van Bromley aims to provide safe, reliable and professional removal and transport services throughout our operating area.