Man and Van Edgware Health and Safety Policy

Man and Van Edgware is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks associated with moving, loading, transporting and unloading household and commercial goods.

Policy Statement

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property or the environment arising from our operations. We will identify and manage risks, comply with relevant health and safety legislation, and continuously improve our standards in line with best practice in the removals industry.

Health and safety is an integral part of our planning and decision-making. We expect everyone working with or for Man and Van Edgware to take personal responsibility for following this policy and all associated procedures.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for implementing and maintaining effective health and safety arrangements across all removal services. This includes:

Ensuring suitable and sufficient risk assessments are completed for regular and non-routine tasks. Providing employees with information, instruction, training and supervision appropriate to their roles. Supplying and maintaining vehicles, lifting equipment and tools in a safe and roadworthy condition. Providing appropriate personal protective equipment and ensuring it is used correctly. Investigating accidents, near misses and incidents, and taking corrective action to prevent recurrence. Reviewing this policy periodically and updating it when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, work practices or the scope of our services.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee and worker has a duty to cooperate with Man and Van Edgware in meeting our health and safety obligations. All staff must:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. Follow all safety instructions, procedures and training provided by the company. Use vehicles, equipment and personal protective equipment safely and only for their intended purpose. Report hazards, defects, near misses, accidents, and health concerns promptly to management. Refrain from working under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that may impair judgement or performance.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments covering typical removal and transport activities, including manual handling of furniture and boxes, loading and unloading vehicles, working on or near roads, working at height when accessing vehicles, and handling fragile, heavy or awkward items.

From these assessments we develop safe systems of work that may include:

Planning access routes to properties and loading areas to minimise manual handling distances. Using lifting aids, trolleys or additional staff for heavy or bulky items. Avoiding lone working on higher risk tasks where reasonably practicable. Establishing clear communication and signalling between drivers and loaders. Ensuring loads are evenly distributed and properly secured within vehicles to prevent shifting in transit.

Manual Handling and Musculoskeletal Safety

Manual handling is a core part of our service, so particular attention is given to reducing the risk of strains, sprains and other musculoskeletal injuries. We will:

Provide training on safe lifting techniques, team lifting and use of handling aids. Encourage staff to assess each lift before proceeding and to refuse unsafe lifts. Limit the weight of individual items where practicable and break down loads into smaller components where possible. Rotate tasks to avoid prolonged repetitive strain where work schedules allow.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Safe use of vehicles is essential to our operations. Man and Van Edgware will maintain vehicles to a high standard and ensure periodic checks are completed. Drivers must carry out basic pre-use checks, report defects immediately, and not operate any vehicle they believe to be unsafe.

Drivers are expected to comply with road traffic laws, drive defensively, and plan routes allowing sufficient time to avoid speeding or rushing. Loads must be securely fastened and checked before departure and at suitable intervals during longer journeys.

Working at Customer Premises

Our teams often work in domestic and commercial properties. To protect customers, visitors and the public, we will:

Assess access points, stairs, corridors and external areas before moving items. Use safe techniques to manoeuvre large items without causing damage or creating trip hazards. Keep walkways as clear as possible and use safe temporary stacking methods. Communicate with customers about any potential risks during loading and unloading. Maintain professionalism and respect for the property at all times.

Personal Protective Equipment

Where risks cannot be fully controlled by other means, personal protective equipment will be provided based on the findings of risk assessments. This may include safety footwear, gloves, high-visibility garments and other relevant items.

Employees must use the equipment as instructed, keep it in good condition and report loss or damage so that replacements can be arranged without delay.

Training, Information and Supervision

We will ensure all employees receive appropriate induction and ongoing training covering health and safety responsibilities, safe manual handling, vehicle safety, working at customer premises, and emergency procedures.

Supervisors will monitor working practices, provide guidance, and correct unsafe behaviour or conditions. Refresher training will be provided when new risks are identified, new equipment is introduced, or where a need for further instruction becomes evident.

Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported promptly. Man and Van Edgware will record, investigate and analyse these events to identify root causes and implement improvements.

Where required by law, we will make statutory notifications to the appropriate authorities. Lessons learned will be shared with employees to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

We encourage open communication about health and safety. Employees are invited to raise concerns, suggest improvements and participate in discussions about working methods.

This policy will be reviewed regularly and revised as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, work activities, industry standards or our service area. Our goal is to continually enhance the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved in or affected by our removal operations.