Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Bromley Common

Man with Van Bromley Common is committed to providing a safe, healthy and secure environment for our customers, employees, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our removals and transport activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out the principles and procedures we follow to manage risks associated with home moves, office relocations, loading, unloading and vehicle operations.

Policy Aims and Responsibilities

The aim of this policy is to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property by identifying and controlling risks linked to our removal services. We comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and continually look for ways to improve our standards.

Overall responsibility for health and safety within Man with Van Bromley Common rests with the business owner or designated manager. They are responsible for ensuring that this policy is implemented, maintained, reviewed regularly and communicated clearly to all workers.

Every employee and contractor has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. All staff must follow training, safe working procedures and instructions given, and must report hazards, near misses or incidents immediately so that appropriate action can be taken.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out regular risk assessments for our activities, including packing, lifting, carrying, loading, unloading, driving and working in customers homes and business premises. These assessments consider potential hazards such as manual handling injuries, slips and trips, falls from height, vehicle movements, collisions, property damage and exposure to harmful substances.

Based on these assessments, we develop safe systems of work that are communicated to all staff. These safe systems are reviewed whenever there is a significant change in our work practices, introduction of new equipment or after an incident or near miss. All staff are expected to follow the agreed procedures without exception.

Manual Handling and Lifting Safety

The nature of removals work involves frequent lifting and moving of furniture, appliances, boxes and other items. To reduce the risk of strains, sprains and other musculoskeletal injuries, we:

Provide manual handling instruction so staff understand safe lifting techniques, team lifts and the importance of assessing each load before moving it.

Use appropriate handling aids where reasonably practicable, such as sack trucks, trolleys, sliders, straps and blankets to move heavy or awkward items.

Plan routes in advance to avoid unnecessary carrying, obstacles and tight spaces, and to ensure stairs, corridors and access points are safe to use.

Encourage staff to refuse to move any item they believe cannot be handled safely without additional equipment or assistance.

Safe Use of Vehicles and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are essential to our man and van services, and we place strong emphasis on road safety and vehicle condition. To protect our drivers, passengers, customers and other road users, we:

Maintain vehicles in a roadworthy condition, ensuring that brakes, tyres, lights, mirrors, seatbelts and lifts or ramps are inspected and serviced according to manufacturer recommendations and legal requirements.

Instruct drivers to carry out basic pre-use checks, report defects immediately and not to use a vehicle they believe to be unsafe.

Require all drivers to hold the appropriate valid driving licence and to follow the Highway Code, local traffic regulations and company driving standards at all times.

Manage loading and securing of goods in line with best practice, ensuring loads are evenly distributed and properly restrained to prevent movement during transit.

Working at Customers Premises

Our teams regularly work inside customers homes, buildings and shared access areas. To maintain high standards of safety and courtesy, we:

Conduct a visual inspection on arrival to identify hazards such as uneven surfaces, loose carpets, poor lighting, narrow staircases, low ceilings and restricted access.

Use protective equipment such as floor coverings, corner protectors and furniture blankets to reduce the risk of slips and property damage.

Keep walkways, stairs and exit routes clear of boxes, tools and waste wherever possible, and manage the flow of items so that routes do not become blocked.

Communicate clearly with customers about any risks, restrictions or safety measures required, including keeping children and pets away from loading and unloading areas.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide appropriate training and information for all staff relevant to their roles. This may include induction training, manual handling guidance, safe driving practices, use of equipment, incident reporting and customer care. Refresher training is provided when needed or when work practices change.

Supervision is proportionate to the experience and competence of staff. New or less experienced workers receive closer oversight until they demonstrate understanding and consistent safe behaviour. We encourage open communication so that staff feel comfortable raising safety concerns.

Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment and Housekeeping

We supply and maintain suitable equipment for removal tasks, including trolleys, blankets, straps and basic tools. All equipment must be used only for its intended purpose and inspected regularly for damage or wear.

Where necessary, personal protective equipment such as gloves, high visibility clothing or safety footwear is provided and must be worn as instructed. Staff are responsible for keeping their equipment in good condition and reporting any defects.

Good housekeeping is an essential part of our safety culture. We aim to keep vehicles, storage areas and workspaces organised, with waste and packaging materials cleared as work progresses to minimise tripping hazards and fire risk.

Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, injuries, vehicle collisions, damage to property and near misses must be reported as soon as practicable to the responsible manager. We keep accurate records, investigate the circumstances and take action to prevent similar incidents recurring.

Where required, we will cooperate fully with any external investigations by relevant authorities or insurers. Lessons learned from incidents will be shared with staff and used to improve training, procedures and risk controls.

Health, Welfare and Continuous Improvement

We recognise the importance of the general health and welfare of our staff in delivering safe removals and transport services. We monitor workloads as far as reasonably practicable, encourage regular breaks and promote a culture where employees can raise concerns about fatigue, stress or fitness to work.

This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective, up to date and aligned with our working practices. Changes are communicated to staff, and feedback from employees and customers is welcomed to support continual improvement in our safety performance.

Policy Availability

This Health and Safety policy is available to all employees, contractors and customers of Man with Van Bromley Common on request. By instructing our services, customers can be confident that we are committed to safe, professional and responsible conduct throughout every stage of their move.