Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Holland Park Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Holland Park is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our team members, customers, and the public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and practical measures we follow during all removal and transport activities, from small flat moves to larger property relocations.

Our aim is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property by carefully planning work, training our staff, and continually improving our safety standards across all services within our operating area.

Health and Safety Objectives

The main objectives of this policy are to ensure that all removal services are carried out safely, that risks are assessed and managed, and that everyone involved understands their responsibilities. We seek to reduce accidents, protect the public, and safeguard our team, vehicles, and customer belongings during loading, transit, and unloading.

We review our objectives regularly and adjust our procedures in line with operational experience, industry guidance, and feedback from staff and customers.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man with Van Holland Park has overall responsibility for implementing this Health and Safety Policy. This includes:

Ensuring suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for removal tasks and environments. Providing appropriate training, information, and supervision for all workers. Supplying and maintaining vehicles, equipment, and protective gear in safe working order. Monitoring compliance with safety procedures and addressing any shortcomings promptly. Investigating incidents and near misses to prevent recurrence.

Management also ensures that sufficient resources are allocated to maintain and improve health and safety performance throughout all areas where we operate.

Employee Responsibilities

Every member of the Man with Van Holland Park team has a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. This includes colleagues, customers, pedestrians, property occupants, and other road users.

All staff are expected to:

Follow company safety procedures and instructions at all times. Use vehicles, equipment, and protective gear correctly and report any defects immediately. Maintain good manual handling techniques and avoid unsafe lifting practices. Keep working areas tidy, both indoors and outdoors, to prevent slips, trips, and falls. Report hazards, incidents, and near misses promptly to management.

Failure to follow health and safety rules may lead to disciplinary action, as unsafe behaviour can put people and property at risk.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before starting any removal job, we assess the risks associated with the task, location, access routes, parking, and traffic conditions. We consider factors such as stairways, narrow corridors, heavy or bulky items, weather conditions, and the presence of vulnerable individuals, pets, or the public.

Safe working practices include planning lifting tasks, using appropriate equipment such as trolleys and straps, and working in teams where items are too heavy or awkward for one person. We take care to protect floors, walls, and doorways from damage, reducing the risk of trips and falls caused by debris or obstacles.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is central to removal work, and incorrect lifting can cause serious injury. Man with Van Holland Park trains staff in safe lifting techniques and expects these to be followed at all times.

Key principles include:

Assessing the load and route before lifting. Asking for help or using equipment where items are heavy or cumbersome. Keeping the back straight, bending the knees, and holding items close to the body. Avoiding twisting while carrying loads and taking regular breaks when handling multiple items.

Where possible, we use lifting aids and equipment to minimise manual handling risks.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are maintained to a high standard to ensure they are safe, roadworthy, and suitable for the loads they carry. Drivers are responsible for conducting basic pre-use checks and reporting any defects.

We require all drivers to:

Observe road traffic laws and drive considerately. Secure loads effectively to prevent movement in transit. Park safely and legally, taking account of pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles. Use hazard warning lights and other signals where necessary to alert others to loading and unloading activities.

By following these measures, we aim to reduce the risk of road traffic incidents and protect both our team and the wider public.

Customer, Property, and Public Protection

During every move, we take steps to protect customers, their property, and anyone who may be affected by our work. This includes careful planning of access routes, securing doors and gates where appropriate, and avoiding obstruction of entrances, paths, or public walkways.

We take particular care in shared buildings, on busy streets, and in areas with high footfall, positioning vehicles and equipment to minimise risk. Where there is any potential hazard, our team will communicate clearly with customers and others nearby.

Training, Information, and Supervision

All staff receive induction training covering core health and safety topics relevant to removal operations. This is supplemented by on-the-job training and supervision to ensure safe work practices are maintained.

We keep staff informed about any changes to procedures or equipment and encourage open communication about safety concerns. Supervisors and senior team members are responsible for guiding newer staff and ensuring safe standards are upheld on every job.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

Any accident, injury, or near miss that occurs during removal work must be reported as soon as possible. Man with Van Holland Park records such events and investigates them to identify causes and prevent similar incidents in the future.

Our teams are briefed on basic emergency procedures, including how to respond in the event of injury, fire, or other serious incidents encountered on-site or on the road. Drivers carry essential information and are trained to contact appropriate services when necessary.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective and appropriate for the nature and scale of our removal operations. We take into account changes in best practice, operational experience, and feedback from staff and customers.

Man with Van Holland Park is committed to ongoing improvement in health and safety performance and expects all members of the team to contribute to achieving this goal as we serve homes and businesses in our service area.