Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Bowes Park

This Health and Safety Policy sets out how Man with Van Bowes Park manages the safety and wellbeing of our customers, staff, contractors and members of the public. As a professional man and van and removal service, we are committed to providing safe, efficient and reliable moves for homes, offices and businesses.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our main objectives are to prevent injury, protect property, and minimise risks associated with lifting, loading, transport and delivery. We aim to maintain safe working conditions, provide appropriate training and equipment, and continually improve our standards in line with industry best practice.

Health and safety is a shared responsibility. All workers and contractors must take reasonable care of their own safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions, and cooperate with the company in following this policy and related procedures.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy across all removal and transport activities. This includes:

Ensuring that risk assessments are carried out for typical man and van tasks such as loading, unloading, carrying items, driving, parking and working in customer premises. Providing suitable equipment including moving trolleys, blankets, straps and, where required, personal protective equipment such as gloves and safety footwear. Ensuring vehicles are roadworthy, regularly inspected and maintained, with particular attention to brakes, tyres, lights and load securing points. Planning removal work so it can be done safely, allowing adequate time for each job and avoiding excessive workloads. Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses to identify root causes and prevent reoccurrence.

Employee and Contractor Responsibilities

All staff and contractors working for Man with Van Bowes Park must:

Follow all safety procedures and instructions issued by the company. Use moving and lifting equipment correctly and never misuse vehicles or tools. Report hazards, damage, defects, near misses and accidents promptly to management. Refrain from working under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that may impair safe performance. Drive safely and legally at all times, observing speed limits, parking rules and road conditions.

Everyone engaged in removal activities is expected to contribute to a positive safety culture by speaking up about risks and suggesting improvements.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out ongoing risk assessments covering typical removal and delivery activities. These assessments consider hazards such as manual handling injuries, slips and trips, falls from vehicles, collisions, damage to customer property and weather-related risks.

Based on these assessments, we adopt safe working practices including:

Using team lifting techniques for heavy or bulky items, and avoiding single-person lifts where there is a risk of strain or injury. Planning routes inside properties to avoid obstacles, protect flooring, and reduce the need for excessive carrying. Checking access points, stairs, lifts and doorways before moving large objects. Securing loads correctly within the van to prevent movement during transit. Avoiding overloading of vehicles and ensuring weight is evenly distributed.

Where a task cannot be carried out safely, the work will be stopped and reviewed before proceeding or alternative arrangements will be made.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a key part of our removal operations and is carefully controlled. Staff are trained to:

Assess the weight, size and shape of each item before lifting. Use correct posture, bending at the knees and keeping the load close to the body. Work in pairs or teams for heavy or awkward objects such as appliances, furniture and specialist items. Use equipment such as dollies, skates and sliders whenever they can reduce risk.

Customers may be asked not to assist with lifting if there is a risk of injury or if they have not been trained in safe techniques.

Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety

All vehicles used by Man with Van Bowes Park are maintained to a high standard and checked regularly. Drivers must complete basic pre-use checks, such as tyres, lights, mirrors and load security, before starting a journey.

Drivers are required to obey all road traffic laws and to drive with due care and attention. Fatigue is managed by sensible job scheduling, appropriate breaks and avoiding unrealistic timescales. Mobile phones or devices may only be used through approved hands-free systems and must never distract from safe driving.

Customer Premises and Public Protection

When working in or around customer homes, offices or commercial sites, we take reasonable steps to protect people and property. This includes:

Using floor protection where necessary to reduce slip risks and prevent damage. Keeping walkways, stairwells and entrances as clear as possible while work is in progress. Taking extra care in shared areas, corridors and car parks used by the public. Minimising noise and disruption, and working considerately around neighbours and other occupants.

If conditions at a property are unsafe, such as structural hazards or blocked fire exits, our team will raise the issue with the customer and may delay or modify work until risks are controlled.

Training, Information and Supervision

All staff receive information and instruction relevant to their role, covering topics such as manual handling, safe loading and unloading, use of equipment, vehicle safety and customer care. New starters are supervised until they are competent to work safely on their own or as part of a team.

Training needs are reviewed regularly, especially when new equipment, vehicles or procedures are introduced. Refresher training is provided as required to maintain safe standards.

Monitoring, Review and Policy Updates

We monitor our health and safety performance through regular discussions with staff, job debriefs, vehicle and equipment checks, and the review of any incidents or customer feedback. Lessons learned are used to improve our working methods and risk controls.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically, and whenever there are significant changes in our operations or legal requirements. Any updates are communicated to all staff and contractors so that safe practices remain current and effective.

By following this policy, Man with Van Bowes Park aims to deliver removal and transport services that are not only efficient and reliable, but also safe for everyone involved.