Health and Safety policy
Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Waterloo
Man with Van Waterloo is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, clients, and members of the public who may be affected by our removals and transport activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety in all aspects of our man and van and removal services.
We recognise that effective health and safety management is essential to delivering reliable moving services and protecting people, property, and the environment. We aim to prevent accidents, injuries, and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and putting effective controls in place.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Our main objectives are to:
Prevent injury and ill health to staff, customers, and members of the public during collection, loading, transit, unloading, and delivery of goods.
Ensure all work, including domestic moves, office relocations, and short-notice man and van jobs, is planned and carried out safely.
Comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and recognised good practice for lifting, driving, and handling of goods.
Promote a positive health and safety culture, where everyone understands their responsibilities and feels able to report hazards or concerns.
Continuously improve our health and safety performance through regular review of procedures and incident data.
Management Responsibilities
Management at Man with Van Waterloo has overall responsibility for ensuring this policy is implemented and maintained. This includes:
Providing adequate resources to meet health and safety commitments, including suitable vehicles, equipment, and protective gear.
Ensuring that risk assessments are carried out for key activities such as manual handling, use of moving equipment, driving, and working at customers premises.
Developing and maintaining safe systems of work for packing, lifting, loading, securing loads, and unloading.
Ensuring that staff receive appropriate induction, instruction, information, and ongoing training relevant to their roles.
Investigating incidents, near misses, and customer feedback relating to safety, and taking corrective actions where necessary.
Employee Responsibilities
Every member of staff has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Employees must:
Follow all training, safe working procedures, and instructions given for their tasks.
Use vehicles, lifting equipment, and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately.
Cooperate with management on health and safety matters, including attending training sessions and toolbox talks.
Report all accidents, near misses, and hazardous conditions as soon as possible so that appropriate action can be taken.
Refrain from any unsafe behaviour, including horseplay, working under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or ignoring agreed procedures.
Safe Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a key element of our removal work. To reduce the risk of injury, we will:
Provide instruction in safe lifting techniques, including assessment of load weight, use of team lifts, and use of trolleys and other handling aids.
Encourage staff to avoid unnecessary lifting by planning routes, clearing obstructions, and using mechanical aids where practical.
Require employees to ask for assistance when moving heavy, bulky, or awkward items such as large furniture, appliances, and office equipment.
Ensure that loads are broken down into manageable parts where possible and that lifting is avoided above shoulder height.
Review manual handling practices regularly and adjust methods where risks are identified.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Our vehicles are central to our services and must be operated safely at all times. Man with Van Waterloo will:
Ensure that vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced, and maintained in a roadworthy condition.
Require drivers to carry out basic pre-use checks, including tyres, lights, mirrors, and securing mechanisms for loads.
Provide guidance on safe driving standards, route planning, parking, and reversing at customer addresses or loading points.
Ensure that all loads are properly positioned and secured to prevent movement during transit, reducing the risk of damage or injury.
Emphasise the importance of safe driving behaviours, including adherence to speed limits, avoidance of distractions, and appropriate rest breaks.
Working at Customer Premises
Our teams frequently work in homes, offices, and shared buildings. To manage risks at these locations, we will:
Assess access routes, stairs, lifts, and doorways before moving items to identify potential hazards.
Agree a clear movement route with the customer and keep it as clear as reasonably practicable throughout the job.
Use appropriate protective measures, such as floor and wall protection, to minimise the risk of slips, trips, and damage to property.
Advise customers of any immediate safety concerns we identify, such as loose carpets, poor lighting, or obstructed pathways.
Ensure that children, pets, and uninvolved persons are kept clear of active moving areas as far as reasonably practicable.
Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment
Where appropriate, staff are provided with equipment and personal protective equipment to support safe working. This may include trolleys, straps, blankets, gloves, and other items suited to moving tasks. Employees must use any equipment provided in accordance with training and report any defects immediately so that equipment can be repaired or replaced.
Health, Welfare, and Fitness for Work
We recognise that removal work can be physically demanding. To protect our teams, we will:
Encourage staff to maintain good physical fitness and to report any health issues that may affect their ability to carry out tasks safely.
Discourage lone handling of heavy items and promote team lifting and realistic scheduling.
Support staff in raising concerns about fatigue, heat stress, cold conditions, or any other welfare issues encountered during work.
Training, Communication, and Consultation
We provide initial and refresher training covering manual handling, vehicle safety, site awareness, and customer interaction. Health and safety information is communicated through inductions, briefings, and updates where procedures change or new risks are identified. Staff are encouraged to make suggestions for improving safety and to raise concerns without fear of criticism.
Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement
Man with Van Waterloo regularly reviews this Health and Safety Policy and associated procedures to ensure they remain effective and suitable for our services and operating areas. We monitor performance through incident reports, customer feedback, vehicle checks, and staff input. Where improvements are identified, we act promptly to update our methods and training.
This Health and Safety Policy reflects our ongoing commitment to carrying out all removal and transport work in a manner that safeguards our employees, our customers, and the wider public.
