Man with Van Watford Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out how Man with Van Watford manages the safety and welfare of employees, contractors, customers and members of the public during all removal and transport activities. Our aim is to provide a professional, reliable and safe moving service while reducing risks associated with lifting, loading, driving and working in and around properties.

Our Commitment to Health and Safety

Man with Van Watford is committed to maintaining high standards of health and safety in every aspect of our removals and transportation work. We will take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health, and to provide a safe working environment for our team and a safe service for our customers.

We comply with relevant health and safety legislation and continually seek to improve our arrangements through regular review, training and communication.

Roles and Responsibilities

Management is responsible for implementing this policy, providing adequate resources, and ensuring that risk assessments, procedures and training are kept up to date. Managers and supervisors will monitor working practices, investigate incidents and take corrective action where necessary.

All workers, whether employees or contractors, are responsible for taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They must follow safe working procedures, use any equipment provided correctly, report hazards and cooperate fully with health and safety instructions.

Customers also have a role in safety. We ask customers to provide clear access, inform us of any known hazards at their property and follow the guidance of our team during loading and unloading.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We identify and manage risks through ongoing risk assessment. Before and during each job, our team considers access routes, stairways, parking, lifting requirements, weather conditions and any unusual or hazardous items that may be involved.

Where significant risks are identified, suitable control measures are put in place. This may include using additional staff for heavy items, using handling equipment, adjusting routes or methods of work, or declining work that cannot be carried out safely.

We maintain and review safe working procedures for planning removals, manual handling, loading and unloading vehicles, securing loads, working in shared spaces and responding to emergencies.

Manual Handling and Lifting Safety

Manual handling is a core part of removal work and is treated as a key risk area. We minimise manual handling risks by planning the job carefully, reducing the need for lifting where practical, and using suitable equipment and techniques.

Our team is trained to assess the weight, shape and stability of items before lifting, to avoid twisting and overreaching, to share the load when necessary and to use trolleys, dollies and other aids where suitable. Heavy or awkward items are handled by more than one person or through specialist methods where required.

We encourage workers to stop and reassess any lift that feels unsafe and to communicate clearly with colleagues when handling large or fragile items.

Vehicle, Driving and Road Safety

Our vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition, with regular checks carried out on tyres, lights, brakes and load restraint systems. Drivers are required to carry out basic safety checks before starting a journey.

Drivers must comply with road traffic laws, drive responsibly, and allow sufficient time for journeys to avoid unsafe rushing. Loads are secured carefully to prevent movement during transit, with heavier items positioned low and evenly distributed to maintain stability.

Parking and access are chosen with safety in mind, seeking to minimise reversing and manoeuvring in tight spaces and to reduce risks to pedestrians and other road users.

Use of Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

Where appropriate, we use equipment such as trolleys, moving straps, ramps and protective covers to reduce manual handling risks and protect property. All equipment is inspected regularly and used only for its intended purpose.

Personal protective equipment may include safety footwear, gloves or high-visibility clothing where conditions require it. Workers are responsible for using the equipment provided, keeping it in good condition and reporting any defects.

Working in Customer Premises

When working in homes, offices or other premises, we take care to protect both people and property. This includes maintaining clear walkways, using protective coverings where appropriate, and avoiding trip hazards from tools and packaging.

Our team will communicate with customers about the safest routes in and out of the property and may ask for items to be moved or areas to be cleared to allow safe working. We will not undertake work that requires us to operate in unsafe spaces, such as unstable structures or areas with unmanageable obstructions.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide training and guidance appropriate to each role, including manual handling techniques, safe loading, vehicle safety, use of equipment and emergency procedures. New workers receive induction and supervision to ensure they understand and follow our safety standards.

Ongoing refresher training is provided as needed, and information is shared when new risks, methods or equipment are introduced. Supervisors monitor performance and working practices, giving feedback and correcting unsafe behaviour.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, injuries, near misses and cases of damage are reported and recorded. We investigate incidents to identify causes and implement measures to prevent recurrence.

Our team is briefed on emergency procedures, including what to do in the event of injury, fire, vehicle breakdown or road traffic collisions. Workers must follow these procedures and contact the appropriate emergency services where required.

Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work

Workers are expected to present themselves fit for work and free from the influence of alcohol or unlawful substances. Anyone who is unfit to work safely must inform management and must not engage in driving or manual handling tasks.

We recognise the physical nature of removals work and encourage regular breaks, proper hydration and the use of safe lifting techniques to prevent strain and fatigue.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, industry standards or our operations. We welcome feedback from workers and customers to help improve our safety performance.

By following this policy, Man with Van Watford aims to deliver a dependable and efficient removal service while protecting the health and safety of everyone involved.