Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man With a Van Mayfair

Man With a Van Mayfair is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers, and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving, lifting, loading, transporting, and delivering household and commercial items.

Our aim is to prevent injuries, protect property, and minimise disruption while providing reliable man and van and removal services throughout our operating area.

Health and Safety Objectives

We strive to maintain high standards of safety across all aspects of our removal operations. Our key objectives are to:

Identify, assess, and control risks that arise from our activities.
Provide safe systems of work for lifting, loading, and transporting goods.
Ensure vehicles and equipment are safe, suitable, and properly maintained.
Protect the health, safety, and welfare of employees, contractors, and customers.
Provide information, instruction, and training to support competent and safe working.
Encourage a positive safety culture, where all staff are responsible for safe behaviour.

Responsibilities and Management

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who will ensure that appropriate resources are allocated to meet our legal and moral obligations. Management is responsible for putting in place procedures for risk assessment, safe working practices, and incident reporting.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for implementing this policy on a day-to-day basis, including briefing staff before jobs, checking vehicle and equipment readiness, and monitoring working practices during loading and unloading.

All employees, drivers, porters, and contractors share responsibility for their own safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They are required to follow instructions, use equipment correctly, and report hazards or incidents without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We undertake risk assessments for our core activities, including domestic removals, office moves, and man and van services. These assessments consider hazards such as manual handling, slips and trips, vehicle movement, working in confined or shared spaces, and environmental conditions.

Based on these assessments, we implement safe working procedures which may include:

Planning access routes and parking to minimise reversing and vehicle movement near pedestrians.
Evaluating the weight, size, and shape of items before lifting or moving them.
Using team lifting or mechanical aids for heavy or awkward loads.
Securing items correctly within the vehicle to prevent movement in transit.
Taking extra care on stairs, narrow corridors, and shared entrances.
Adjusting methods in poor weather or low visibility conditions.

Risk assessments are periodically reviewed and updated when there are changes to working methods, equipment, locations, or legislation.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a central part of removal work and is a key focus of our safety management. We aim to reduce the risk of injury by:

Providing staff with training on correct lifting techniques, posture, and load assessment.
Encouraging the use of trolleys, dollies, straps, and protective equipment where appropriate.
Refusing to move items that are assessed as unsafe to handle without additional equipment or assistance.
Allowing sufficient time for jobs so that work is not rushed or carried out under excessive physical strain.

Employees must not exceed their personal physical limits and are instructed to seek help whenever a load is too heavy or awkward to manage alone.

Vehicles and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are central to the safe delivery of removal services. We are committed to keeping them in good condition and operating them responsibly. This includes:

Carrying out regular vehicle checks and scheduled maintenance.
Ensuring drivers hold the appropriate licences and are medically fit to drive.
Loading vehicles within safe weight limits and distributing loads evenly.
Using securing straps and other measures to prevent movement of goods in transit.
Planning routes where possible to avoid unnecessarily hazardous conditions.

Drivers must comply with road traffic laws, follow safe driving practices, and take regular breaks where required to avoid fatigue.

Workplace and Customer Premises Safety

We recognise our duty to work safely at our own premises and at customer locations. When working at customer homes or business premises, our staff will:

Assess access points, stairways, and corridors before starting work.
Identify and avoid obvious hazards such as loose rugs, trailing cables, or wet floors.
Use protective coverings where appropriate to help prevent slips and damage.
Keep pathways and exits clear of boxes and furniture as far as reasonably practicable.
Coordinate with customers and other contractors to avoid congestion and conflicts in shared spaces.

Customers will be asked to keep children, pets, and unauthorised persons away from active loading and unloading areas.

Training, Information, and Supervision

We provide staff with appropriate information and training so that they understand the risks associated with their work and know how to control them. This includes:

Induction training for new staff covering core safety procedures.
Manual handling and lifting technique training.
Vehicle safety and load security guidance for drivers and porters.
Briefings on any new equipment or changes to working practices.

Supervision is provided proportionate to the level of risk, complexity of the task, and experience of the staff involved.

Personal Protective Equipment

Where necessary, we provide suitable personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety footwear, and high-visibility clothing. Staff are required to use such equipment correctly, keep it in good condition, and report any defects so that items can be repaired or replaced.

Accident, Incident, and Near-Miss Reporting

All accidents, injuries, damage incidents, and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. We keep records of these events and investigate them to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.

Where required, incidents will be reported to the relevant authorities in line with statutory obligations.

Health, Welfare, and Fitness for Work

We recognise the importance of general health and fitness in physically demanding work such as removals. Employees are encouraged to maintain good physical health and to inform management of any medical conditions or injuries that may affect their ability to work safely.

Staff must not work under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs and should follow any prescribed medication guidance that may affect concentration or physical capability.

Continuous Improvement and Policy Review

Man With a Van Mayfair is committed to continually improving our health and safety performance. We will review this policy at regular intervals and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, legislation, or best practice guidance.

All staff are encouraged to contribute ideas for improving safety standards and to raise any concerns with management. By working together, we aim to provide a removal service that is both efficient and safe for everyone involved.