Health and Safety policy
Man with Van Woolwich Health and Safety Policy
This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and procedures that guide Man with Van Woolwich in delivering safe and reliable moving and transport services. Our aim is to protect the health, safety and welfare of our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public during all removal and delivery activities.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Man with Van Woolwich is committed to maintaining high standards of health and safety in every aspect of our operations. We work to prevent accidents, injuries, ill health and damage to property by identifying, assessing and controlling risks associated with moving, lifting, loading, unloading and transporting goods.
Our objectives are to:
Promote a positive health and safety culture throughout the company. Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and industry guidance. Provide safe systems of work for all removal and transport activities. Ensure employees receive training, instruction and supervision appropriate to their roles. Continually review and improve our health and safety performance.
Management Responsibilities
Management at Man with Van Woolwich is responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that adequate resources are available to manage health and safety effectively. This includes planning safe work methods, maintaining vehicles and equipment, and providing suitable personal protective equipment.
Managers and supervisors must:
Carry out and regularly review risk assessments for removal activities and locations. Ensure that vehicles and lifting equipment are maintained in a safe condition. Provide clear instructions, information and training to workers. Monitor working practices and address unsafe behaviour or conditions promptly. Investigate accidents, near misses and incidents to prevent recurrence.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees and regular contractors have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.
Employees must:
Follow all safety procedures and instructions given by management. Use equipment, tools and personal protective equipment correctly. Report hazards, defects, accidents and near misses without delay. Refrain from horseplay or unsafe behaviour during work. Cooperate with any health surveillance, training or safety initiatives.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Before each job, Man with Van Woolwich will assess the risks associated with the property, access routes and items to be moved. This includes consideration of staircases, tight spaces, heavy or awkward loads, parking arrangements, and any known structural or environmental hazards.
Where risks are identified, appropriate control measures will be put in place, such as using additional staff, employing lifting aids, adjusting the sequence of work, or refusing to move items that cannot be handled safely. No task will be carried out if it cannot be completed without unacceptable risk.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a key part of removal work and is managed carefully to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Staff are trained in correct lifting techniques and the use of lifting aids where available.
Our approach to manual handling includes:
Assessing the weight, size and shape of items before moving them. Using team lifts where individual handling would be unsafe. Avoiding twisting, overreaching or carrying loads over long distances where possible. Planning the route in advance and ensuring it is clear of obstacles. Refusing to lift items that exceed safe handling limits or present an unreasonable risk.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Man with Van Woolwich is committed to safe driving and the careful operation of all vehicles used in our services. Vehicles are maintained in roadworthy condition and checked regularly for defects.
Drivers are required to:
Hold the correct, valid licence for the vehicle they operate. Conduct pre-use checks and report any issues immediately. Secure loads correctly to prevent movement during transit. Comply with traffic laws, speed limits and parking regulations. Avoid driving when fatigued or unfit to drive.
Use of Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment
Where appropriate, our teams use equipment such as trolleys, dollies, straps and blankets to move and protect items. All equipment is inspected regularly and removed from service if defective.
Personal protective equipment may include safety footwear, gloves, high-visibility garments or other items suitable for the task and environment. Employees are required to use this equipment as instructed and to report any loss or damage.
Customer and Public Safety
Man with Van Woolwich takes reasonable steps to protect customers, neighbours and members of the public while work is carried out. This includes keeping access routes clear where possible, managing vehicle movements safely, and advising customers to keep children and pets away from loading and unloading zones.
Our teams will work with customers to agree safe loading and unloading locations and will not proceed with actions that would put others at risk.
Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported to management as soon as practicable. Details are recorded and investigated to identify causes and implement corrective actions.
In the event of an emergency, such as fire, serious injury or road traffic collision, employees must follow established emergency procedures, prioritising the safety of people in the vicinity and contacting the relevant emergency services where required.
Training, Supervision and Communication
Man with Van Woolwich provides initial and ongoing health and safety training relevant to the duties of each employee. This may include induction training, manual handling training, vehicle safety, use of equipment and site-specific instructions.
Supervision levels are set according to the complexity and risk of each job, and less experienced staff are supported by more senior team members. Health and safety information is communicated clearly and updated when procedures change or new risks are identified.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains suitable and effective for our removal services. Reviews take into account changes in legislation, industry best practice, our working methods, and any issues arising from accidents or customer feedback.
Man with Van Woolwich is committed to ongoing improvement and encourages employees and customers to raise any health and safety concerns so that we can address them promptly and continue to provide a safe and professional moving service.
