Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Mayfair Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Mayfair is committed to providing a professional, reliable and safe removal service for our customers, our employees and anyone affected by our activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving, handling, transportation and on-site work at homes, offices and other premises within our service area.

We recognise our responsibility to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property. Health and safety considerations form an integral part of our planning, decision making and day-to-day operations. All staff and contractors are required to cooperate with this policy and to work in a way that protects themselves and others.

Policy Aims and Objectives

The aims of this Health and Safety policy are to:

Promote a positive safety culture in all removal and transportation activities. Identify, assess and control risks associated with manual handling, lifting, loading, unloading, driving and working at customers premises. Comply with relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry good practice. Provide information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure staff can work safely. Continuously review and improve our health and safety arrangements.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man with Van Mayfair is responsible for implementing and maintaining this policy. This includes:

Ensuring appropriate resources are available for safe equipment, protective gear, training and vehicle maintenance. Conducting or commissioning risk assessments for our key activities and ensuring that appropriate control measures are in place. Setting clear safety standards, communicating them effectively and monitoring compliance. Investigating incidents, near misses and complaints in order to prevent recurrence. Reviewing this policy periodically and updating it when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, operations or best practice.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and regular subcontractors have personal responsibility for their own safety and for the safety of those around them while engaged in removal and transport work. They are expected to:

Follow all safety instructions, training and procedures issued by the company. Use tools, equipment and vehicles only for their intended purpose and report any defects immediately. Wear any required personal protective equipment such as gloves, protective footwear or high-visibility clothing, where appropriate. Use correct manual handling and lifting techniques at all times. Report hazards, near misses, accidents, injuries or unsafe conditions to management without delay. Cooperate fully in any health and safety investigations, training programmes and improvement measures.

Risk Assessment and Planning

Before carrying out removal work, we aim to identify and manage foreseeable risks associated with the job. This may include:

Assessing access routes, stairs, lifts, parking arrangements and loading areas. Identifying heavy, bulky or fragile items that require special handling or additional manpower. Considering environmental factors such as weather, lighting and traffic conditions. Taking account of vulnerable persons on site, such as children, elderly individuals or pets. Planning the order of work, loading sequence and team roles to minimise manual handling risks and avoid time pressure.

Where necessary, a dynamic risk assessment will be carried out on arrival to adapt to actual site conditions.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of our work and is treated as a key risk area. To help prevent injuries:

Our team members are trained in safe lifting techniques, including assessing the load, keeping it close to the body, using the legs to lift, and avoiding twisting movements. Where possible, mechanical aids such as trolleys, dollies or lifting straps are used to reduce strain. Team lifting is used for heavy or awkward items so that no individual is placed under unreasonable load. Staff are encouraged to refuse unsafe lifts and to request additional support or equipment instead.

Use of Equipment and Vehicles

All vehicles and equipment used in our removal services are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition. Our approach includes:

Carrying out regular checks and servicing of vans, securing systems and loading equipment. Ensuring that loads are properly distributed and secured within vehicles to prevent movement during transit. Observing vehicle weight limits and not overloading. Complying with traffic laws and safe driving practices, including appropriate speeds and rest breaks for longer journeys. Using ramps, tail lifts or other aids where required to reduce manual lifting risks.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our duty to protect customers, visitors, neighbours and members of the public while we work. To achieve this, we:

Take care to maintain clear walkways and exits, avoiding trip hazards from boxes, tools and packing materials. Use caution when carrying large items around corners, through doorways and in shared corridors or stairwells. Communicate clearly with customers about areas that are temporarily restricted or hazardous during loading or unloading. Keep noise, disruption and obstruction of public pathways to a minimum, particularly in busy urban streets and shared parking areas.

Training, Information and Supervision

Man with Van Mayfair is committed to ensuring that all personnel are competent to carry out their duties safely. This is supported by:

Induction training for new staff covering safe systems of work, manual handling, incident reporting and customer care. Ongoing refresher training where necessary, especially in manual handling and safe driving practices. Clear instructions and briefings before complex or high-risk jobs. Supervision of less experienced staff by competent team members until they are fully confident in their duties.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and damage to property must be reported to management as soon as practicable. This enables us to:

Provide or arrange appropriate first aid or medical attention. Record details for internal review and, where applicable, for legal compliance. Investigate the causes and introduce measures to prevent recurrence.

In the event of an emergency such as fire, serious injury or road traffic collision, staff are expected to follow established procedures, prioritising the safety of people, informing emergency services and cooperating fully with their instructions.

Health and Wellbeing

We understand that the nature of removal work can be physically demanding. Man with Van Mayfair encourages staff to look after their health and to report any concerns, including fatigue, musculoskeletal discomfort or stress. Tasks and workloads are managed, where possible, to avoid excessive strain and to ensure adequate rest between demanding jobs.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure that it remains relevant and effective for our removal activities and the areas we cover. Changes in law, operational practices or identified risks will be taken into account. Updated versions of the policy will be communicated to all staff.

By working together and following this policy, Man with Van Mayfair aims to deliver every move in a safe, controlled and professional manner, protecting our team, our customers and the wider public.