Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Queens Park

Man with Van Queens Park is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety during all moving and transportation activities, including domestic removals, office moves, furniture collection and delivery services.

Our Health and Safety Commitment

We recognise that professional removal services involve manual handling, vehicle operations and work in a range of properties and locations. We aim to minimise risks through careful planning, staff training and the use of appropriate equipment. Our objectives are to prevent injuries, protect property, and ensure that everyone involved in our work is kept as safe as reasonably practicable.

Health and safety is an integral part of how we deliver man and van services. Every member of our team is expected to follow this policy, cooperate with safety procedures and report any hazards or incidents promptly.

Roles and Responsibilities

Management is responsible for implementing this policy, ensuring that suitable resources are provided for health and safety and that working practices are regularly reviewed. Management will:

Ensure that risk assessments are carried out for typical removal activities and that findings are acted upon. Provide training, information and instruction so that employees can work safely and competently. Maintain vehicles, equipment and lifting aids in safe working condition. Investigate accidents, near misses and incidents to prevent recurrence. Review this policy periodically to keep it up to date.

Employees have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. All staff must:

Follow the safe working procedures and instructions given by management. Use equipment correctly and refrain from tampering with safety devices. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment where required. Report any hazards, defective equipment, accidents or near misses without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before beginning any removal job, our team considers the specific risks associated with the property, access routes, parking arrangements and the items to be moved. Where necessary, we carry out a more detailed risk assessment to identify hazards and appropriate control measures.

We take particular care when dealing with heavy, bulky, fragile or high-value items, stairs and restricted spaces, and loading or unloading in busy areas. Our crews are instructed to stop work and seek guidance if they consider a task to be unsafe or beyond reasonable capability with the resources available.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core aspect of removal work and a key focus of our safety policy. We aim to avoid hazardous lifting where possible by using suitable equipment and sufficient manpower. Our approach includes:

Training staff in safe lifting techniques, including correct posture, team lifting and load assessment. Using trolleys, dollies, straps, blankets and other aids to reduce strain and protect goods. Planning routes in and out of properties to avoid unnecessary lifting over obstacles. Refusing to move items that are excessively heavy or unsafe without additional help or equipment.

Employees are instructed never to attempt a lift they feel is unsafe or beyond their capability. Protecting the wellbeing of our staff and customers takes precedence over speed or convenience.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are central to our man and van service and are maintained to a high standard to ensure safety and reliability. We conduct regular checks on tyres, brakes, lights, securing points and loading areas. Any defects are reported immediately and addressed before the vehicle is used for work.

Drivers are expected to hold appropriate licences, obey road traffic laws and drive in a manner that prioritises safety over time pressure. Loads are secured properly to prevent movement during transit, and vehicles are never loaded beyond their safe working capacity.

Customer Premises and Third-Party Safety

We treat every home or business property with care and respect. Our crews take reasonable steps to prevent damage or injury while working on site, such as:

Keeping access ways as clear as possible and managing trip hazards. Using floor protection and suitable coverings where appropriate. Taking care with doors, walls, fixtures and fittings when manoeuvring items. Communicating clearly with customers about planned movements of large or heavy items.

We aim to minimise disruption to neighbours, pedestrians and other road users by planning parking and loading as safely and considerately as possible.

Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment and Maintenance

We provide suitable equipment to support safe removals, including lifting aids, straps and protective materials. Where the nature of the work requires it, we also provide personal protective equipment such as gloves, high-visibility clothing or safety footwear.

All equipment is inspected regularly and replaced or repaired when necessary. Staff are trained in the correct use of equipment and instructed not to use any item they believe to be defective or unsafe.

Training, Information and Supervision

We recognise that effective health and safety management relies on competent and well-informed staff. Training is provided to new team members and refreshed periodically, covering topics such as manual handling, safe loading, vehicle safety, working in customers properties and emergency procedures.

Supervision is provided appropriate to the complexity and risk of each job. Less experienced staff work under the guidance of more experienced colleagues until they are considered competent to work more independently.

Accidents, Incidents and Continuous Improvement

All accidents, injuries and near misses involving our staff, customers or third parties are recorded and reviewed. Where appropriate, we investigate the circumstances and introduce measures to reduce the likelihood of recurrence, such as changes to procedures, additional training or equipment improvements.

We encourage feedback from employees and customers on health and safety matters and treat all reports seriously. Health and safety performance is reviewed regularly so that we can continue to improve how we manage risk during removals and transportation.

This Health and Safety policy is communicated to all employees and is available to customers on request. It is reviewed periodically to reflect changes in our operations and to ensure it remains suitable for the services provided by Man with Van Queens Park.