Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man With a Van Stepney

Man With a Van Stepney is committed to providing removal and transport services in a way that protects the health, safety and welfare of our customers, our team members and the general public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to planning and delivering every move safely, responsibly and in line with applicable health and safety legislation and industry best practice.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

We aim to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health by identifying risks in our removal activities and applying sensible, proportionate control measures. We work to maintain safe systems of work at all times, whether we are carrying out local moves, longer-distance removals, single-item transport or full property clearances.

Health and safety considerations are integrated into our day-to-day planning, from accepting a booking and surveying a property through to loading, transport and unloading at the destination.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Man With a Van Stepney holds overall responsibility for health and safety performance. This includes establishing clear procedures, providing appropriate resources and ensuring that staff are competent to carry out their duties safely.

Management responsibilities include:

Conducting and reviewing risk assessments for typical removal tasks and any non-routine activities.

Providing and maintaining equipment, vehicles and lifting aids in safe working condition.

Ensuring that staff receive appropriate health and safety training and updates.

Investigating accidents, near misses and incidents to prevent recurrence.

Monitoring compliance with this policy and making improvements where necessary.

Employee Duties and Conduct

All team members share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Every removal operative, driver and support staff member is expected to:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.

Follow all safety procedures, instructions and training provided by the company.

Use equipment, tools, vehicles and protective gear correctly and report any defects immediately.

Report hazards, unsafe conditions, near misses or incidents without delay.

Cooperate with management and colleagues in implementing this policy.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Before starting removal work, we assess the risks associated with the specific property and items to be moved. This can include reviewing access routes, stairs, lifts, parking, loading areas, fragile or heavy items and any special handling requirements.

Where necessary, we adjust the number of staff, the equipment used or the timing of the job to carry out the work safely. We adopt safe lifting techniques and team lifting for heavy or bulky items, and we avoid unsafe practices such as overloading vehicles, carrying items that exceed safe manual handling limits, or working in unsafe weather conditions without appropriate precautions.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a key part of removal work, and we prioritise the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries. Our approach includes:

Training staff in correct lifting and carrying techniques and the use of team lifts.

Using trolleys, dollies, straps and other aids to reduce manual strain wherever reasonably practicable.

Planning load distribution within the vehicle to avoid overloading and instability.

Using furniture covers, blankets and securing systems to protect both items and personnel during transport.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are crucial to our services, and we manage them with safety as a priority. We ensure that:

Vehicles are regularly inspected, maintained and serviced to a safe standard.

Loads are properly distributed, secured and checked before departure.

Drivers hold valid licences, are medically fit to drive and comply with road traffic regulations.

Safe driving practices are followed, including adherence to speed limits, rest breaks where required and consideration for pedestrians and other road users.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise that our activities can affect not only our team but also customers, neighbours and members of the public. To minimise risks at homes, offices and other premises we:

Keep access routes as clear as reasonably possible to reduce trips and falls.

Position ramps, trolleys and equipment safely and remove them when not in active use.

Take care when moving large items in shared corridors, stairwells and entranceways.

Minimise noise, obstruction and any disruption to others in and around the property.

Working Environment and Welfare

We aim to provide a working environment that supports the physical and mental wellbeing of our team. This includes:

Providing suitable breaks during longer jobs or periods of intensive work.

Encouraging staff to raise concerns about fatigue, stress or health issues that may affect safe working.

Ensuring access to drinking water and, where reasonably possible, shelter from extreme weather conditions.

Use of Personal Protective Equipment

Where risk assessments indicate that personal protective equipment is necessary, such as protective gloves, safety footwear or high-visibility clothing, we provide suitable equipment and require staff to use it correctly. PPE is seen as a last line of defence and does not replace safe systems of work or proper handling techniques.

Health, Hygiene and Infection Control

We maintain good hygiene standards to protect both staff and customers, particularly when working inside occupied properties. This may include hand cleaning, maintaining clean vehicle interiors, and following any reasonable customer requests relating to hygiene or vulnerable occupants, so long as they are compatible with safe working practices.

Training, Supervision and Communication

All staff receive induction training in the company health and safety arrangements and the specific requirements of removal work. Additional training and refreshers are provided as needed, for example when new equipment or procedures are introduced.

Supervision is provided appropriate to the experience of the staff and the complexity of the job. We promote open communication so that safety concerns can be raised without hesitation and dealt with promptly.

Incident Reporting and Continuous Improvement

All accidents, injuries, near misses and significant hazards are recorded and, where required, reported in line with legal obligations. We analyse this information to identify trends and opportunities to improve our practices, equipment or training.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, our services or the way we operate. By working together and following this policy, Man With a Van Stepney aims to deliver reliable removal services while protecting everyone involved in or affected by our work.