Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Loxford Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out how Man with Van Loxford manages safety for customers, staff, contractors and members of the public during all removal and transport activities. Our aim is to provide a reliable moving service while preventing injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment.

Health and Safety Commitment

Man with Van Loxford is committed to operating in a safe, responsible and lawful manner. We recognise our duties under relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice. We will identify, assess and control risks arising from our work and continuously improve our safety performance.

All members of our team are required to give health and safety equal priority to service quality and customer care. No task is so urgent or important that it cannot be carried out safely.

Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who ensure that appropriate arrangements, resources, equipment and training are in place.

Supervisors and drivers are responsible for implementing this policy on a day-to-day basis, including safe loading and unloading, route planning, and ensuring vehicles and equipment are fit for use.

All workers, including temporary staff and contractors, must:

Follow all safety procedures and instructions provided.

Use equipment correctly and report defects immediately.

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others.

Report accidents, incidents, near misses and hazards without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for our activities, including domestic and commercial removals, loading and unloading, furniture assembly, and transport of goods. Where risks cannot be eliminated, we implement control measures to reduce them to an acceptable level.

Safe systems of work include:

Planning the job in advance, including access routes, parking and loading areas.

Assessing weight, size and condition of items before lifting or moving.

Using correct manual handling techniques and mechanical aids where appropriate.

Ensuring clear communication among team members during lifting, carrying and loading.

Adapting work methods in adverse weather or unusual site conditions.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a significant part of removal work and is a key focus of our safety arrangements. To reduce the risk of injury:

Staff receive instruction on safe lifting techniques, including team lifts for heavy or awkward items.

Loads are assessed before lifting to determine weight, stability and best handling method.

Mechanical aids such as trolleys and dollies are used where practical.

Staff are encouraged to refuse lifts they consider unsafe and to request assistance or additional equipment.

Workloads are organised to avoid excessive strain and fatigue.

Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety

Our vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition and are regularly checked for safety and cleanliness. Drivers are responsible for carrying out pre-use checks and reporting any defects immediately.

We promote safe driving practices by:

Following all road traffic laws and speed limits.

Planning routes to avoid unnecessary risk and delay where possible.

Ensuring rest breaks are taken to prevent driver fatigue.

Prohibiting the use of handheld mobile phones while driving.

Securing loads properly to prevent movement or spillage during transit.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We take care to protect customers, their property and members of the public in and around collection and delivery locations. This includes:

Assessing access routes, stairs, corridors and doorways and taking steps to reduce risk of slips, trips and collisions.

Using corner guards, blankets and protective materials where appropriate to help prevent damage.

Keeping work areas as tidy as possible and avoiding blocking fire exits or common escape routes.

Working considerately in shared spaces, minimising disturbance to neighbours and other users.

Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

Only suitable and well-maintained equipment is used for removal activities. All equipment is checked regularly, and defective items are taken out of service immediately.

Where necessary, staff are provided with and must use appropriate personal protective equipment, such as gloves, safety footwear and high-visibility clothing. Employees are responsible for looking after this equipment and reporting any loss or damage.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide our team with information, instruction and training relevant to their duties and the environments in which they work. This may include induction training, on-the-job coaching and periodic refresher training on key safety topics such as manual handling, safe driving and use of equipment.

New or inexperienced staff are supervised until they are competent to work safely without close support. Health and safety expectations and responsibilities are communicated clearly as part of normal management practice.

Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, near misses and cases of damage to property must be reported as soon as possible. We investigate significant incidents to determine root causes and take action to prevent recurrence.

In the event of an emergency, staff are expected to prioritise the safety of people over property. Basic emergency arrangements include:

Calling the emergency services when required.

Following any site-specific emergency procedures at customer premises.

Evacuating the area if there is an immediate risk to health and safety.

Wellbeing and Fitness for Work

We recognise that physical and mental wellbeing affect safety performance. Staff are expected to attend work fit for duty, not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and to inform management of any condition that may affect their ability to work safely.

Work is planned, as far as reasonably practicable, to avoid excessive hours and unreasonable physical demands. Breaks are encouraged, especially on longer journeys and demanding jobs.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, relevant legislation or best practice. We welcome feedback from customers, staff and other stakeholders to help us improve our safety performance.

By working together and following this policy, Man with Van Loxford aims to maintain a safe, professional and dependable removal service for all customers across the areas we serve.