Health and Safety Policy for Haringey Man and Van
Haringey Man and Van is committed to maintaining the highest practical standards of health and safety in all removal and transport activities. This policy sets out our approach to protecting our employees, customers, contractors, members of the public, and any other parties who may be affected by our work.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Our objective is to conduct all man and van and removal operations in a way that prevents injury, ill health, and property damage. We will provide and maintain safe systems of work, safe equipment, and a safe working environment, as far as is reasonably practicable.
This policy applies to all staff, whether permanent, temporary, or self-employed, and to all services we provide, including domestic moves, commercial moves, and delivery or collection services.
Management Responsibilities
Management is responsible for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy. This includes:
Ensuring that risk assessments are carried out and reviewed for removal activities, loading and unloading, driving, and on-site work at customer premises.
Providing suitable training, information, and supervision so that staff can perform their duties safely and competently.
Ensuring that vehicles, lifting equipment, and tools are maintained in a safe condition.
Reviewing health and safety performance and updating procedures whenever necessary.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees and operatives working with Haringey Man and Van have a duty to safeguard their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Staff must:
Follow all safety instructions, procedures, and safe systems of work.
Use equipment and vehicles only as trained and instructed.
Report hazards, defects, near misses, and incidents promptly to management.
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment where required, such as gloves, safety footwear, and high visibility clothing.
Refrain from any behaviour that could put themselves, colleagues, or customers at risk, including the use of drugs or alcohol while at work or on call.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
We carry out risk assessments for our core activities, including manual handling of furniture and boxes, use of trolleys, loading and unloading vehicles, working in confined spaces such as stairwells, and driving and parking in residential or commercial areas.
Safe working practices are developed from these risk assessments and communicated to staff. These include checking access routes before starting work, planning safe lifting routes, securing loads inside vehicles, and using appropriate lifting aids when possible.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a significant part of removal work and is a key focus of our health and safety arrangements. We aim to minimise manual handling risks by:
Training staff in correct lifting techniques and team lifting for heavy or awkward items.
Assessing the weight, size, and stability of items before lifting.
Using trolleys, dollies, straps, and other aids where appropriate.
Adapting our approach for fragile, valuable, or unusually shaped items.
Staff are instructed not to lift items that are beyond their personal capacity or that cannot be moved safely with the equipment provided.
Vehicle and Road Safety
All vehicles used in our man and van and removal services must be safe, roadworthy, and suitable for the tasks undertaken. We are committed to:
Regularly inspecting and maintaining vehicles to a high standard.
Ensuring loads are evenly distributed, suitably packed, and firmly secured.
Complying with road traffic regulations, speed limits, and parking restrictions.
Encouraging courteous and defensive driving at all times to protect staff, customers, and other road users.
Customer Premises and Site Safety
When working at customer properties or commercial premises, we will take reasonable steps to minimise disruption and prevent accidents. This includes:
Assessing access points, staircases, corridors, and doorways before moving items.
Taking care to protect floors, walls, and fixtures where reasonably practicable.
Keeping work areas as tidy as possible, avoiding trip hazards such as loose packaging or trailing straps.
Communicating with customers about any risks identified, such as limited access, uneven surfaces, or restricted parking.
Training, Information, and Supervision
We provide training and instruction to ensure that employees understand their health and safety responsibilities and are competent to perform their roles. This may include:
Induction training covering company health and safety procedures.
Manual handling and safe lifting instruction.
Safe loading and unloading techniques for removal vehicles.
Guidance on working safely at different types of premises.
Supervision is provided where necessary, particularly for new or inexperienced staff, to ensure that safe methods are followed.
Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, near misses, injuries, or damage to property arising from our operations must be reported to management as soon as practicable. We will:
Record and investigate incidents with the aim of preventing recurrence.
Take appropriate corrective action where hazards or unsafe practices are identified.
Ensure that staff know what to do in the event of an emergency, such as fire, serious injury, or vehicle collision.
Welfare and Wellbeing
We recognise that the physical nature of removal work can be demanding. We aim to organise work schedules in a way that considers rest breaks, hydration, and realistic workloads. Where possible, tasks are shared among team members to avoid excessive strain on individuals.
Continuous Improvement and Policy Review
Haringey Man and Van is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. We will review this policy regularly and when changes in legislation, working practices, or incident investigations make it necessary. Staff are encouraged to contribute suggestions to improve safety and working conditions.
By following this Health and Safety Policy, we aim to provide a reliable and responsible man and van and removal service that protects everyone involved in or affected by our operations.
