Man and Van Harringay Health and Safety Policy

Man and Van Harringay is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers, and members of the public affected by our removal and delivery activities. This policy sets out how we manage health and safety across all our man and van and removal services.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property, and disruption to our customers. We aim to identify and control risks associated with lifting, loading, transport, access to properties, and work in and around vehicles. We are committed to continual improvement of our health and safety performance and to complying with all applicable health and safety legislation and best practice guidance.

Responsibilities for Health and Safety

Overall responsibility for health and safety within Man and Van Harringay rests with the company management, who ensure that appropriate resources, training, and supervision are provided. Management will regularly review this policy and associated procedures to ensure they remain effective and relevant to our operations.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for implementing this policy on a day to day basis, including planning jobs safely, checking vehicles and equipment, and ensuring that staff follow safe working procedures when carrying out removals and deliveries.

All employees and contractors have a duty to work safely, follow instructions and training, use equipment correctly, report hazards or incidents, and cooperate with management to achieve a safe working environment.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We assess the risks arising from our man and van and removal activities, including manual handling, working in confined or restricted spaces, stairs and access routes, vehicle movements, and loading and unloading. Suitable control measures are put in place and communicated to staff before work begins.

For each job, staff are expected to carry out a dynamic risk assessment on arrival, considering access, parking, weather conditions, trip hazards, and any customer-specific risks. Work will only proceed when it can be carried out safely. If a situation is considered unsafe, the team is instructed to stop work and contact management for further guidance.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of removal work and is a key focus of our safety arrangements. All staff receive training in safe lifting techniques, use of handling aids, and team lifting. We seek to minimise manual handling risks by:

Planning lifts in advance, including route, resting points, and number of people required.

Using appropriate equipment such as trolleys, dollies, straps, and protective covers where suitable.

Avoiding single-person handling of heavy or awkward items wherever reasonably practicable.

Refusing to carry out lifts that pose an unacceptable risk to staff or others.

Staff are expected to recognise their own physical limits and to request additional help or equipment when needed.

Vehicle, Driving, and Road Safety

Our vehicles are central to our removal services and are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition. Regular checks and servicing are carried out in line with manufacturer recommendations and legal requirements. Drivers must carry out pre-use checks and report any defects immediately.

Only authorised and competent drivers may drive company vehicles. All drivers must follow road traffic laws, drive considerately, and adjust their driving to weather, traffic, and load conditions. Loads must be secured properly, with weight distributed evenly and items restrained to prevent movement during transit.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our responsibility to protect customers, neighbours, and members of the public while working at homes, offices, and other premises. Our teams will:

Plan parking and access to minimise obstruction and risk to pedestrians and other road users.

Keep walkways as clear as practicable and highlight trip hazards such as ramps or loose coverings.

Take care to protect floors, walls, doors, and fixtures when moving items.

Use safe lifting routes that avoid unnecessary risks on stairs and landings.

We will not undertake work that requires specialist equipment or expertise that we do not have, such as certain structural alterations, complex disconnections, or access at height without proper provision.

Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

We provide suitable equipment for removal and transport activities and ensure it is maintained and used correctly. Staff are instructed to inspect equipment before use and to remove from service anything that appears damaged or unsafe.

Where necessary, personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety footwear, and high visibility clothing is provided. Staff must use this equipment as instructed and look after it properly.

Training, Information, and Supervision

All staff receive induction training covering general health and safety, manual handling, vehicle safety, and safe working at customer premises. Further on-the-job training and refresher training are provided as required. Changes to procedures or identified risks are communicated clearly to all affected staff.

New or inexperienced staff are supervised appropriately until they are competent to work more independently. Supervisors monitor working practices and correct any unsafe behaviour or non-compliance with this policy.

Accidents, Incidents, and Near Misses

All accidents, injuries, and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. We record and investigate such events to understand causes and to prevent recurrence. Where necessary, we will review and update our risk assessments, procedures, or training in response.

Health, Welfare, and Fitness for Work

We recognise the physical nature of removal work and the importance of staff being fit to work safely. Employees are expected to inform management of any health condition or injury that may affect their ability to carry out tasks safely. We will make reasonable adjustments where practicable, including adapting tasks, using additional equipment, or reallocating duties.

We do not permit anyone to work under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or while otherwise unfit to carry out their duties safely. Breaks are planned to help manage fatigue, especially on longer jobs or driving duties.

Consultation and Policy Review

We encourage staff to raise any health and safety concerns or suggestions for improvement. We will consult with employees and contractors on matters that affect their safety and will take their views into account when revising procedures.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, legislation, or identified risks. The latest version is made available to all staff and to customers on request.

By implementing this policy and working together, Man and Van Harringay aims to deliver removal and transport services that are safe, reliable, and professionally managed for everyone involved.