Man with Van Surbiton Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Surbiton is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our team members, customers, visitors, and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our principles and arrangements for managing risks associated with domestic and commercial removals, man and van services, collections, deliveries, and related operations.

Policy Aims and Responsibilities

The primary objective of this policy is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property during all moving and transport work. We aim to identify, assess, and control risks arising from our activities, with particular attention to lifting, loading, driving, and working in and around customers premises.

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who will ensure that appropriate resources, training, and supervision are provided. Every worker engaged by Man with Van Surbiton is required to take reasonable care of their own safety and that of others, cooperate with management instructions, and follow all safe working practices outlined in this policy.

Risk Assessment and Planning

Before starting any removal or transport job, we assess foreseeable risks linked to the specific service, including access routes, parking and loading areas, staircases, lifts, manual handling tasks, and any unusual items or conditions. Where conditions change or new hazards are identified, we review and update our approach as necessary.

We plan each job to ensure adequate staffing levels, suitable vehicles, and appropriate equipment, such as trolleys, straps, blankets, and tools. Where needed, we may adjust scheduling, vehicle size, or the number of operatives to maintain safe working practices.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a key part of our work and is managed to minimise the risk of injury. Our workers receive training in safe lifting techniques, correct posture, team lifting, and the use of handling aids. Heavy, bulky, or awkward items are not lifted alone where team handling or mechanical assistance is reasonably practicable.

Equipment such as sack trucks, dollies, furniture sliders, straps, and ramps are used where appropriate to reduce physical strain. All equipment is inspected regularly for defects and removed from use if found to be damaged or unsafe.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

We operate our vans and other vehicles in a safe, legal, and responsible manner. Only workers who hold the appropriate and valid driving licence and are authorised by management are permitted to drive company vehicles. Drivers must comply with road traffic laws, speed limits, and parking regulations at all times.

Vehicles are maintained in good working order, with regular checks on tyres, lights, brakes, and load securing systems. Loads are distributed evenly and secured to prevent movement during transit. Drivers and loaders must ensure that doors, tailgates, and ramps are safely closed or stowed before moving off.

Working at Customers Premises

Our team often operates inside customers homes, offices, and shared areas. We take particular care to prevent slips, trips, falls, and other incidents in these environments. Access routes must be kept as clear as reasonably possible, and trailing straps, ramps, or packaging are managed to reduce tripping hazards.

We respect and protect property, fixtures, and fittings. Where necessary, we use floor coverings, corner protectors, and furniture blankets. Any damage, hazard, or unsafe condition noticed by our team is reported immediately to the customer and to management.

Customer and Public Safety

We carry out our services in a way that protects customers, neighbours, and members of the public from avoidable risk. During loading and unloading, we take care when moving items through hallways, corridors, entrances, and communal spaces, and we position vehicles to minimise obstruction to pedestrians and other road users where reasonably practicable.

Customers are requested to keep children and pets away from the immediate working area, particularly near vehicles, ramps, and staircases. Where there is a need to restrict access temporarily, our workers will communicate this clearly and courteously.

Training, Information, and Supervision

All workers receive suitable induction and ongoing instruction in safe working methods relevant to removal and transport services. This includes manual handling, safe use of equipment, loading practice, personal protective equipment use, and incident reporting.

Supervisors and experienced operatives provide on-the-job guidance, especially for new staff or complex moves. We expect all team members to follow guidance, ask for assistance when needed, and report any task that they believe cannot be carried out safely.

Personal Protective Equipment

Where risks cannot be controlled adequately by other means, appropriate personal protective equipment is provided. This may include safety footwear, work gloves, high visibility clothing, or other items appropriate to the task and environment.

Workers must use the equipment provided, keep it in good condition, and report any defects or loss so replacements can be arranged promptly.

Incident Reporting and Investigation

All accidents, near misses, injuries, or damage involving our operations must be reported to management as soon as possible, whether they occur at a customers premises, on the road, or at any other location. This enables us to respond promptly, support anyone affected, and prevent recurrence.

We investigate significant incidents to identify root causes and apply lessons learned. Corrective actions may include changes to procedures, additional training, equipment improvement, or revisions to risk assessments.

Health, Welfare, and Fitness for Work

Our workers are expected to attend work in a fit condition, free from the influence of alcohol, illegal substances, or misused prescription drugs. Anyone feeling unwell, fatigued, or otherwise unable to carry out tasks safely must inform management promptly.

We recognise that moving work can be physically demanding and we encourage sensible pacing of tasks, the use of breaks where appropriate, and the sharing of heavy or repetitive work between team members.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

We welcome feedback from workers and customers on health and safety matters. Concerns, suggestions, or observations about hazards or unsafe practices are taken seriously and reviewed by management.

This policy is reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in our services, working methods, or relevant guidance. Our goal is to maintain and continually improve high standards of health and safety across all removal and man and van activities undertaken by Man with Van Surbiton.