Health and Safety policy
Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Silvertown
Man with Van Silvertown is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our staff, customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our removals and transportation activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving services, van loading, unloading, handling goods and working at residential and commercial premises.
Policy Aims and Objectives
Our aim is to prevent accidents, work-related injuries and ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing effective control measures. We will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice, and we will regularly review this policy to ensure it remains suitable for our removal operations and service area.
We seek to continuously improve our health and safety performance by learning from incidents, listening to staff and customer feedback, and updating our procedures and training when necessary.
Responsibilities and Management
Overall responsibility for health and safety within Man with Van Silvertown rests with the company management. They are responsible for ensuring that appropriate resources, systems and supervision are in place to manage health and safety risks arising from our activities.
Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for implementing this policy on a day-to-day basis, ensuring that staff follow safe working procedures, use equipment correctly and report any concerns. Every employee and contractor working with Man with Van Silvertown has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety, and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.
All staff are required to cooperate with management on health and safety matters, attend relevant training, follow instructions and report hazards, near-misses and incidents without delay.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Before carrying out any removal job, we will consider the specific risks associated with the property, access routes, parking arrangements, staircases, lifts, manual handling tasks and weather conditions. Where necessary, a site-specific risk assessment will be conducted and appropriate control measures will be implemented.
Safe systems of work are developed for common tasks such as lifting and carrying furniture, loading and unloading vehicles, securing loads, using moving equipment and operating in shared spaces such as corridors, driveways and entrances. These procedures are communicated to all staff and are reviewed whenever work methods or equipment change.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a core part of our work and is a significant source of potential injury. Man with Van Silvertown provides training in correct lifting techniques, team lifting, assessment of load size and weight, and the use of mechanical aids where available.
Where appropriate, we use equipment such as trolleys, dollies, straps, blankets and ramps to move items safely and reduce the physical strain on staff. All equipment is inspected regularly and maintained in a safe condition. Defective equipment is taken out of service immediately and repaired or replaced as required.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Our vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy and safe condition in line with legal requirements and manufacturer recommendations. Regular checks are made on tyres, brakes, lights, securing points and loading areas. Any faults or defects are reported promptly and remedial action is taken before vehicles are used for work.
Drivers are expected to follow all road traffic laws, drive responsibly and adjust their driving to weather, traffic and load conditions. Loads must be evenly distributed, securely fastened and kept within legal weight limits. Drivers must not operate vehicles while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any medication that impairs driving ability.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
When working at customer homes, offices or other premises, our teams will act with consideration for the safety of everyone present. We aim to keep access routes clear, minimise trip hazards from packaging materials and tools, and manage movement of large items to avoid damage or injury.
Where work takes place near public areas such as pavements, entrances and shared hallways, we will take suitable precautions to protect passers-by, including controlling the movement of large items and, where necessary, temporarily restricting access to certain areas while tasks are carried out.
Information, Instruction and Training
Man with Van Silvertown ensures that all staff receive appropriate information, instruction and training relevant to their role. This may include induction training, manual handling techniques, safe loading and unloading, use of equipment, vehicle checks and emergency procedures.
Training needs are reviewed regularly and refresher training is provided when required or when new equipment, working methods or regulations are introduced. Records of training are maintained to demonstrate competence and support continuous improvement.
Incident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, injuries, near-misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported promptly to management. We encourage open reporting and a no-blame culture so that issues can be identified and addressed quickly.
Incidents will be investigated to determine root causes and to identify measures to prevent recurrence. Where appropriate, findings will be shared with staff and procedures, training or equipment will be reviewed and updated.
Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work
We recognise the importance of staff being fit and able to perform physically demanding tasks associated with removals work. Employees are encouraged to report any health conditions, injuries or concerns that may affect their ability to work safely so that appropriate adjustments or alternative duties can be considered.
We aim to promote good welfare standards by providing reasonable access to rest breaks, drinking water and sanitary facilities during working hours, and by planning work schedules to reduce fatigue where possible.
Review of Policy
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed at regular intervals, and additionally when there are significant changes in our activities, legislation or best practice guidance. Updated versions of the policy will be communicated to all staff and made available to customers on request.
By implementing this policy, Man with Van Silvertown seeks to ensure that all removal and transport work is carried out safely, responsibly and with due care for everyone involved.
