Man and a Van Clapham Health and Safety Policy
Man and a Van Clapham is committed to maintaining the highest practicable standards of health, safety and welfare for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with removal and transport activities, including packing, loading, transit and unloading.
We recognise that professional removals involve physical work, vehicle use, handling of customers possessions and work in varied locations. We therefore place strong emphasis on risk assessment, staff training and safe systems of work to prevent injury, damage and ill health.
Policy Aims and Objectives
The aims of this Health and Safety Policy are to:
Promote a safe and healthy working environment for all persons affected by our operations. Identify, assess and control health and safety risks arising from our removal and transport activities. Provide information, instruction and training to ensure staff are competent to perform their duties safely. Prevent accidents, work-related ill health, damage to property and avoidable disruption to customers. Continually improve our health and safety performance and review our arrangements regularly.
Management Responsibilities
Management is responsible for implementing this policy and integrating health and safety considerations into all aspects of planning and delivering removal services. This includes:
Ensuring that risk assessments are carried out for key tasks such as lifting, carrying, operating vehicles and working in customers premises. Providing safe and suitable work equipment, including vehicles, trolleys, lifting aids and protective equipment where required. Maintaining vehicles to a safe standard and ensuring that loading limits are not exceeded. Providing appropriate training and supervision to staff and contractors. Investigating accidents, near misses and incidents and acting on findings to prevent recurrence. Reviewing this policy periodically and when there are significant changes in operations.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees and contractors working on behalf of Man and a Van Clapham have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Everyone must:
Follow the safety procedures and instructions provided. Use equipment, vehicles and any protective equipment correctly and not misuse or interfere with anything provided for safety. Report any hazards, defects, near misses, accidents or concerns to management as soon as possible. Cooperate with management in fulfilling legal and company health and safety requirements. Avoid taking unnecessary risks, shortcuts or unsafe practices during removals and driving.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We carry out risk assessments for typical removal activities, and where appropriate for specific jobs that involve unusual access, heavy or awkward loads or other particular hazards. From these assessments we develop safe systems of work that may include:
Planning routes and parking to minimise reversing and handling distances. Assessing access points, stairs, lifts and doorways before moving items. Using correct lifting techniques and team lifting for heavy or bulky items. Using trolleys, skates, straps and other aids where reasonably practicable. Limiting the weight of individual loads and avoiding overreaching or twisting while lifting. Ensuring good communication between team members during complex manoeuvres.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a key element of our work, and poor technique can lead to injury. To minimise risk we:
Provide guidance and instruction on correct posture, lifting, carrying and lowering techniques. Encourage team lifting for heavy, awkward or fragile items. Plan the route before lifting, clearing obstacles and ensuring good lighting. Avoid carrying loads on stairs where this is unsafe or impracticable and consider alternative methods where available. Encourage staff to stop work and seek assistance if a load is too heavy or conditions are unsafe.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Safe operation of vehicles is essential for protecting staff, customers and the public. Our approach includes:
Ensuring all drivers hold a valid licence for the vehicle they operate and are familiar with its controls. Conducting basic pre-use checks on vehicles, including tyres, lights and securing points. Loading vehicles safely, distributing weight evenly and securing items to prevent movement during transit. Observing speed limits and driving to suit road, weather and traffic conditions. Avoiding the use of mobile phones while driving, other than approved hands-free systems in line with applicable road safety rules. Planning journeys to reduce time pressure and the temptation to rush or drive unsafely.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
Our teams often work in and around residential and commercial properties. We aim to prevent harm to customers, visitors and the general public by:
Keeping access routes as clear as reasonably possible during loading and unloading. Using warning where there is a risk of trips, slips or moving loads. Taking care when moving items near parked vehicles, walls and fixtures to avoid damage and injury. Being mindful of children, pets and vulnerable persons and requesting that they remain clear of working areas. Leaving the work area tidy and free from debris or packaging once the job is completed.
Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment
Where necessary for the task, we provide suitable equipment and personal protective equipment. This may include gloves, safety footwear, high visibility vests or other items appropriate to the work and environment. Employees are required to:
Use the provided equipment and protective gear as instructed. Check equipment for obvious defects before use and report any damage immediately. Store equipment properly to prevent deterioration and hazards.
Training, Information and Supervision
We provide information and guidance relevant to removal and transport work, including but not limited to manual handling, safe driving practices, use of equipment and customer care. Less experienced staff are supervised until they demonstrate the required competence. Refresher guidance is given where risks or working methods change.
Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, near misses and health and safety concerns must be reported to management as soon as practicable. We record incidents, review causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence. During work, staff must familiarise themselves with any relevant emergency procedures at customer premises, such as fire exits and assembly areas, and follow instructions given by the person in control of the site.
Policy Review and Continuous Improvement
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains appropriate to the nature and scale of our removal activities. We take into account feedback from staff and customers, incident findings and changes in industry practice. Our goal is to continually improve our standards, protect everyone affected by our work and deliver removal services in a safe, responsible and professional manner.
