Man With a Van Camden Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out how Man With a Van Camden manages health, safety and welfare during all removals, transport and related services. Our aim is to provide a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our activities.

The company is committed to complying with applicable health and safety legislation and to continually improving our standards as our business and working methods develop.

Health and Safety Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who ensure suitable arrangements are in place to protect people, vehicles, property and goods. Management will provide the resources, information and training necessary for the safe delivery of our removal services.

Every employee and contractor 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 expected to follow safe systems of work, attend training as required and report hazards, near misses, accidents and unsafe conditions at the earliest opportunity.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for our removal and transport activities, including home and office moves, loading and unloading of vehicles, handling of furniture and boxed items and operation in shared or public spaces. These assessments consider risks such as manual handling injuries, slips and trips, falls from vehicles, vehicle movements, use of equipment and working in confined or cluttered areas.

Based on the findings of these assessments we implement safe systems of work, which may include team lifting, use of trolleys, planning of access routes, use of personal protective equipment and specific loading procedures to maintain vehicle stability. These procedures are communicated to staff and reviewed regularly to remain suitable and effective.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide appropriate training and instruction to all staff involved in removal operations and driving duties. This includes induction training, manual handling techniques, safe use of equipment, vehicle safety, awareness of customer property and safe working behaviour at collection and delivery sites.

Supervisors and experienced team members monitor working practices, especially when new staff are involved or when unfamiliar or complex moves are undertaken. Additional guidance and refresher training are provided where required to maintain high standards of safety and professionalism.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a significant part of our work. We manage the risk of injury by planning each move carefully, assessing the size, weight and shape of items and using appropriate lifting techniques and team lifts. Wherever reasonably practicable we use handling aids such as sack trucks, dollies and straps to reduce the load on individuals.

Staff are instructed not to attempt to lift or move items that are beyond their physical capability or which cannot be moved safely with the equipment available. Any concerns about heavy, awkward or fragile items must be raised with a supervisor before work continues.

Vehicle and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition and inspected regularly. Drivers are responsible for carrying out basic pre use checks and reporting any defects immediately so that they can be addressed before the vehicle is used for work.

All drivers must hold the appropriate driving licence and follow road traffic laws at all times. Safe driving standards include adherence to speed limits, securing loads properly, avoiding distractions, planning routes to allow adequate time and taking breaks as needed to prevent fatigue. Vehicles must be loaded and unloaded in a way that minimises risks to staff, customers and pedestrians.

Working at Customer Premises

When working at customer homes, offices or other premises, our teams will act with care to protect the safety of occupants, visitors and neighbours. Access routes are checked for hazards, and wherever possible, trip hazards such as loose packaging or trailing straps are kept clear of walkways.

We will take reasonable steps to prevent damage to property and to avoid creating new risks during the move. This may include the use of protective coverings, careful positioning of items and clear communication with customers about access, lifts, staircases and parking areas.

Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, injuries, vehicle incidents, damage to property and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. This enables us to record what happened, investigate the causes and put measures in place to prevent a recurrence.

Accident and incident records are reviewed periodically to identify patterns and opportunities for improvement in our working practices, equipment or training programmes.

Welfare, Health and Fitness for Work

We recognise the physical nature of removal work and the importance of staff being fit for duty. Employees are expected to inform management of any condition that may affect their ability to perform their tasks safely, including issues that could impair driving or manual handling.

We discourage lone working in situations that present a significant risk and aim to ensure that removal tasks are carried out by an appropriate number of people with the right skills and equipment. Adequate rest breaks, hydration and access to basic welfare facilities are encouraged for all staff while at work.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

We encourage open communication about health and safety matters. Staff are invited to raise concerns, suggest improvements and participate in discussions about safer ways of working. Feedback from customers about safety or conduct at their premises is also welcomed and is taken into account when reviewing our procedures.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated when there are significant changes in legislation, our activities, equipment or organisation. Man With a Van Camden is committed to ongoing improvement so that our removal services are delivered as safely and efficiently as possible for everyone involved.