Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van St Helier
Man with Van St Helier is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our workers, customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks associated with moving, loading, transporting and unloading goods, furniture and personal belongings.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Our main objectives are to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property arising from our work. We aim to plan and deliver our man and van services in a way that minimises risks from manual handling, vehicle movements, use of equipment and working at customers’ premises. We will continually review our systems to ensure they remain effective and proportionate to the nature of our work.
Management Responsibilities
Management is responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that health and safety is integrated into all aspects of our removal and delivery operations. This includes:
Ensuring that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for typical moving tasks, including lifting heavy items, working in confined spaces such as stairwells and basements, and handling fragile or bulky goods.
Providing appropriate training, guidance and supervision so that workers understand how to carry out their duties safely and competently.
Supplying suitable equipment and ensuring it is maintained in a safe condition, including vans, lifting aids, trolleys, straps and protective materials used to secure loads.
Monitoring performance, investigating incidents and near misses, and acting on any concerns raised by workers or customers in relation to safety.
Employee Responsibilities
Every worker has a responsibility to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. Workers must:
Follow all safety instructions, procedures and training provided by the company.
Use vehicles, equipment and protective gear correctly and report any defects immediately.
Refrain from taking unnecessary risks, including attempting to lift or carry items that are too heavy or awkward without appropriate assistance or equipment.
Report accidents, near misses, hazards or unsafe conditions at the earliest opportunity so that the company can take corrective action.
Never work under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and notify management of any medical condition that may affect their ability to carry out removal work safely.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
We conduct risk assessments for our typical man and van activities and review them regularly and whenever work processes change. From these assessments, we develop safe working practices that cover:
Planning routes and schedules to reduce time pressure and unsafe driving.
Assessing access at collection and delivery sites, including stairs, narrow corridors, lifts and parking arrangements.
Deciding on the number of workers, type of vehicle and equipment needed for each job to handle loads safely.
Identifying fragile, high-value or hazardous items and agreeing safe handling arrangements with the customer before work begins.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a core part of removal work and presents a significant risk of injury if not managed properly. To reduce this risk:
Workers receive guidance on correct lifting techniques, team lifting, and the use of handling aids such as sack trucks, dollies and sliders.
Heavier or awkward items are assessed before moving, and a plan is agreed, including route, rest points and roles of each worker.
Where possible, loads are broken down into smaller, manageable parts to reduce strain.
Workers are encouraged to stop and seek assistance if they feel that a lift is unsafe or beyond their capability.
Vehicle and Driving Safety
Our vans and related equipment are critical to our service and must be operated safely at all times. We will:
Ensure that vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition and inspected regularly.
Require drivers to hold the appropriate licences and to comply with traffic laws, speed limits and parking rules.
Train drivers in safe loading and securing of goods to prevent movement of loads during transit.
Plan journeys to allow adequate time, avoiding dangerous driving practices caused by rushing or fatigue.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
We recognise that our work often takes place at customers’ homes, offices and public spaces. To protect customers and the public we will:
Maintain clear walkways where possible and use safe routes to move items.
Take care when using lifts, stairs and shared access areas to avoid obstruction and collision.
Place items carefully to prevent trips and falls, and avoid leaving tools or packing materials where they could cause hazards.
Respect house rules, building regulations and any site-specific safety instructions provided by building managers or customers.
Customer Responsibilities
We ask customers to support our health and safety measures by:
Providing accurate information about access issues such as narrow staircases, low ceilings, parking restrictions or long carry distances.
Informing us in advance of any particularly heavy, fragile or unusual items that may require special arrangements.
Keeping access routes clear of obstacles, pets and children during loading and unloading.
Not requesting that our workers carry out tasks that are unsafe, such as lifting excessively heavy items without proper equipment or removing fixed fixtures without prior assessment.
Training, Information and Supervision
We will provide workers with appropriate information and training relevant to their roles, including induction training, manual handling guidance, vehicle safety, use of equipment and emergency procedures. Supervisors will monitor work practices on site to ensure that safety standards are followed and to offer guidance and support where required.
Accident Reporting and Review
All accidents, injuries, near misses and property damage incidents related to our operations must be reported to management as soon as possible. We will record, investigate and review these events to identify causes and implement improvements. Lessons learned will be shared with workers as part of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.
Policy Review
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed periodically, and whenever there are significant changes to our services, equipment or applicable regulations. Updates will be communicated to workers, and the latest version will be made available to customers on request.
By following this policy, Man with Van St Helier aims to ensure that every removal, collection and delivery is carried out with due regard for the safety and wellbeing of our workers, customers and the wider community.
