Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Falconwood Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out how Man with Van Falconwood manages risks to safeguard workers, customers, members of the public, and anyone affected by our removal and transport activities. Our services include household removals, small office moves, collection and delivery of goods, and related loading and unloading tasks. We are committed to preventing injury, ill health, and damage to property by actively managing health and safety in all aspects of our operations.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

The main objectives of this policy are to provide a safe and healthy working environment, to reduce accidents and incidents, and to promote safe working practices when carrying, lifting, and transporting goods. We will continually review the way we work, paying particular attention to activities that carry a higher risk, such as manual handling, working in confined or cluttered spaces, and moving goods in and out of vehicles in residential streets and commercial locations.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for leading on health and safety and ensuring that suitable arrangements are in place. This includes assessing risks involved in removal work, providing safe equipment, planning jobs to minimise hazards, and making sure that staff understand the safety standards required. All work must be organised so that it can be carried out without placing workers or others at unnecessary risk, including customers and members of the public who may be present at collection and delivery addresses.

Employee Responsibilities

All workers engaged by Man with Van Falconwood must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by what they do. Workers must follow any safety instruction, training, or guidance they have been given, use equipment correctly, and report any hazards, defects, or near misses they become aware of. Employees must not misuse any equipment or safety measure provided for their protection and must cooperate with management to help fulfil health and safety responsibilities.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We will identify and assess the main hazards associated with removal and transport work, including manual handling, slips and trips, falls from vehicles, and movement of vehicles in busy or restricted areas. Where risks cannot be eliminated, they will be reduced to as low as is reasonably practicable through planning, use of suitable equipment, and safe systems of work.

Before beginning a job, staff should check the working environment, access routes, stairways, lifts, and loading areas. Any concerns, such as unstable surfaces, poor lighting, excessive clutter, or restrictions on vehicle access, must be discussed and managed before moving items. Where necessary, loads may be broken down into smaller parts or additional equipment may be used to make the task safer.

Manual Handling and Lifting Practices

Manual handling is a core aspect of our service and will be managed with particular care. Staff are trained in safe lifting techniques and are required to assess the weight, shape, and stability of any item before attempting to move it. No one should attempt to lift or carry items that are beyond their capability or that cannot be handled safely without assistance.

Safe manual handling includes planning the route, clearing obstructions, using correct posture, keeping the load close to the body, avoiding twisting while lifting, and taking breaks where necessary. Where feasible, mechanical aids such as trolleys and moving blankets are used to reduce the physical strain on workers and minimise the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

Use of Vehicles and Loading Safety

All vehicles used for removal and transport work must be maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition. Vehicle checks should be carried out regularly, and any defects reported promptly. Drivers must hold a valid licence appropriate for the vehicle being used and must follow road safety rules at all times.

Loading and unloading must be carried out carefully to avoid falls, crush injuries, and damage to goods. Loads must be distributed evenly, secured to prevent movement during transit, and kept within the vehicle's safe working capacity. Staff should take care when working near moving traffic, driveways, and shared access areas, using caution and clear communication to avoid collisions or incidents.

Personal Protective Equipment

Where risks cannot be fully controlled by other means, suitable personal protective equipment may be provided, such as gloves and safety footwear. Workers are required to use this equipment correctly whenever it has been specified for a task. Any damaged or defective protective equipment must be reported so that it can be replaced.

Training, Information, and Supervision

We will provide appropriate training and information so that staff understand the hazards associated with their work and know how to carry out their tasks safely. This may include manual handling training, safe use of moving equipment, vehicle safety, and awareness of working in domestic and commercial settings. New staff will receive induction guidance on safety arrangements, and ongoing support will be given to maintain safe standards.

Accident, Incident, and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, injuries, near misses, or dangerous occurrences involving staff, customers, or the public must be reported as soon as possible. Details will be recorded and, where necessary, investigated so that lessons can be learned and improvements made. We are committed to using incident information to refine our procedures and to prevent a recurrence wherever reasonably practicable.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

We believe that health and safety is a shared responsibility. Staff are encouraged to raise safety concerns, suggest improvements, and participate in discussions about safer ways of working. Feedback from customers on safety matters will also be taken into account when reviewing our methods and planning future work.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary, for example after significant changes to our operations, introduction of new equipment, or learning from incidents. The aim of each review is to ensure our policy remains relevant, effective, and proportionate to the risks associated with professional removal and transport services.