Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Bromley Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Bromley is committed to providing a safe, healthy and secure environment for our customers, employees, subcontractors and members of the public who may be affected by our activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out the principles and procedures we follow when carrying out removals, deliveries, collections and related transport services.

Our Health and Safety Commitments

We are dedicated to managing health and safety as an integral part of our day-to-day operations. Our key commitments are to:

Identify, assess and control risks associated with moving, transporting and handling goods.

Comply with relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice.

Provide information, instruction and supervision to help staff work safely.

Promote a positive safety culture and encourage reporting of hazards, near misses and incidents.

Continuously review and improve our health and safety performance.

Responsibilities and Management

Overall responsibility for health and safety within Man with Van Bromley rests with management, who ensure that suitable resources are provided to implement this policy. Management duties include:

Implementing safe systems of work for all removal and transport tasks.

Ensuring vehicles and equipment are maintained in safe working condition.

Reviewing risk assessments and updating procedures where necessary.

Responding promptly to reported hazards or incidents and taking corrective action.

Employees, drivers and operatives are required to:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.

Follow the training, guidance and safe working procedures provided by the company.

Use vehicles, tools and equipment only for their intended purpose and report faults immediately.

Notify management of any accidents, injuries, near misses or unsafe conditions encountered during work.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Prior to each job, we consider the specific risks associated with the property, items to be moved, access routes and any special customer requirements. Where appropriate, we undertake a site-specific assessment to identify hazards such as:

Manual handling of heavy or awkward items.

Slips, trips and falls on stairs, ramps or uneven surfaces.

Restricted or obstructed access, including narrow hallways and doorways.

Traffic hazards when loading or unloading from the roadside.

Adverse weather conditions affecting lifting or vehicle safety.

Based on this assessment, our team will adopt appropriate measures, which may include allocating additional staff, using lifting aids, adjusting the route used within the property, or rescheduling activities where conditions are unsafe.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core element of our services, and we take particular care to manage the risks involved. To reduce the likelihood of injury, our approach includes:

Encouraging team lifting for large, bulky or heavy items.

Using handling equipment where suitable, such as trolleys and skates.

Planning the lift in advance, including clear communication between team members.

Keeping pathways clear of obstacles before beginning any move.

Workers are trained to assess their own physical limits and are instructed not to attempt to lift items that are beyond their capability or cannot be moved safely with the available resources.

Vehicle Safety and Loading

Our vehicles are central to our removal and delivery operations. We are committed to maintaining them in a roadworthy and safe condition. This includes:

Carrying out regular inspections and servicing according to manufacturer guidelines and legal requirements.

Ensuring loads are evenly distributed, adequately secured and within safe weight limits.

Using appropriate restraints, blankets and padding to prevent movement and damage during transit.

Parking and operating vehicles in a manner that minimises risk to pedestrians, customers and other road users.

Drivers must hold a valid licence appropriate to the vehicle being used and are expected to drive responsibly, obeying speed limits and road traffic regulations at all times.

Customer and Public Safety

We recognise that our work often takes place in residential areas, commercial premises and public spaces. To protect customers and the wider public, we aim to:

Keep access routes as clear as possible while loading and unloading.

Use caution when moving items through doorways and communal areas.

Minimise noise and disruption, especially at sensitive times of day.

Position vehicles and ramps so as not to block pavements or create avoidable obstructions.

Where necessary, our team will politely ask customers or other persons present to maintain a safe distance from lifting and loading operations.

Training, Information and Supervision

Man with Van Bromley provides staff with appropriate information and instruction on safe working methods. This may include:

Induction training on company health and safety procedures.

Guidance on manual handling techniques and safe lifting practices.

Briefings on vehicle checks and safe loading methods.

Updates to procedures where new equipment, vehicles or working methods are introduced.

Supervision levels are matched to the complexity and risk of the task, ensuring that less experienced staff work under suitable guidance.

Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents and near misses that occur during our work must be reported to management as soon as reasonably practicable. This enables us to:

Provide appropriate support and first aid where needed.

Investigate the causes and identify any underlying issues.

Implement corrective and preventive measures to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Records of significant incidents are retained and reviewed to help improve our health and safety performance over time.

Continuous Improvement and Policy Review

This Health and Safety policy is reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes in our operations, services, equipment or legal requirements. Feedback from employees and customers is welcomed as part of our commitment to continuous improvement.

By working together to follow the principles set out in this policy, Man with Van Bromley aims to ensure that all removal and transport services are carried out as safely and responsibly as possible.