Man with Van Keston Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Keston is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removals and transportation activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks associated with loading, unloading, transporting and handling goods for home and business removals.

Policy Aims and Responsibilities

Our aim is to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and avoidable disruption to our services. Health and safety is an integral part of our planning and day to day operations, not an optional extra. Management is responsible for implementing this policy, providing resources and monitoring performance, while every worker has a duty to take reasonable care of their own safety and that of others.

All team members are expected to cooperate fully with our safety procedures, follow reasonable instructions, report hazards and near misses, and use equipment correctly. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that staff are properly trained, that safe systems of work are followed, and that vehicles and equipment are kept in a safe condition.

Legal Compliance and Continuous Improvement

Man with Van Keston will meet or exceed relevant health and safety legislation and associated guidance for the moving and transport industry. We will review this policy periodically and whenever there is a significant change in our operations or in applicable regulations. Feedback from staff and customers will be used to improve our safety standards and working practices.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for our typical removal and transport activities, including lifting and carrying, use of trolleys, negotiating stairs and narrow access routes, loading and unloading vehicles, and securing loads for transit. Site specific risks are identified at each job, and our team will adapt working methods to address particular challenges at a property or workplace.

Where hazards are identified, we implement control measures such as planning the route in and out of the property, using appropriate equipment, assigning sufficient staff to the task, and restricting access to work areas where necessary. Staff are instructed to stop work and seek guidance if they believe an activity cannot be completed safely.

Manual Handling and Safe Lifting

Manual handling represents a significant part of our work and a key focus of this policy. We aim to minimise manual handling risks by:

Planning each move to reduce unnecessary lifting, twisting and carrying over long distances. Using handling aids such as trolleys, skates and straps where suitable. Encouraging team lifting for heavy or awkward items. Training staff in correct posture, lifting techniques and recognition of personal limits. Refusing to move items that exceed safe handling capabilities or cannot be moved without undue risk to people or property.

Employees must follow safe lifting procedures at all times and must not attempt to impress customers or colleagues by lifting loads beyond their ability.

Use of Vehicles and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are a central part of our work and are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition. Regular checks, servicing and inspections are carried out in line with manufacturer guidance and transport regulations. Drivers are required to perform pre use checks and report any defects immediately.

Drivers must obey traffic laws, drive defensively, and operate vehicles in a manner appropriate to road, weather and traffic conditions. Fatigue management is taken seriously; drivers must not work excessive hours and must take breaks as needed. Mobile devices must not be used while driving except in accordance with hands free requirements and only when it is safe to do so.

Load Security and Property Protection

We are committed to securing loads safely to prevent movement during transit. Staff are trained in methods of stacking, strapping and protecting furniture, appliances and personal belongings. Vehicles are not overloaded, weight is distributed evenly and items are restrained so that they cannot shift and cause injury or damage.

Inside customer premises, we handle items with care and take reasonable steps to protect floors, walls, doors and fixtures from damage where practicable. Where access is restricted or conditions are unsafe, we will discuss options with the customer and may decline to move certain items if the risk is too high.

Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment and Housekeeping

We provide and maintain appropriate equipment such as sack trucks, dollies, ramps, straps, and protective coverings to support safe operations. Personal protective equipment will be supplied where identified as necessary by risk assessment, and employees are required to use and look after this equipment and report any defects.

Good housekeeping is essential to safety on site. We keep walkways as clear as possible, manage trailing cables and packaging, and organise loading and unloading areas to reduce trips, slips and collisions. Waste and packing materials are disposed of responsibly.

Training, Information and Supervision

All staff receive induction training covering the principles of health and safety, our specific procedures and their own responsibilities. Further training is provided on manual handling, equipment use, vehicle safety and emergency arrangements. Refresher training is carried out as needed, particularly when we introduce new equipment or working methods.

Supervision is provided to ensure that safe practices are followed and that less experienced staff are supported. We promote open communication so that employees feel able to raise safety concerns without fear of blame.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

Any accidents, injuries, near misses or damage to property must be reported as soon as possible. We investigate incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective actions. We maintain appropriate records in line with legal requirements and internal procedures.

Emergency arrangements are communicated to staff, including how to respond to fire, road traffic accidents, injuries and sudden health issues during a job. Drivers and team leaders are responsible for ensuring that emergency contact information and basic first aid supplies are available in vehicles.

Customer and Public Safety

We recognise our duty of care to customers and members of the public. During removals, we manage access to work areas, use clear communication to warn about moving loads and vehicle movements, and take care when operating in shared entrances, pavements and parking areas. Where necessary, we will ask customers to remain clear of active work zones to minimise the risk of injury.

Review of Policy

This health and safety policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains relevant to the scale and nature of our removals activity and continues to reflect best practice. Updates are communicated to all staff, and adherence to the policy is a condition of working with Man with Van Keston.