Health and Safety policy
Health and Safety Policy for Man and a Van Colliers Wood
Man and a Van Colliers Wood is committed to maintaining high standards of health and safety across all removal and delivery activities. Our goal is to protect our customers, members of the public, and our team from injury, ill health, and avoidable risk during any home move, office relocation, collection, or delivery service.
This policy sets out the principles and procedures we follow to manage health and safety throughout our removal operations, including packing, loading, transport, unloading, and on-site handling of goods.
Our Health and Safety Commitment
We recognise our responsibility to provide a safe working environment and to minimise risks arising from our activities. We will, as far as is reasonably practicable:
Identify and control hazards associated with removals, lifting and carrying, vehicle use, and work at different sites.
Provide and maintain vehicles, tools, and equipment in a safe condition.
Ensure that our team receives appropriate information, instruction, and training.
Promote a positive safety culture where concerns are reported promptly and acted upon.
Review this policy regularly and update it in line with operational and legal requirements.
Responsibilities for Health and Safety
Overall responsibility for health and safety within Man and a Van Colliers Wood lies with the company management. Management is responsible for implementing this policy, ensuring that safe systems of work are in place, and providing the necessary resources to support health and safety standards.
All workers, whether permanent, temporary, or subcontracted, have a duty to:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Follow safe working practices and instructions given by management or supervisors.
Use equipment, vehicles, and protective gear correctly and for their intended purpose.
Report accidents, incidents, near misses, and any health and safety concerns without delay.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Before starting any removal job, we assess the risks associated with the property, route, and tasks involved. This may include consideration of access routes, stairways, lifts, parking, traffic conditions, and the nature and weight of items being moved.
Where particular hazards are identified, such as heavy or awkward loads, fragile or high-value items, or restricted access, we adopt appropriate control measures. These measures may include team lifts, use of handling equipment, route planning, and scheduling to avoid peak traffic or crowded times.
We aim to tailor our working methods to each removal while following clear internal procedures designed to promote safe and efficient service.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a significant element of removal work, and we take specific steps to reduce the risk of injury. Our approach includes:
Training workers in correct lifting techniques and body positioning.
Encouraging the use of team lifting for heavy or bulky items.
Using appropriate handling aids, such as trolleys and straps, where suitable.
Planning the route for moving items to avoid unnecessary carrying and to reduce obstructions.
We expect our staff to refuse to lift or move any item that they reasonably believe may cause harm without additional support or alternative methods being put in place.
Vehicle Safety and Transport
Our vehicles are central to our removal services and must be operated safely at all times. We commit to:
Maintaining vehicles in a roadworthy condition, with regular checks on tyres, brakes, lights, and load securing points.
Ensuring drivers are competent, appropriately licensed, and familiar with safe driving and loading procedures.
Loading and securing goods to prevent movement in transit, considering weight distribution and stability.
Planning routes to minimise risk, taking account of traffic, road conditions, and access restrictions at collection and delivery points.
Drivers must comply with road traffic requirements, drive responsibly, and not operate vehicles when fatigued or unfit to drive.
Use of Equipment and Protective Measures
Where equipment or protective measures are required for safe removals, we will provide and maintain them to an acceptable standard. This may include gloves, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear, and handling equipment such as dollies and lifting straps.
Workers are expected to use any provided protective equipment correctly and to report defects or issues immediately so they can be rectified before further use.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
We take care to minimise disruption and risk when working at customer premises or in shared spaces. This involves:
Keeping access routes as clear as possible while loading and unloading.
Using safe techniques when carrying items through confined spaces, stairwells, or communal areas.
Being mindful of members of the public, neighbours, and other building users, and avoiding actions that could cause trips, falls, or other harm.
Where necessary, we will inform customers of any temporary risks and ask for their cooperation in keeping areas clear and safe during the removal process.
Training, Information, and Supervision
We provide our team with relevant health and safety information and training appropriate to their roles. This may include induction training, manual handling guidance, vehicle and driving safety, and specific instructions on safe working methods for removal services.
Supervision is provided in proportion to the complexity and risk of the job. New or inexperienced workers may receive closer supervision until they are assessed as competent to work more independently.
Accident Reporting and Policy Review
All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported as soon as possible so that we can investigate, learn from them, and prevent recurrence. Where appropriate, we record the details and take corrective actions, which may include changes to procedures, additional training, or equipment improvements.
This health and safety policy is reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to our services, working methods, or relevant regulations. Updated versions are communicated to all workers so that our commitment to safe and reliable removal services remains clear and understood.
