Man with Van Grove Park Health and Safety Policy
Man with Van Grove Park 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 removal and delivery activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with house moves, office relocations, collections and deliveries.
Policy Statement
Our aim is to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment arising from our operations. We will comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and recognised best practice relevant to the removals and transport sector. Health and safety considerations form an integral part of planning and delivering every removal service.
Responsibilities
Overall responsibility for health and safety lies with the management of Man with Van Grove Park. Management will provide suitable resources, information, instruction and supervision to ensure safe working conditions and practices. Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for implementing this policy on-site, ensuring that staff follow agreed methods and use provided equipment correctly.
Every employee and contractor has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Staff must cooperate with management in the implementation of this policy, follow training and instructions, use equipment correctly and promptly report any hazards, near misses, accidents or unsafe conditions.
Risk Assessment and Planning
Before undertaking removal or delivery work, we will identify and assess foreseeable risks. This includes the assessment of access routes, staircases, corridors, parking arrangements, loading areas and the nature of items to be moved. Where appropriate, site visits or detailed client discussions will be used to gather the information needed to plan the move safely.
Risk assessments will be used to determine safe systems of work, staffing levels, equipment needs and the suitability of vehicles. These assessments will be reviewed whenever there are changes to work practices, locations, equipment, or following incidents and near misses.
Safe Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a core part of removal work and presents significant risk if not managed correctly. All staff will receive training in safe lifting techniques, team lifting, and the correct use of handling aids. Heavy, awkward or bulky items will be lifted by two or more people or moved using appropriate equipment such as trolleys, dollies or lifting straps.
Team members are instructed never to attempt lifts beyond their physical capability and to stop work immediately if they feel a lift cannot be completed safely. Wherever possible, loads will be broken down into smaller, manageable components. Walkways and staircases will be kept clear of obstructions to reduce trips, slips and falls during lifting operations.
Use of Vehicles and Equipment
All vehicles used by Man with Van Grove Park will be maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition, with regular inspections and servicing in line with manufacturer guidance and legal requirements. Drivers must hold valid licences and are responsible for carrying out daily vehicle checks, reporting defects immediately and driving in a safe and considerate manner.
Loading and unloading of vehicles will be carried out using safe techniques to ensure loads are stable and evenly distributed. Goods will be secured using suitable restraints to prevent movement during transit. Any specialised equipment provided for removals, such as ramps or lifting aids, will be inspected regularly and used only by trained personnel.
Workplace Safety at Client Premises
Our work frequently takes place within customer homes, offices and shared buildings. Staff are required to respect and protect these environments while maintaining high safety standards. Protective coverings may be used to reduce risk of slips and protect floors where necessary. Access routes will be agreed with the customer and kept as clear as reasonably practicable.
Where there are specific hazards on-site such as fragile surfaces, low ceilings, uneven ground or restricted parking, these must be reported to the team leader and considered in the working plan. Work will be stopped or adjusted if conditions are unsafe until suitable controls are in place.
Training, Information and Supervision
Man with Van Grove Park will provide appropriate health and safety training for new starters and refresher training for existing staff as needed. Training will cover subjects such as manual handling, safe driving, use of equipment, hazard awareness and incident reporting.
Supervision arrangements will reflect the experience and competence of individual staff. New or less experienced workers will be closely supervised, particularly during physically demanding or complex moves. Instructions and safety information will be communicated clearly prior to and during each job.
Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting
All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported as soon as possible to management. We will investigate incidents to identify immediate and underlying causes and take appropriate corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Records of incidents and corrective measures will be retained and used to improve our health and safety performance.
Consultation and Continuous Improvement
We encourage open communication about health and safety matters. Employees are invited to raise concerns, suggest improvements and participate in discussions on safe working practices. Feedback from customers regarding safety issues will also be taken seriously and considered during policy reviews.
This Health and Safety policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, industry guidance, company operations or identified risks. By working together and following this policy, Man with Van Grove Park aims to deliver reliable removal services while protecting the health, safety and welfare of everyone involved.
