Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van The Burroughs
Man with Van The Burroughs is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, customers, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risk in connection with domestic and commercial removals, packing, loading, unloading and transportation of goods.
Our Health and Safety Commitments
We recognise that effective health and safety management is an integral part of delivering a reliable and professional removals service. Man with Van The Burroughs will take all reasonably practicable steps to:
Identify, assess and control risks associated with lifting, carrying, driving, loading, unloading and working in and around properties and vehicles.
Provide and maintain vehicles, equipment and tools in a safe and serviceable condition.
Ensure that our team members are adequately trained, supervised and competent to carry out their work safely.
Promote safe systems of work for all removal and transport operations.
Prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health wherever reasonably possible.
Review this policy regularly and update it to reflect changes in legislation, industry best practice and operational needs.
Responsibilities for Health and Safety
Overall responsibility for health and safety lies with the management of Man with Van The Burroughs. Management is responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements, resources and controls are in place to implement this policy.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for:
Communicating this policy to staff and contractors.
Carrying out risk assessments and implementing control measures.
Checking that staff follow safe working practices and use equipment correctly.
Ensuring that vehicles and equipment are regularly inspected and maintained.
Employees and contractors are required to:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Follow all safety instructions, training and procedures issued by the company.
Use vehicles, tools and equipment only for their intended purpose and in a safe manner.
Report hazards, defects, near misses and accidents as soon as possible.
Cooperate with the company in meeting its legal and moral health and safety obligations.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Man with Van The Burroughs undertakes risk assessments for key activities, including manual handling of furniture and boxes, working in confined or cluttered spaces, operating in shared areas such as pavements, driveways, car parks and communal entrances, and driving and parking removal vehicles in residential and commercial areas.
These risk assessments are used to develop safe systems of work that may include:
Planning access routes and exit routes to avoid unnecessary lifting and carrying.
Using appropriate lifting aids such as trolleys, straps and blankets.
Working in teams where heavy or awkward items are involved.
Taking extra care on stairs, ramps, wet or uneven surfaces.
Reassessing risks when conditions change, such as weather, lighting or access.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a key part of removal services and must be managed carefully to reduce the risk of injury. Our approach includes:
Providing guidance and instruction on correct lifting techniques, including posture, load assessment and team lifting.
Encouraging staff to avoid lifting loads that are too heavy or awkward for one person.
Breaking down loads into smaller, more manageable units where practical.
Using mechanical aids whenever reasonably practicable.
Refusing to move items that present an unacceptable risk to staff, customers or property.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Our vehicles are central to our removal operations. Man with Van The Burroughs is committed to ensuring that all vehicles are operated safely and responsibly by:
Carrying out regular checks and servicing on all vehicles.
Ensuring that loads are distributed evenly and secured to prevent shifting in transit.
Complying with speed limits, parking regulations and road traffic laws.
Planning routes to minimise risk and disruption to other road users and local residents.
Requiring drivers to report any defects, incidents or accidents promptly.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
We recognise our duty of care towards customers, neighbours and members of the public in and around collection and delivery locations. To protect others, Man with Van The Burroughs will:
Take reasonable steps to keep access routes as clear as practicable.
Use safe methods when moving items through doorways, corridors, stairwells and communal areas.
Take care to prevent damage to floors, walls, fixtures and fittings that could create hazards.
Position vehicles and ramps to minimise obstruction and trip risks.
Adjust working methods if vulnerable persons, children or pets are present.
Training, Information and Supervision
We provide our team with appropriate information and instruction relevant to their roles. This may include:
Induction on company health and safety procedures.
Guidance on manual handling, vehicle safety and use of equipment.
Briefings about specific risks at particular sites or during particular moves.
Ongoing supervision to check adherence to safe working practices.
Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, incidents and near misses that occur during removal activities must be reported to management. Man with Van The Burroughs will:
Record and investigate relevant incidents to identify causes and lessons learned.
Take appropriate action to prevent recurrence, including updates to procedures or training.
Ensure that staff know how to respond in an emergency, including fire, injury, vehicle collision or property damage.
Continuous Improvement and Policy Review
Man with Van The Burroughs is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. We will regularly review this policy, our risk assessments and our procedures to ensure they remain effective and reflect current legislation, guidance and our operational experience across the areas in which we provide removal services.
This Health and Safety Policy applies to all employees and contractors of Man with Van The Burroughs and forms part of our commitment to delivering a safe and professional man and van and removals service.
