Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van St Jamess

Man with Van St Jamess 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 transport activities. This policy outlines our approach to managing health and safety risks associated with moving, loading, transport, and delivery of goods for residential and commercial clients.

Policy Aims and Responsibilities

Our primary aim is to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property by identifying, assessing and controlling risks inherent in removal and transport work. Management is responsible for ensuring that suitable systems are in place to meet legal and regulatory obligations relating to health and safety. Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for implementing safe working practices on each job, while every employee and contractor must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others.

We expect all staff to cooperate with company procedures, attend required training, use equipment correctly and report hazards, near misses and incidents promptly. Health and safety performance will be monitored regularly and improvements will be made wherever necessary.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before carrying out removal or transport work, we assess potential hazards at the collection and delivery locations, as well as during loading, unloading and travel. Typical risks include manual handling injuries, trips and falls, moving vehicle hazards, unsafe stacking of items and damage to property.

Based on these assessments, we adopt safe systems of work, which may include planning access routes, determining the appropriate number of staff for each task, selecting suitable equipment, and deciding whether specific items require special handling techniques. Where risks cannot be eliminated, we apply control measures to reduce them to an acceptable level.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of our service and presents a significant risk of injury if not managed correctly. All team members receive guidance in safe lifting and carrying techniques, including assessing load weight, size and stability before attempting to move it.

Where items are too heavy, bulky or awkward to be carried safely by hand, we make use of trolleys, dollies, lifting straps or additional manpower. Staff are instructed never to exceed their individual handling capability or to undertake lifting tasks that they believe to be unsafe. Particular care is taken on stairs, in narrow hallways, and when moving items through doorways or up and down ramps.

Vehicle Safety and Loading

Our vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition and checked regularly to ensure they are safe and suitable for transporting goods. Drivers are responsible for carrying out basic pre-use checks and for reporting defects so that they can be addressed promptly.

When loading and unloading, we ensure that items are arranged to prevent movement during transit and that the vehicle remains stable and within permitted weight limits. Loads are secured using appropriate restraints where necessary. Care is taken to distribute weight evenly and to avoid blocking emergency exits or access to essential equipment inside the vehicle.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our responsibility to protect customers, visitors and members of the public in and around the premises where we work. Our teams aim to keep routes clear, minimise obstruction and maintain good housekeeping throughout the removal process.

Where possible, we plan loading and unloading to reduce interaction between moving loads and pedestrians. When working in shared spaces, communal areas or busy streets, staff take extra care when manoeuvring items and vehicles and may use spotters to guide them safely. We also strive to protect floors, walls, door frames and fixtures from damage that could create hazards.

Use of Equipment

Any equipment used in the course of our work, including trolleys, lifting aids and securing devices, is selected to be suitable for the intended task and environment. We ensure that staff understand how to use this equipment safely and that defective or damaged items are taken out of service until repaired or replaced.

Team members are instructed to check equipment before use and to stop using it immediately if they have concerns about its safety or condition. Improvised or unauthorised equipment is not permitted.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide our staff and regular contractors with appropriate information and instruction on health and safety matters relevant to removals and transport. This includes guidance on manual handling, vehicle safety, equipment use, risk assessment and accident reporting.

New team members receive an induction that covers key risks and controls associated with our operations. Ongoing supervision is provided to ensure that procedures are followed correctly and to address unsafe behaviours or practices. Where necessary, additional or refresher training is arranged to maintain high standards of safety performance.

Accidents, Incidents and Near Misses

All accidents, incidents and near misses are taken seriously and must be reported to a supervisor or manager as soon as possible. We record relevant details and, where appropriate, investigate the circumstances to identify root causes and preventative actions.

Findings from investigations may lead to changes in procedures, additional training, updated risk assessments or improvements to equipment. Our aim is to learn from each event and continually improve the safety of our service.

Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work

We recognise the physical nature of removal work and the importance of staff being fit and able to carry out duties safely. Team members are encouraged to highlight any health issues that could affect their ability to perform manual handling or driving tasks, so that adjustments or alternative duties can be considered where appropriate.

We do not tolerate working under the influence of alcohol, illegal substances or misused prescription medication. Any concerns relating to fitness for work are addressed promptly in line with company procedures.

Review and Continuous Improvement

This health and safety policy is reviewed periodically, and whenever significant changes occur in our operations or relevant legislation. The review process considers feedback from staff, accident and incident data, and any new guidance affecting the removals and transport sector.

Man with Van St Jamess is committed to continually improving our health and safety performance, protecting our teams, customers and the public while delivering a reliable and professional removal service.