Man with Van Sipson Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Sipson 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 transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy explains the standards and procedures we follow to manage risk and promote safe working practices across all jobs we undertake.

Policy Aims and Objectives

The purpose of this policy is to set out how we manage health and safety in our day to day operations. Our main objectives are to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and disruption to our customers. We aim to identify hazards in advance, assess risks realistically and apply practical controls so that work is carried out safely and efficiently.

Health and safety is an integral part of our service. We expect all employees and contractors to co operate with this policy, follow instructions provided for their safety and that of others, and report any concerns promptly.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man with Van Sipson has overall responsibility for ensuring that appropriate health and safety arrangements are in place. This includes planning work with safety in mind, providing suitable equipment, maintaining vehicles, and ensuring that all staff receive adequate information, instruction and training.

We review our working practices regularly to make sure they remain suitable and reflect current guidance relevant to moving, handling and transport operations. Where necessary we update our procedures and communicate changes to all employees.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees have a duty to take reasonable care of their own safety and the safety of others who may be affected by their actions during removal work. Staff must use the equipment and personal protective items provided, follow safe systems of work and avoid taking shortcuts that could put people or property at risk.

Employees are required to report accidents, near misses, hazards, faulty equipment or unsafe conditions to management without delay. They must not operate vehicles or equipment for which they are not trained or authorised, and must comply with all relevant road safety and driving requirements when operating company vehicles.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before undertaking removal work, we consider the nature of the items being moved, the access at collection and delivery locations, any potential restrictions and any particular customer requirements that may affect safety. Where appropriate, we carry out formal risk assessments to identify significant hazards and select control measures.

Control measures may include using additional staff for heavy or awkward items, employing suitable lifting aids where available, planning routes to avoid obstacles, and scheduling work to minimise the need for rushing or working in poor lighting conditions. We seek to reduce manual handling and other high risk tasks as far as is reasonably practicable.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a key part of our work and is managed carefully. Staff are trained in safe lifting techniques, including assessing the weight and shape of loads, keeping items close to the body, avoiding twisting, and working as a team for large or bulky objects. Where items are too heavy to be moved safely by hand, we consider alternative methods such as partial dismantling or mechanical assistance when reasonably available.

We plan each job to avoid unnecessary carrying distances, steep or uneven routes and unsafe stacking. Floors and pathways are kept as clear as possible to reduce the risk of trips and falls while lifting and carrying.

Use of Vehicles and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are maintained to a high standard so that they are safe and roadworthy. Drivers must carry out basic pre use checks, including tyres, lights, mirrors and securing points, and must report defects immediately. Overloading is strictly prohibited and all loads must be distributed evenly and secured effectively to prevent shifting during transit.

Drivers are expected to follow all road traffic rules, operate within speed limits, and drive in a manner that reflects the larger size and weight of removal vehicles. Adequate rest breaks are planned into longer journeys to help reduce fatigue. Use of mobile phones while driving is not permitted unless a fully compliant hands free system is used and it is safe to do so.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

When working at customer premises or in shared areas, we take reasonable steps to protect the customer, visitors and members of the public. This may include clearly identifying trip hazards such as ramps or loose coverings, positioning vehicles so that loading and unloading can take place safely, and avoiding obstruction of entrances, exits or emergency routes.

We take care to minimise noise, dust and disruption, and to respect the property and belongings of our customers at all times. Items are handled and stacked in a way that reduces the risk of collapse, damage or injury.

Equipment and Personal Protective Gear

Where appropriate for the task, we provide equipment such as trolleys, straps and blankets to assist with safe moving and protection of goods. Staff may also be provided with personal protective gear such as safety footwear or gloves depending on the nature of the work. All equipment must be used in accordance with training and instructions and returned in good condition after use.

Any damage or defect to equipment must be reported immediately so it can be taken out of use until repaired or replaced. Using makeshift or damaged equipment is not permitted.

Accidents, Incidents and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, injuries, vehicle incidents and significant near misses are recorded and, where required, investigated by management. The purpose of these investigations is to identify causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Employees are expected to co operate with investigations and provide accurate information.

Lessons learned from incidents are shared with staff and may lead to changes in procedures, additional training or modifications to equipment or vehicles.

Health, Wellbeing and Fitness for Work

Removal work can be physically demanding. We encourage staff to be honest about any health issues that may affect their ability to work safely, particularly conditions affecting strength, mobility, balance or concentration. Employees must not work under the influence of alcohol, illegal substances or medication that impairs their ability to perform tasks safely.

Where necessary, temporary adjustments to duties may be made to support the wellbeing of staff while maintaining safe operations.

Training, Communication and Review

We provide appropriate induction and ongoing training to our staff, covering manual handling, vehicle safety, use of equipment and general site safety. Health and safety expectations are communicated clearly and updated when procedures change or new risks are identified.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes in our activities or in relevant guidance. Any amendments will be communicated to employees and incorporated into our working practices so that safety remains a central part of the service we provide.