Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Barnehurst Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Barnehurst is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and delivery services. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving, loading, transport and related activities.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and avoidable disruption during all removal and transport work. We aim to achieve this by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing sensible, proportionate control measures across our operations.

Management at Man with Van Barnehurst accepts overall responsibility for health and safety performance and will provide appropriate resources, information and guidance to support this policy. All staff are expected to cooperate fully, follow safe systems of work and take reasonable care of themselves and others.

Management Responsibilities

The management team is responsible for leading by example and promoting a positive safety culture. This includes planning work so it can be carried out safely, monitoring standards on jobs, and ensuring that any necessary changes are made following incidents or near misses.

Management will ensure that all vehicles and equipment used in removal work are maintained in a safe condition, that lifting and securing equipment is suitable for its purpose, and that staff are competent in its use. When specialist equipment or skills are required, suitable arrangements will be made before work begins.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee has a duty to work safely and to avoid putting themselves, their colleagues, customers or the public at risk. Staff must follow all training and instructions provided, use equipment correctly and report any defects, hazards, incidents or near misses to management without delay.

Employees must not misuse any safety equipment or attempt tasks for which they have not been trained. Where staff are unsure about how to carry out a task safely, they must seek guidance from a supervisor before continuing.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Methods

Man with Van Barnehurst will carry out risk assessments for key aspects of our removal services, including lifting and carrying, loading and unloading vehicles, securing loads, working in customer premises, and driving between locations.

From these assessments we develop safe working methods for common tasks, such as lifting heavy or awkward items, moving goods up or down stairs, handling fragile belongings and operating in confined spaces. These methods are communicated to staff through training, instruction and supervision. Where conditions at a site present unusual or unforeseen risks, work will be paused while those risks are assessed and controlled.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of our work, and we recognise the importance of preventing strains, sprains and other musculoskeletal injuries. We encourage the use of team lifting, trolleys, dollies and other suitable aids to reduce the need for single-person handling of heavy or bulky loads.

Staff are trained in correct lifting techniques, planning the route before moving an item, and communicating clearly with colleagues during team lifts. Items that are too heavy, unstable or unsafe to lift manually will not be handled without appropriate equipment or additional support.

Vehicle Safety and Load Security

All vehicles used by Man with Van Barnehurst must be roadworthy, regularly inspected and appropriately insured for removal work. Drivers are responsible for carrying out basic pre-use checks, such as tyres, lights and securing points, and for reporting any defects immediately.

Loads must be evenly distributed, properly secured and protected from movement or damage during transport. Staff are trained in the correct use of straps, blankets and other securing methods, and will not move a vehicle until the load has been checked and declared safe.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

When working in or around customer premises, our teams will take care to protect the property and ensure the safety of everyone nearby. This may include using floor protection where appropriate, keeping access routes clear, managing trip hazards and avoiding unnecessary obstruction of pavements, doorways or shared areas.

Where work could affect members of the public, for example during loading on or near a road, staff will take reasonable steps to minimise risk by maintaining awareness of passing pedestrians and vehicles and by organising the work area sensibly.

Training, Information and Supervision

Man with Van Barnehurst provides training and instruction appropriate to the roles and responsibilities of each employee. This includes induction training on our Health and Safety policy and specific guidance on manual handling, vehicle safety, load security and working in customer premises.

Supervisors will monitor working practices, especially when new staff are involved or when undertaking unusual or high-risk tasks. Refresher training will be provided when required, and any changes to procedures will be communicated clearly to all affected employees.

Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment and Maintenance

We will provide suitable equipment to support safe removal work, and ensure it is maintained and stored correctly. Where personal protective equipment is required for a particular task, such as gloves or safety footwear, it will be supplied and must be used as instructed.

Any damaged or defective equipment must be taken out of use and reported to management immediately so that it can be repaired or replaced. Staff must not improvise with unsafe equipment or use tools for purposes for which they were not intended.

Accident Reporting and Investigation

All accidents, injuries, near misses and hazardous situations must be reported to management as soon as possible. This enables us to take immediate action where needed and to investigate the underlying causes.

We will record and review incidents with the aim of preventing recurrence, improving our procedures and, where appropriate, providing additional training or equipment. Lessons learned from incidents will be shared with staff as part of our commitment to continuous improvement.

Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work

Employees are expected to present themselves fit for work and not under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that could impair their judgement or ability to work safely. Any medical condition or medication that may affect safe working must be discussed confidentially with management so that appropriate adjustments can be considered.

We recognise the physical nature of removal work and encourage staff to take regular breaks, use correct techniques and speak up if a task feels unsafe or beyond their capability.

Review of this Policy

This Health and Safety policy will be reviewed regularly, and in particular following any significant change in our operations, the introduction of new equipment or working methods, or a serious incident. Revisions will be communicated to all staff, and updated procedures will be implemented without undue delay.

By working together and following the principles set out in this policy, Man with Van Barnehurst aims to deliver reliable and efficient removal services while protecting the safety, health and welfare of everyone involved.