Health and Safety Policy for Man and Van Removals

This Health and Safety policy sets out how our man and van removal service manages risks to protect customers, employees, subcontractors and members of the public. Our aim is to deliver reliable removal services while maintaining safe working practices at all times, from booking and planning through to loading, transport and unloading.

Policy Statement and Objectives

We are committed to operating our removal vans and handling customer belongings in a manner that prevents injury, ill health and damage to property. Health and Safety is an integral part of our day-to-day decision making and service planning. Our objectives are to:

Identify and control hazards associated with lifting, carrying and transporting goods.
Provide and maintain vehicles, equipment and work methods that are safe and suitable for the task.
Ensure all removal staff receive appropriate information, instruction and training.
Consult with workers on Health and Safety matters and act on reasonable concerns.
Continuously improve our practices through monitoring, review and lessons learned.

Legal Responsibilities and General Duties

We recognise our duty to take reasonable care for the Health and Safety of our staff, customers and anyone else affected by our activities. All employees and subcontractors have a responsibility to work safely, follow company procedures and avoid actions that could put themselves or others at risk. Everyone engaged in our removal operations is expected to:

Cooperate with Health and Safety instructions and site rules.
Use equipment correctly and report defects immediately.
Report accidents, near misses and unsafe conditions without delay.
Take reasonable care of their own health, including safe lifting practices.

Risk Assessment and Planning

Before each removal, we consider the nature of the property, access routes, parking restrictions and the size and weight of items to be moved. Where appropriate, a more detailed risk assessment is carried out to identify specific hazards such as narrow staircases, fragile surfaces, restricted access, long carry distances or heavy and awkward loads.

Control measures may include allocating additional staff, using trolleys or lifting aids, separating large items into smaller loads, adjusting the sequence of work and planning safe parking and loading positions for the removal van. Customers are encouraged to inform us of any known risks, such as loose flooring, low ceilings or items requiring specialist handling.

Safe Lifting, Carrying and Handling of Goods

Manual handling is one of the main risks in removal work. We expect staff to use safe lifting techniques at all times and to avoid unnecessary strain. This includes:

Assessing the weight and shape of each item before lifting.
Requesting help or using equipment for heavy or bulky items.
Keeping the load close to the body and lifting with controlled movements.
Avoiding twisting the body while carrying; turning with the feet instead.
Taking regular breaks when handling repetitive loads.

Where practical, items are dismantled to reduce weight and improve manoeuvrability. We use trolleys, straps and other aids where appropriate. Items that are especially heavy, fragile or high value may require additional planning or specialist contractors.

Vehicle Safety and Loading

Our vehicles are maintained in line with manufacturer recommendations and relevant road safety requirements. Drivers perform basic checks before use, such as lights, tyres, mirrors, fuel and load area security.

Safe loading is essential for both road safety and the protection of customer property. We ensure that:

Loads are distributed evenly to maintain vehicle stability.
Heavy items are placed low and secured to prevent movement during transit.
Fragile items are protected with appropriate wrapping and padding.
Access routes within the vehicle are kept clear to reduce trip hazards.
Doors, ramps and tail lifts are used in accordance with manufacturer instructions.

Use of Equipment and Protective Measures

Equipment such as sack trucks, platform trolleys, straps and ramps is selected according to the task and is regularly checked for defects. Any damaged equipment is taken out of use until repaired or replaced. Where necessary, staff may use personal protective equipment such as gloves and safety footwear to reduce the risk of cuts, crush injuries or slips.

Customer and Public Safety

Our teams take care to minimise disruption and hazards around the property and removal van. This includes:

Positioning the vehicle safely and legally, allowing for clear visibility and access.
Keeping pathways, entrances and stairways as clear as possible.
Using safe routes when carrying items to avoid collisions and damage.
Advising customers to keep children and pets away from the working area.

We ask customers not to assist with heavy lifting unless agreed beforehand and only when it can be done safely. Where necessary and reasonably practicable, we will use warning signs or barriers to alert others to moving operations.

Training, Competence and Supervision

All staff receive induction training covering Health and Safety responsibilities, safe lifting methods, vehicle loading, use of equipment and incident reporting. Additional on-the-job training is provided to develop competence in handling different types of items and working in varied properties across our service area.

Supervisors and experienced team members monitor working practices, provide guidance and intervene where unsafe behaviour or conditions are observed. Ongoing training is used to refresh skills and address any new risks or changes in working methods.

Incident Reporting and Continuous Improvement

All accidents, near misses, damage incidents and Health and Safety concerns are recorded and investigated as appropriate. We use this information to identify root causes, put corrective actions in place and improve our procedures. Lessons learned from one job are shared across the team to help prevent similar issues in future.

Review of this Policy

This Health and Safety policy is reviewed periodically, and whenever there are significant changes in our operations, equipment or legal obligations. Updated versions are communicated to all staff and are made available to customers on request. By working together and following this policy, we can provide a safe, efficient and professional man and van removal service throughout our operating area.