Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Bow

Man with Van Bow 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 policy explains our approach to managing health and safety across all moving and relocation services we provide.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our main health and safety objectives are to prevent injury and ill health, protect property, and minimise risks arising from our operations. We aim to continually improve our health and safety performance so that our removal services are carried out safely, efficiently, and responsibly in every location we serve.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man with Van Bow accepts overall responsibility for health and safety. This includes ensuring appropriate resources, equipment, and training are provided so work can be carried out safely. Managers are responsible for implementing this policy, monitoring performance, and reviewing procedures when necessary.

Management will:

Assess significant risks associated with our services, including lifting and carrying items, loading and unloading vehicles, driving, and working at different customer premises.

Provide and maintain vehicles, tools, and equipment in a safe and roadworthy condition.

Ensure that work is planned, supervised, and executed in a way that reduces risk as far as is reasonably practicable.

Regularly communicate health and safety expectations and updates to all workers.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees, including drivers and removal operatives, have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. Employees must cooperate fully with Man with Van Bow in meeting health and safety obligations.

Employees are expected to:

Follow all safe working procedures and instructions provided.

Use equipment correctly and report any defects or hazards immediately.

Adopt safe manual handling techniques when lifting or moving items.

Wear any suitable clothing or protective equipment that may be required for specific tasks.

Refrain from any behaviour that could put themselves, colleagues, customers, or the public at risk.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for our core activities, including packing, loading, unloading, transport, and working at customer premises such as homes, offices, and storage facilities. These assessments identify potential hazards and set out measures to control them.

Safe systems of work are developed for tasks such as:

Lifting and carrying heavy or awkward items like furniture and appliances.

Navigating stairs, narrow corridors, and other restricted spaces.

Parking and operating vehicles safely in residential streets, commercial areas, and shared access points.

Securing loads within vehicles to prevent movement during transport.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a core part of removal work, and we recognise the potential risks of musculoskeletal injuries. Staff receive guidance and instruction on correct lifting techniques, team lifting, and the use of handling aids. Wherever reasonably practicable, heavy or bulky items are moved using appropriate equipment rather than by manual force alone.

Equipment used may include trolleys, dollies, moving straps, and protective covers. Such equipment is inspected regularly, and any damaged or defective items are taken out of use until repaired or replaced. Employees must not improvise with unsafe methods or unsuitable tools.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are maintained to a high standard to ensure they are safe and suitable for transporting goods. Routine checks are carried out on tyres, brakes, lights, securing points, and other essential components. Drivers must complete pre-use checks and report any defects immediately.

Drivers are expected to operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner, comply with road traffic laws, and adapt their driving to prevailing conditions. Loads must be securely fastened and evenly distributed to prevent movement and to maintain vehicle stability.

Working at Customer Premises

Our teams often work inside homes, offices, and other premises. On arrival, staff consider the layout, access routes, stairs, lifts, and any potential hazards such as uneven flooring or poor lighting. Where necessary, they will agree safe access routes and methods of working with the customer.

Care is taken to protect both people and property, including walls, doors, and flooring. Items are moved in a way that avoids blocking fire exits or emergency pathways. If conditions are assessed as unsafe, work may be paused until suitable controls are in place.

Training, Information, and Supervision

Man with Van Bow provides appropriate training and instruction relevant to each role. This includes induction for new staff, refresher guidance on safe lifting and driving, and specific instruction where particular risks are identified.

Supervisors and experienced operatives support less experienced staff, especially during complex or heavy removals. Health and safety information is communicated through briefings, updates, and ongoing discussions within the team.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, near misses, and hazardous situations must be reported promptly. This enables us to investigate what happened, learn from events, and implement additional controls where needed. Records of incidents are kept and reviewed to identify trends or recurring issues.

Staff are briefed on basic emergency procedures, including what to do in the event of fire, injury, or collision. Where we are working at customer premises, we will comply with any relevant on-site emergency arrangements and cooperate with building managers or responsible persons.

Health, Welfare, and Fitness for Work

We recognise the physical demands of removal work and the importance of health and wellbeing. Employees are expected to present for work fit, rested, and not under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any substance that may impair their ability to work safely.

Reasonable steps are taken to ensure access to drinking water, rest breaks, and appropriate welfare facilities during the working day. Any health conditions that may affect an employee’s ability to carry out certain tasks safely must be reported so that suitable adjustments or alternative duties can be considered.

Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and whenever significant changes occur in our operations or relevant guidance. We welcome feedback from employees and customers on any aspect of safety related to our services.

By working together and following the principles in this policy, Man with Van Bow aims to provide reliable, efficient, and safe removal services for all customers within our service areas.