Health and Safety policy
Man with Van Wennington Health and Safety Policy
Man with Van Wennington 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. We aim to manage all work in a way that prevents injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment.
This Health and Safety Policy sets out our overall objectives, responsibilities and arrangements for managing safety during house moves, office relocations, deliveries, loading and unloading, driving and associated services.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
The key objectives of Man with Van Wennington are to:
Identify, assess and control risks arising from our removal and transport operations.
Comply with relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards.
Provide and maintain safe vehicles, equipment, tools and handling aids.
Ensure all workers are properly trained, instructed and supervised for the tasks they undertake.
Promote a positive safety culture where everyone understands their responsibilities and feels able to report hazards and concerns.
Continually review and improve our health and safety arrangements.
Management Responsibilities
The management of Man with Van Wennington has overall responsibility for implementing this Health and Safety Policy and ensuring that adequate resources are provided to meet our commitments.
Management will:
Lead by example and demonstrate visible commitment to safe working practices.
Carry out risk assessments for removal work, driving, manual handling, use of equipment and work at customer sites.
Introduce suitable control measures to eliminate or reduce identified risks.
Ensure that vehicles are roadworthy, regularly inspected and maintained.
Provide appropriate equipment such as trolleys, straps, blankets and protective clothing.
Ensure that employees receive appropriate induction and task-specific training.
Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses, and take action to prevent recurrence.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees and regular contractors of Man with Van Wennington share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment.
Employees must:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Follow all safety instructions, procedures and training provided.
Use vehicles, tools, lifting equipment and personal protective equipment correctly and only for their intended purpose.
Report hazards, defective equipment, unsafe conditions and any accidents or near misses to management as soon as practicable.
Cooperate with management in implementing this policy and any associated safety measures.
Safe Working Practices for Removals
Moving and transporting items involves a range of hazards, especially related to manual handling, slips, trips and falls, and vehicle movements. Man with Van Wennington has adopted the following safe working practices:
Plan each job in advance, including access routes, parking arrangements, loading points and any particular hazards at customer premises.
Use mechanical aids such as sack barrows, dollies and ramps where appropriate to reduce manual lifting.
Assess the weight, size and shape of items before moving them and ask for assistance with heavy or awkward loads.
Use safe lifting techniques, including maintaining a stable posture, lifting with the legs and avoiding twisting while carrying a load.
Keep walkways, steps and loading areas clear of obstructions and debris.
Secure loads inside vehicles using straps, rails and blankets to prevent movement in transit.
Take particular care in adverse weather conditions, using extra caution on wet, icy or uneven surfaces.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Safe driving and vehicle use are critical elements of our health and safety management. Man with Van Wennington will:
Ensure drivers are competent, licensed and familiar with the vehicles they operate.
Carry out regular checks on tyres, brakes, lights, mirrors, securing points and other safety-critical features.
Require drivers to carry out basic pre-use checks before each journey and report defects immediately.
Plan routes to allow adequate time for safe driving, loading and unloading, avoiding unnecessary time pressure.
Expect all drivers to comply with traffic laws, speed limits and parking regulations at all times.
Prohibit driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal substances or any medication that impairs driving ability.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
Our teams frequently work at domestic and commercial properties and in public areas. We take reasonable steps to protect customers, visitors and members of the public by:
Assessing risks on arrival, including access routes, stairways, lifts and external areas.
Using safe systems for moving items through shared spaces, corridors and entrances.
Positioning vehicles and ramps to minimise trip hazards and restrict unauthorised access to work zones where possible.
Handling customers possessions with care to prevent damage and avoid creating hazards such as trailing cables or unstable stacks.
Training, Information and Supervision
Man with Van Wennington recognises that effective training and supervision are essential for safe operations. We will:
Provide new workers with an induction that covers general safety rules, emergency arrangements and reporting procedures.
Deliver job-specific instruction on manual handling techniques, safe loading, use of equipment and vehicle safety.
Offer refresher training when work practices, equipment or legislation change, or where additional guidance is required.
Ensure that less experienced staff are appropriately supervised on site until they demonstrate competence.
Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported to management so that they can be recorded and investigated.
Man with Van Wennington will:
Maintain an accident record and review trends to identify opportunities for improvement.
Investigate significant incidents to establish root causes and implement corrective actions.
Ensure that suitable first aid provisions are available and accessible during work activities.
Provide guidance on emergency procedures, including fire safety, evacuation and contacting emergency services while on customer premises or on the road.
Policy Review and Communication
This Health and Safety Policy is communicated to all employees and made available to customers and interested parties on request. It will be reviewed regularly, and at least annually, or following significant changes in operations, legislation, or after any serious incident.
Man with Van Wennington is committed to continuous improvement and encourages feedback from employees and customers to help us maintain high standards of health and safety in all aspects of our removal and transport services.
