Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Dartmouth Park
Man with Van Dartmouth Park 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 sets out our approach to health and safety and applies to all services we provide, including household moves, office relocations, and item transport throughout our service areas.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Our primary objectives are to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property during all removal operations. We aim to:
Identify and control hazards associated with lifting, loading, driving, and working in and around vehicles and premises.
Ensure employees are competent, properly trained, and equipped to carry out their work safely.
Comply with all applicable health and safety legislation, regulations, and industry best practice.
Promote a positive safety culture where everyone understands their responsibilities and is encouraged to report concerns.
Management Responsibilities
Management at Man with Van Dartmouth Park has overall responsibility for implementing this health and safety policy. This includes:
Providing suitable resources to maintain safe systems of work, including appropriate vehicles, equipment, and protective gear.
Setting clear safety standards for removal operations and vehicle use.
Conducting and reviewing risk assessments for regular activities such as lifting, loading, unloading, driving, and working in customers homes or business premises.
Ensuring that all employees receive relevant induction, on-the-job training, and refresher training as needed.
Monitoring performance, investigating incidents, and improving procedures where required.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. All staff are required to:
Follow company procedures and safe working practices at all times.
Use equipment, vehicles, and protective clothing correctly and as instructed.
Report any accidents, near misses, hazards, or unsafe conditions to management without delay.
Cooperate with management in the implementation of this policy, including attending training and safety briefings.
Refrain from any behaviour that may compromise safety, such as misuse of equipment or ignoring instructions.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
We carry out risk assessments for our removal operations and review them regularly. These assessments address typical tasks associated with removal work, including:
Manual handling of furniture, appliances, and boxes.
Carrying items up and down stairs, through narrow spaces, and in shared areas.
Loading and unloading vehicles on residential streets and commercial sites.
Driving and parking vans safely in busy or restricted locations.
Working in customers homes, offices, or storage facilities.
From these assessments, we develop and implement safe systems of work. These may include team lifting for heavy or bulky items, use of trolleys and straps, securing loads correctly within vehicles, and planning safe routes for moving goods to and from the van.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a core part of our removal services, so we take particular care in managing this risk. Our approach includes:
Providing manual handling training to all removal staff, including correct lifting techniques and recognition of personal limits.
Using equipment such as sack trucks, moving dollies, straps, and blankets to reduce strain and protect both people and property.
Planning moves to minimise unnecessary carrying distances and avoid awkward lifting wherever possible.
Refusing to move items that present an unacceptable risk due to weight, shape, or condition unless appropriate equipment or additional assistance can be arranged.
Vehicles and Driving Safety
Our vans are central to our service, and we are committed to ensuring they are safe and roadworthy. We will:
Maintain vehicles in line with legal requirements and manufacturers recommendations.
Carry out regular checks on tyres, lights, brakes, and load securing points.
Ensure drivers are properly licensed, competent, and familiar with safe driving and parking practices in residential and commercial areas.
Plan routes and schedules to reduce the risk of fatigue and encourage safe driving behaviour.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
When working at customer locations, we recognise our responsibility to protect customers, visitors, neighbours, and the general public. We will:
Assess access points, stairs, corridors, and outdoor areas before starting work.
Communicate clearly with customers about any restrictions or safety considerations.
Keep walkways as clear as reasonably practicable and avoid obstructing entrances, exits, or emergency routes.
Take care to prevent damage to property, fixtures, and fittings and to reduce risk from trip hazards, loose packaging, or tools.
Training, Information, and Supervision
We provide employees with the information and training they need to work safely, including:
Induction training covering company safety rules and emergency procedures.
Manual handling and load-securing guidance.
Instruction on correct use of moving equipment and protective gear.
Ongoing supervision and refresher training where working methods or equipment change.
Incident Reporting and Continuous Improvement
All accidents, injuries, near misses, and significant hazards must be reported to management. We will investigate these events to identify root causes and implement corrective actions. Lessons learned are used to improve our risk assessments, procedures, and training. We review this health and safety policy periodically and whenever there are significant changes in our operations or in relevant legislation.
Policy Availability and Review
This health and safety policy is available to all employees and to customers on request. It reflects our ongoing commitment to safe, reliable removal services and safe working practices across all areas in which we operate. The policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective and appropriate for the nature and scale of our work.
