Man With a Van Hampton Health and Safety Policy

Man With a Van Hampton is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our team members, our customers and any third parties who may be affected by our removal activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with domestic and commercial moves, delivery services and related handling of goods.

We recognise our responsibilities under relevant health and safety legislation and industry good practice, and we aim to continually improve our standards as our business develops.

Policy Aims and Objectives

The aims of this Health and Safety Policy are to prevent injury, ill health, property damage and environmental harm arising from our operations. We will do this by identifying hazards, assessing risks, implementing appropriate control measures and regularly reviewing our procedures.

Our core objectives are to plan and carry out every removal and transport task safely, provide suitable training and information for our workers, maintain vehicles and equipment in a safe condition, and cooperate with customers to ensure safe working conditions at collection and delivery locations.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for ensuring that effective health and safety arrangements are in place and that this policy is implemented across all activities. This includes allocating sufficient resources for training, equipment, vehicle maintenance and protective clothing, as well as monitoring performance and addressing any shortcomings in a timely manner.

Managers and supervisors must lead by example, promote a positive safety culture, and ensure that all operatives understand their duties, follow safe systems of work and report hazards, incidents or near misses promptly.

Employee Responsibilities

Every worker has a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. Employees and contractors must follow all safety instructions and procedures, use equipment correctly, wear any required personal protective equipment and cooperate fully with training and supervision.

Workers are expected to report any unsafe conditions, damaged equipment, vehicle defects, injuries, near misses or concerns to management without delay so that appropriate action can be taken.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for typical removal and transport activities, including manual handling, lifting and carrying items, loading and unloading vehicles, working at height where required and operating in confined or restricted spaces such as stairwells and narrow access routes.

Findings from risk assessments are used to develop safe systems of work that are communicated to staff through inductions, briefings and ongoing training. Site specific assessments may be undertaken for complex moves, heavy or unusual items, or locations presenting particular challenges such as limited access or shared entrances.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a key element of our work, and we take steps to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Wherever reasonably practicable, we use equipment such as trolleys, dollies, straps, blankets and ramps to assist with lifting and moving goods.

All staff involved in lifting activities receive guidance on correct posture, team lifting, assessing the weight and stability of loads, and recognising when a lift is beyond their capability. Unsafe lifting techniques, rushing tasks and ignoring instructions are not tolerated.

Use of Vehicles and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition and inspected regularly to reduce the risk of breakdowns and accidents. Drivers must hold the appropriate licence for the vehicle they operate, comply with road traffic laws, and follow company rules on loading, speed, parking, rest breaks and mobile phone use.

Loads must be evenly distributed and securely restrained to prevent movement during transit. Drivers must check that doors, ramps and tailgates are properly closed and locked before moving off, and conduct visual checks of the vehicle at the start of each day or shift.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise that removal work can affect customers, visitors and members of the public. Our teams take care to minimise trip hazards from boxes, furniture and equipment, and to keep access routes as clear as possible while loading or unloading.

Where appropriate, our staff may place temporary notices or verbally advise customers of potential hazards such as trailing straps, dismantled furniture or open vehicle doors. Particular care is taken in shared buildings, communal areas and on public pavements to prevent accidents and obstruction.

Protection of Property and Environment

Health and safety also includes preventing avoidable damage to buildings, fixtures, fittings and personal belongings. We use protective covers, blankets and appropriate handling methods to reduce the risk of impact or abrasion damage when moving items through hallways, staircases and doorways.

We aim to conduct our operations with respect for the local environment, avoiding unnecessary noise, obstruction, littering or pollution, and disposing of any waste materials responsibly.

Training, Information and Supervision

All new workers receive an introduction to our health and safety procedures before starting operational duties. Ongoing training is provided as needed on topics such as manual handling, safe use of handling aids, vehicle loading, use of personal protective equipment and incident reporting.

Supervision is provided by experienced personnel who monitor working practices, correct unsafe behaviour and provide guidance on safe techniques, especially for new or less experienced staff.

Accidents, Incidents and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, injuries, near misses and instances of damage to property or vehicles must be reported as soon as possible. We keep appropriate records and investigate incidents to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

Where necessary, corrective actions may include revising risk assessments, updating procedures, improving training, repairing or replacing equipment, or reinforcing safety standards with individuals or teams.

Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work

We recognise the physical nature of removal work and the importance of workers being fit for duty. Staff are encouraged to report health conditions that could affect their ability to carry out tasks safely. No one should work under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that impairs judgement or coordination.

Reasonable steps are taken to manage fatigue, ensure availability of rest breaks and promote general wellbeing so that tasks are carried out safely and efficiently.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, legislation or best practice guidance. We welcome feedback from workers and customers on safety matters and use this information to improve our systems.

By following this policy and working together, Man With a Van Hampton aims to deliver safe, reliable and professional removal and transport services throughout our service area.