Man with Van Blackfriars Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Blackfriars is committed to providing a safe, healthy and secure environment for our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks in all aspects of our operations, including domestic and commercial moves, loading, unloading and transportation of goods.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our primary objectives are to prevent injury, protect health and minimise risks associated with our services. We aim to achieve this by maintaining safe systems of work, providing appropriate training and supervision, and continually reviewing our performance to drive improvement.

Health and safety is a core business priority and an integral part of planning, decision making and day to day operations in our removals and transport activities.

Legal Responsibilities and Compliance

Man with Van Blackfriars fulfils all relevant legal duties relating to health and safety at work and road safety. We monitor changes in legislation, guidance and recognised industry best practice to ensure our procedures remain up to date and effective.

The management team accepts its responsibility for providing the leadership, resources and structure necessary to manage health and safety risks and to ensure that all employees understand their role in achieving safe outcomes for every move.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place for safe working. This includes the identification, assessment and control of risks associated with lifting and carrying, vehicle movements, working in customers premises, use of equipment and handling of goods.

Managers will ensure that employees are competent for the tasks they perform, that equipment is properly maintained, and that any reported hazards or incidents are investigated and addressed promptly. They will also ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided where required and used correctly.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and regular contractors of Man with Van Blackfriars have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They must follow all safety instructions, training and procedures, and must not undertake any task for which they are not trained or authorised.

Employees are required to report hazards, near misses, accidents and unsafe conditions to management without delay, and to cooperate fully with any investigation or corrective action. Misuse of equipment, unsafe behaviour or deliberate disregard for safety rules will be treated seriously.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our removal and transport activities to identify potential hazards and determine suitable control measures. These assessments cover tasks such as manual handling, use of moving equipment, access to premises, vehicle loading and securing of loads.

For each job, our team will consider the specific conditions, including access routes, stairs, parking, time constraints and any special items to be moved. Where necessary, we will adapt our methods or equipment to ensure the work can be carried out safely and without undue risk to staff, customers or property.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a key aspect of our work. We minimise risks by planning lifts carefully, using team lifting techniques, and employing appropriate equipment such as sack trucks, dollies, straps and protective coverings.

Staff receive instruction on correct lifting techniques, recognition of personal limits and the importance of asking for assistance when an item is too heavy or awkward to move safely alone. We do not expect staff to carry out manual handling tasks that could cause harm, and we encourage open communication about any concerns.

Vehicles and Road Safety

Our vehicles are maintained to a safe standard and are regularly inspected. Drivers are responsible for reporting any defects or concerns immediately so that they can be addressed before further use.

We emphasise safe driving practices, adherence to speed limits, careful parking and loading, and strict compliance with regulations relating to driving hours, rest breaks and the secure transport of goods. Loads must always be distributed and restrained correctly to prevent movement during transit.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

When working at customer locations, our staff will take reasonable steps to protect the safety of occupants, visitors and the public. This includes keeping access routes as clear as practicable, using safe lifting routes, managing doors and gates carefully, and being mindful of children, pets and vulnerable persons on site.

We will seek information from customers about any particular risks at their property, such as restricted access, fragile surfaces or unusual items, and will incorporate this into our planning and risk control measures.

Training, Information and Supervision

All staff receive appropriate induction and ongoing training relevant to their role, including manual handling, vehicle safety, use of equipment and emergency procedures. Supervisors monitor performance and provide guidance to ensure that safe working practices are followed at all times.

Information about our procedures and expectations is provided in a clear and accessible way, and staff are encouraged to raise questions or suggest improvements to our health and safety arrangements.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

Any accident, injury, near miss or damage to property must be reported promptly. We record and, where appropriate, investigate incidents to identify underlying causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Our teams are briefed on emergency arrangements, including what to do in case of fire, serious injury, vehicle collision or sudden illness at a job location or while on the road. Customers are expected to cooperate with these procedures if an emergency arises during a move.

Continuous Improvement and Policy Review

Man with Van Blackfriars is committed to continual improvement in health and safety performance. We regularly review our risk assessments, working methods and training to ensure they remain effective and reflect current best practice.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to reflect any changes in our operations, legal requirements or industry standards. All employees are informed of any significant changes so that they can continue to work safely and responsibly on every removal job we undertake.