Man With a Van Hampstead Health and Safety Commitment

Man With a Van Hampstead 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 delivery activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with domestic and commercial moves, collections, deliveries, and transport of goods.

We recognise our duty to comply with applicable health and safety legislation and to continually improve our safety performance. Everyone working with or for Man With a Van Hampstead is expected to cooperate fully in implementing this policy.

Health and Safety Objectives

Our primary objectives are to prevent injury, protect health, and minimise risks during all removal and transport operations. We aim to:

Identify and control hazards associated with lifting, carrying, loading, securing, and transporting items.
Provide safe systems of work, suitable equipment, and clear instructions for all tasks.
Deliver appropriate training and supervision so that staff can work safely and competently.
Promote a culture of safety awareness and open reporting of hazards, near misses, and incidents.
Review our practices regularly and make improvements where required.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man With a Van Hampstead is responsible for implementing and maintaining this policy. This includes:

Ensuring that health and safety is considered in all planning of removal and delivery work.
Providing resources required for safe operations, including vehicles, handling equipment, and protective equipment where necessary.
Carrying out and recording suitable and proportionate risk assessments for typical jobs and any non-routine work.
Communicating safe working procedures to staff and monitoring compliance.
Investigating accidents, incidents, and near misses to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees, drivers, and porters 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. Staff must:

Follow the training and instructions provided for manual handling, driving, and use of equipment.
Use vehicles, ramps, trolleys, and any protective equipment correctly and for their intended purpose.
Report hazards, unsafe conditions, faults, and incidents promptly to management.
Refrain from horseplay, dangerous behaviour, or taking unnecessary risks while carrying out removal tasks.
Not undertake tasks for which they have not been trained or which they consider unsafe without first consulting a manager.

Risk Assessments and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments appropriate to the nature and scale of our removal services. Typical hazards include manual handling injuries, slips and trips, falls from height when using vehicle steps or stairs, vehicle movement, and damage to property.

For each job type, we consider the likely risks and implement safe systems of work, such as:

Planning access routes and parking to minimise reversing and unsafe manoeuvres.
Assessing item size, weight, and fragility before lifting or moving.
Using two-person lifts or additional team members where loads are heavy, awkward, or located in confined spaces.
Using trolleys, dollies, straps, and blankets to assist moving and protect both people and goods.
Scheduling work to avoid excessive fatigue and allowing adequate rest breaks.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of removal work and is carefully managed. We aim to reduce the need for manual lifting where reasonably practicable and to ensure that any necessary lifting is done safely. Our approach includes:

Providing instruction on correct lifting techniques, posture, and team lifting methods.
Encouraging staff to assess each load before moving it and to seek help for heavy or awkward items.
Using lifting aids and wheeled equipment whenever suitable.
Avoiding carrying items on stairs where alternative methods, such as lifts or different access routes, can be used safely.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are essential to our removal services and are managed to high safety standards. Man With a Van Hampstead will:

Ensure that vehicles used for work are maintained, inspected, and serviced at appropriate intervals.
Require drivers to carry out basic pre-use checks and report defects immediately.
Promote safe driving practices, adherence to speed limits, and compliance with road traffic laws.
Ensure that loads are distributed evenly, adequately secured, and do not exceed vehicle weight limits.
Discourage mobile phone use while driving and support the use of hands-free only where safe and lawful to do so.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our responsibility to protect customers, visitors, and members of the public while working in and around homes, offices, and communal areas. To achieve this we will:

Plan access routes to avoid creating unnecessary obstructions.
Use caution when carrying large items through doorways, corridors, stairwells, and shared spaces.
Where practicable, highlight temporary hazards such as trailing straps, ramps, or equipment.
Keep work areas as tidy as reasonably possible, removing packaging and obstructions during and after the job.

Training, Information, and Supervision

We provide staff with information and training relevant to their roles, including induction for new starters and ongoing instruction as required. Topics may include manual handling, working in customer premises, vehicle safety, and emergency procedures.

Supervisors and experienced team members are expected to support less experienced staff and to intervene where unsafe behaviour or conditions are observed.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All work-related accidents, injuries, near misses, or damage to property must be reported to management as soon as possible. We will record and review these events, taking action to prevent recurrence.

Staff must familiarise themselves with basic emergency procedures, such as what to do in case of fire, serious injury, or road traffic collision. Where necessary, emergency services must be contacted without delay.

Health, Welfare, and Fitness for Work

Man With a Van Hampstead is committed to supporting the health and welfare of its workforce. Staff are expected to present themselves fit for work and free from the influence of alcohol or illegal substances. Any use of medication that may affect alertness or ability to perform tasks safely must be discussed with management.

We encourage open communication about health concerns that may affect lifting capacity or driving, so that suitable adjustments can be considered.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed periodically and updated as needed to reflect changes in legislation, industry practice, and the nature of our services. We welcome feedback from employees and customers on how we can further improve safety in our removal and transport operations.

By working together and following the principles set out in this policy, Man With a Van Hampstead seeks to deliver reliable removal services while protecting the health and safety of everyone involved.