Man With a Van Bow Health and Safety Policy

Man With a Van Bow is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our team members, customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transportation activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risk, preventing injury and protecting property during all moving and delivery work.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our key objectives are to prevent accidents and work-related ill health, to comply with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards, and to promote a positive safety culture throughout the company. We aim to continually improve our systems and procedures so that health and safety is an integral part of all planning and decision making in our removals and transport operations.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for providing clear leadership on health and safety matters. This includes ensuring that adequate resources, equipment and training are made available, that risk assessments are carried out and reviewed, and that safe systems of work are established and followed. Managers must ensure that all staff understand their responsibilities, know how to carry out work safely and feel able to raise any concerns about unsafe conditions or practices.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee and contractor working with Man With a Van Bow has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Staff must follow the training and instructions provided, use equipment correctly, wear any required personal protective equipment and report hazards, near misses, incidents and defective equipment without delay. No employee is expected to put themselves or others at risk to complete a task.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for our removal, loading, unloading and driving activities to identify potential hazards and implement appropriate control measures. This includes assessment of manual handling tasks, access to properties, stairways, tight spaces, traffic conditions and weather-related risks. Our teams are briefed on site-specific risks before work begins and are empowered to pause work if conditions become unsafe until suitable controls can be put in place.

Manual Handling and Lifting Safety

Manual handling is a core part of removal work and is managed carefully to reduce the risk of injury. Staff receive training in safe lifting techniques, use of lifting aids and team lifts for heavy or awkward items. Wherever reasonably practicable, we avoid single-person lifts of heavy loads, plan the route before moving items and clear walkways of obstacles. Protective gloves and appropriate footwear are provided and expected to be worn when handling furniture, appliances and other bulky goods.

Use of Equipment and Vehicles

All vehicles, trolleys, straps, blankets and other equipment used for removals must be in good condition and suitable for the task. Regular inspections are carried out, and defective items are taken out of service immediately. Vehicles are loaded and secured in a way that prevents movement of goods during transit and protects both the driver and other road users. Drivers must hold the appropriate licence, follow road traffic laws, observe speed limits and drive in a manner that reflects the load and conditions.

Customer and Public Safety

Our teams take reasonable steps to protect customers, neighbours and passers-by while work is in progress. This may include controlling access to loading areas, using warning signs or verbal warnings where necessary and keeping pathways and entrances as clear as possible. We handle customer belongings with care to avoid damage to property, fixtures and fittings, and we work to minimise noise, obstruction and disruption to others.

Working in Homes and Business Premises

When working inside homes or business premises, our staff respect the environment and follow any specific safety procedures that apply to the site. Care is taken when moving large items near doors, windows, stairways and lighting. Floors are checked for slip or trip hazards before work starts, and protective coverings may be used where appropriate to reduce the risk of damage and slips.

Training, Information and Supervision

All employees receive induction training covering general health and safety requirements, safe lifting and carrying, vehicle loading, and emergency procedures. Additional training is provided where specialist tasks or equipment are involved. Supervisors monitor working practices on site, provide guidance where needed and ensure that safe methods of work are followed consistently. Refresher training is given when procedures change or where a need for improvement is identified.

Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting

We encourage prompt reporting of all accidents, incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions. This information is recorded and investigated so that underlying causes can be identified and corrective actions can be taken. Learning from incidents is shared with the team, and procedures are updated as required to help prevent recurrence.

Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work

We recognise the physical nature of removal work and the importance of staff being fit and able to perform their duties safely. Employees are expected to report any health conditions or injuries that may affect their ability to carry out manual handling or driving tasks. We aim to manage workloads, rest breaks and shift patterns in a way that reduces the risk of fatigue and supports overall wellbeing.

Emergency Preparedness

Our staff are briefed on what to do in the event of fire, accident, sudden illness, road incident or other emergencies that may occur during removal operations. This includes safe evacuation from premises, contacting the emergency services where necessary and securing the scene to prevent further harm. Drivers are expected to keep basic emergency equipment in vehicles where appropriate and to follow agreed procedures in the event of a breakdown or collision.

Continuous Improvement and Review

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated when there are significant changes in our operations, legislation or recognised best practice in the removals sector. Feedback from employees and customers is welcomed and used to improve our systems and reduce risk. By working together, we aim to maintain high standards of safety in every move undertaken by Man With a Van Bow.