Man with Van Woodford Health and Safety Policy
This Health and Safety Policy sets out how Man with Van Woodford manages the safety and wellbeing of our customers, employees, subcontractors, and members of the public during removal and transport services. Our objective is to provide efficient moving services while preventing injury, ill health, property damage, and environmental harm.
1. Policy Statement and Commitment
Man with Van Woodford is committed to conducting all removal and transport activities in a safe and responsible manner. We recognise our duty of care under applicable health and safety legislation and strive to maintain high standards of safe working practices in homes, offices, storage facilities, and on the road.
We will provide appropriate information, instruction, and training so that everyone involved in our services understands their responsibilities. Health and safety considerations are integral to planning and delivering each move within our operating areas.
2. Responsibilities
The management of Man with Van Woodford is responsible for implementing this policy, reviewing it regularly, and ensuring that adequate resources are available for health and safety management.
Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day-to-day safety on removals, including briefings, allocation of tasks according to capability, and monitoring the use of equipment and vehicles.
Every worker is required to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. This includes following safe systems of work, reporting hazards or incidents immediately, and cooperating fully with health and safety procedures.
3. Risk Assessment and Planning
Before each move, Man with Van Woodford assesses the risks associated with the specific property, access routes, items to be moved, and any special requirements. This may include stairs, tight corridors, heavy or awkward items, parking limitations, and weather conditions.
Where significant risks are identified, control measures are put in place. These may include adjusting the number of staff on site, using specialist equipment, adapting the loading sequence, restricting manual handling weights, or scheduling work to avoid peak traffic or poor lighting conditions.
4. Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a core part of removal work and is a key focus of this policy. Man with Van Woodford trains staff in safe lifting techniques, team lifting, and the use of trolleys, straps, and other handling aids. Staff are instructed to:
Keep loads within their personal capability, avoid twisting while carrying, maintain stable footing, and ask for assistance with bulky or heavy items.
Where possible, items are disassembled to reduce weight and improve access. Loads are assessed for stability before moving and are secured safely in the vehicle to prevent shifting during transport.
5. Vehicles and Driving Safety
Man with Van Woodford maintains its vehicles in a roadworthy condition, with regular inspections and servicing in line with manufacturer recommendations and legal requirements. Drivers must hold valid licences and are expected to drive responsibly at all times.
Route planning takes account of access restrictions, loading and unloading points, and safe parking. Drivers are required to observe speed limits, adjust driving to traffic and weather conditions, and avoid fatigue by taking appropriate breaks. Loads are checked to ensure they are balanced and properly restrained before any journey.
6. Use of Equipment
Only trained personnel are permitted to use equipment and tools provided by Man with Van Woodford, such as sack trucks, dollies, ramps, and securing straps. Equipment is inspected regularly and removed from service if any defect is identified.
Staff are instructed never to improvise with unsuitable items as lifting or securing aids. Where specialist equipment is required for large or unusual items, this is arranged in advance as part of the planning process.
7. Working at Heights and Use of Stairs
Removals often involve navigating stairs, ramps, and changes in level. Man with Van Woodford ensures that staff understand safe methods of carrying items on stairs, including the use of two-person teams where necessary and maintaining clear communication while moving.
Where height is involved, such as loading from raised access points, appropriate precautions are taken to prevent falls, including the proper use of steps or platforms where required. Staff must not overreach or stand on unstable surfaces to gain extra height.
8. Housekeeping and Site Safety
Good housekeeping is essential during moves in residential and commercial premises. Walkways and access routes are kept as clear as reasonably practicable, with packaging materials, removal blankets, and tools stored safely out of main thoroughfares.
Spillages, loose coverings, and other slip or trip hazards are addressed promptly. Doors and gates are managed to avoid sudden closure or obstruction. Where necessary, caution is taken around members of the public, pets, and children, and access areas may be temporarily restricted for safety.
9. Hazardous Items and Prohibited Materials
Man with Van Woodford does not transport certain hazardous or illegal items. Customers are advised in advance about any restrictions that apply to flammable substances, corrosive materials, gas cylinders, explosives, or other dangerous goods.
Where any potentially hazardous items are identified at collection, staff will not move them unless agreed controls are in place and it is safe and lawful to do so. In cases of doubt, guidance is sought before proceeding.
10. Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, near misses, damage to property, or unsafe conditions encountered during moves must be reported to management as soon as possible. Man with Van Woodford investigates such events to identify causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Staff are briefed on basic emergency procedures, including what to do in the event of fire, serious injury, road traffic incidents, or sudden illness. Appropriate emergency contact details and location information are kept available when working on site or on the road.
11. Training, Consultation, and Continuous Improvement
Man with Van Woodford provides induction training for new staff and ongoing instruction for existing workers on safe working methods, manual handling, vehicle safety, and customer care. Where legal requirements or best practices change, additional training is provided.
We encourage feedback from staff and customers on safety issues and consider their input when reviewing procedures. This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically or following significant incidents, operational changes, or new legal guidance, to ensure it remains effective and relevant to our removal services.
12. Policy Availability
This Health and Safety Policy is available to all employees, subcontractors, and customers of Man with Van Woodford. Copies are provided on request and made accessible as part of our commitment to transparency and safe working in all areas where we operate.
