Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Golders Green

Man with Van Golders Green is committed to maintaining the highest standards of health and safety for our customers, employees, contractors and members of the public. This policy sets out our principles and practical measures for managing risks associated with removals, deliveries and related transport services.

Our objective is to conduct all moving and handling activities in a way that prevents injury, protects property and promotes a safe working environment at all times, whether we are operating in homes, offices, storage facilities or on the road.

Health and Safety Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety within Man with Van Golders Green rests with company management, who ensure that safe systems of work are developed, implemented and reviewed. Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for communicating safety requirements to staff, monitoring compliance and reporting concerns or incidents.

Every employee and contractor has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. All team members must follow safety instructions, use equipment correctly and report hazards, near misses and accidents without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Work Planning

We carry out risk assessments for our activities, including household and office removals, loading and unloading vehicles, transporting goods and operating in different environments such as stairwells, lifts, car parks and loading bays. These assessments are used to identify significant hazards and determine suitable control measures.

Before each job, our staff consider the specific conditions of the property and access routes, including potential obstacles, fragile areas, parking arrangements and traffic considerations. Where necessary, the plan for moving items is adapted to ensure safe manual handling, vehicle positioning and protection of both people and property.

Manual Handling and Lifting Practices

Manual handling is a core part of our work and is managed with particular care. We aim to reduce manual lifting wherever reasonably practicable through the use of appropriate equipment and loaded trolleys. Our teams are trained in correct lifting techniques, including posture, team lifting and safe movement on stairs and uneven surfaces.

Heavy, bulky or awkward items are assessed prior to lifting. Where an item cannot be handled safely by the team on site with the equipment available, we will not proceed until a safer method is agreed. Staff are encouraged to stop and reassess any lift that feels unsafe and to ask for assistance when needed.

Use of Equipment and Vehicles

All vehicles and handling equipment used by Man with Van Golders Green must be suitable for the task and maintained in good working order. Regular checks are carried out on vehicles, ramps, straps, blankets, trolleys and any other lifting aids to ensure they remain safe and effective.

Only authorised and competent personnel may operate vehicles and specialist equipment. Drivers are responsible for safe loading and securing of goods in the vehicle, ensuring that loads are stable, weight limits are respected and doors or tailgates are safely opened and closed. Vehicles must be parked and manoeuvred with consideration for pedestrians, other road users and property.

Training, Competence and Supervision

We provide staff with appropriate health and safety training relevant to their roles, including manual handling, safe loading, use of equipment and general site safety awareness. New team members receive induction training before taking part in operational tasks, and ongoing instruction is provided when new procedures or equipment are introduced.

Supervision is proportionate to the level of experience and complexity of the work. Less experienced staff are supported by more experienced colleagues, and all workers are encouraged to raise questions or concerns if they are unsure about any aspect of a task.

Customer and Public Safety

Protecting the safety of customers and members of the public is central to our approach. We aim to keep access routes clear and to minimise trip hazards such as loose packaging, tools or trailing straps. Where work is taking place in shared areas, such as communal hallways or business premises, our teams take care to manage movement of items so that others can pass safely.

We ask customers to keep children, pets and other non-essential persons away from active lifting and loading areas. When required, our staff will pause work briefly to allow safe passage through doorways, corridors or external access points.

Housekeeping and Property Protection

Good housekeeping is essential for safe working during removals. Our teams are expected to maintain tidy work areas, remove waste promptly and stack items in a stable and secure manner. Floors, stairs and doorways should be kept as clear as possible to prevent slips, trips and falls.

Protective materials such as blankets, covers and floor protection may be used where appropriate to help reduce the risk of damage and to aid safe movement of goods. Care is taken when moving items near glass panels, light fittings, banisters and other fragile features.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Arrangements

All accidents, injuries, near misses and property damage incidents must be reported to management as soon as practicable. We investigate reported incidents to understand root causes and to introduce corrective measures designed to prevent recurrence.

Our teams are briefed on what to do in the event of an emergency, including fire, medical incidents or traffic accidents. Where we are working at a customer site, we will follow the site specific emergency arrangements once they have been communicated to us.

Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work

We recognise that the physical nature of removal work requires staff to be fit for duty. Employees are expected to inform management of any health conditions or injuries that may affect their ability to carry out lifting or driving tasks safely. We do not permit staff to work under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or while otherwise impaired in a way that could compromise safety.

Reasonable steps are taken to provide adequate rest breaks, hydration and access to welfare facilities during working days, particularly when handling intensive or time sensitive moves.

Continuous Improvement and Policy Review

Man with Van Golders Green is committed to the continuous improvement of its health and safety performance. We review this policy regularly and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, applicable requirements, or when incident investigations suggest that improvements are needed.

Feedback from employees, customers and other stakeholders is welcomed and used to help refine our procedures so that our removal and transport services remain safe, reliable and professionally managed.