Man and Van Haringey Health and Safety Policy

Man and Van Haringey 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 removals and transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with house moves, office relocations, furniture transport and related services.

Policy Aims and Objectives

The primary aim of this policy is to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property during all moving and transport operations. We will achieve this by:

Identifying, assessing and controlling risks arising from our work activities. Providing and maintaining safe vehicles, tools, equipment and working practices. Ensuring staff are trained and competent in safe handling and lifting techniques. Promoting a positive safety culture where everyone shares responsibility for health and safety. Continuously reviewing our performance to improve safety standards in our removal services.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man and Van Haringey has overall responsibility for ensuring that this Health and Safety Policy is implemented and maintained. This includes:

Ensuring that risk assessments are carried out for typical removals, loading and unloading tasks, and any non‑routine activities. Providing appropriate health and safety information, instruction, training and supervision for all employees. Supplying and maintaining suitable equipment and personal protective equipment where required. Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses, and taking corrective action to prevent recurrence. Allocating sufficient resources to meet health and safety commitments and legal obligations.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and regular contractors are required to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. In particular, staff must:

Follow all safety instructions, training and company procedures when carrying out removal and delivery work. Use equipment, vehicles and protective gear in accordance with training and manufacturer guidance. Report any hazards, defects, near misses, accidents or unsafe conditions to management without delay. Avoid horseplay, dangerous behaviour or shortcuts that could compromise safety. Cooperate fully in accident investigations, safety briefings and refresher training.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Man and Van Haringey carries out risk assessments for key activities, including collection, loading, securing of loads, driving, unloading and delivery at customer properties. Control measures are put in place to reduce risks as far as reasonably practicable.

Safe working practices include planning each job to consider property access, parking, staircases, lifts, narrow corridors and any obstacles. Where conditions change on site, staff must stop work if they believe there is a significant risk and contact management for further guidance.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is central to removal work and is a key focus of our safety procedures. To minimise the risk of back injuries, strains and other musculoskeletal disorders:

Employees receive training in correct lifting techniques, including team lifts for heavier or awkward items. Mechanical aids and moving equipment such as trolleys, skates and straps are used where appropriate and maintained in good condition. Loads are assessed before lifting to determine the best method, number of people required and route to be taken. Staff are instructed not to attempt to lift items that are beyond their capability or that pose an unreasonable risk.

Vehicles, Driving and Load Security

Our vehicles are essential to our moving services and are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition. Regular inspections and servicing are carried out in line with manufacturer recommendations and applicable road safety standards.

Drivers are responsible for performing daily pre‑use checks and reporting any defects immediately. All loads are secured correctly using appropriate restraints, padding and protection to prevent movement or damage in transit. Drivers must follow safe driving practices, respect speed limits, allow sufficient stopping distances and avoid distractions. Time schedules are planned realistically to reduce pressure and support safe driving.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

When working at customer properties or in shared spaces, Man and Van Haringey takes all reasonable steps to protect customers, neighbours and the public. This includes:

Planning safe access routes for carrying items in and out of premises. Keeping walkways as clear as possible and minimising trip hazards such as trailing straps or packaging. Using warning signs or verbal warnings where there is a risk to others near the working area. Taking care to protect floors, walls, doors and fixtures from damage during moves.

Equipment, Tools and Personal Protective Equipment

All tools and equipment used in our services are selected for suitability, inspected regularly and taken out of use if found to be defective. Where necessary, personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety footwear or high‑visibility garments is provided and must be worn in accordance with training and instructions.

Training, Information and Supervision

Man and Van Haringey ensures that all staff involved in removals, loading and driving receive appropriate induction and ongoing training. This may include manual handling, safe loading techniques, use of lifting aids, vehicle safety and incident reporting procedures.

Supervision is proportionate to the level of risk and the experience of staff. New or less experienced staff may be paired with more experienced colleagues until they are deemed competent to perform tasks safely on their own.

Incident Reporting and Investigation

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported to management as soon as possible. Records are kept and reviewed to identify trends and opportunities for improvement. Where necessary, investigations are carried out to understand root causes and to implement corrective or preventive measures.

Health and Welfare

We recognise the importance of overall health and wellbeing in carrying out physically demanding removal work. Staff are encouraged to adopt safe working habits, take appropriate breaks and inform management of any health issues that could affect their ability to carry out tasks safely. We aim to support employees in maintaining fitness for work and to make adjustments where reasonably practicable.

Review of this Policy

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in our operations, industry best practice or applicable health and safety requirements. The latest version of the policy is made available to all staff and is issued to customers on request.

By following this policy and working together with our employees, contractors and customers, Man and Van Haringey aims to maintain high standards of safety throughout every stage of the moving and transport process.