Health and Safety policy

Man and Van Marylebone Health and Safety Policy

Man and Van Marylebone is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, clients, and members of the public who may be affected by our household and business removal activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with lifting, carrying, loading, transport, and property access during removals and related services.

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing sensible, practical control measures. We aim to continually improve our health and safety standards as our business grows and our service area evolves.

Policy Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety within Man and Van Marylebone rests with the company management. Management is responsible for ensuring that this policy is implemented, kept up to date, and communicated effectively to all staff.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day-to-day implementation of this policy on all removal jobs, including the safe organisation of loading, unloading, and transport activities, and ensuring that staff follow agreed procedures and use equipment correctly.

Every employee 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 are required to cooperate with management to enable all legal duties and safety responsibilities to be complied with, including reporting hazards, near misses, and incidents promptly.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our core activities, including domestic moves, office relocations, furniture transportation, and loading or unloading at residential and commercial properties. These assessments consider risks such as manual handling injuries, trips and falls, vehicle movements, working in confined or cluttered spaces, and contact with sharp or unstable items.

Based on these assessments, we develop safe systems of work including agreed lifting techniques, team lifting for heavy or awkward items, safe stacking and securing of loads, and careful route planning to minimise unnecessary carrying distances. Staff are expected to follow these procedures at all times, and to stop work if they consider any task unsafe.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is one of the main risks in removal work. Man and Van Marylebone is committed to reducing manual handling injuries by:

Using appropriate handling aids where reasonably practicable, such as trolleys, dollies, straps, and blankets. Planning work so that heavy or bulky items are handled by more than one team member where required. Providing instruction and guidance on correct posture, lifting and carrying techniques, and safe team lifting. Avoiding hazardous lifting tasks where the weight, shape, or access makes safe handling impossible, and advising clients when additional resources or alternative solutions are required.

Vehicle Safety and Loading

Our vehicles are central to our removal service, and we recognise that their safe operation is critical to protecting staff, customers, and other road users. We ensure that vehicles used for removals are maintained in a safe, roadworthy condition and are suitable for the loads they carry.

Drivers are responsible for conducting basic pre-use checks, reporting any defects immediately, and driving in a safe and considerate manner, with particular care when operating in residential streets and busy urban areas. Loads must be positioned, secured, and distributed safely to prevent movement during transit, taking into account the weight and fragility of items. Access around the vehicle is kept clear during loading and unloading, and where possible, safe stopping points are chosen to minimise risk to the public.

Client Properties and Public Safety

Our teams work inside people’s homes, businesses, and shared buildings, and we take care to avoid damage and reduce risks to occupants and visitors. We maintain clear walkways, avoid trailing cables or equipment where possible, and store tools and packing materials safely during work.

Where there are stairs, narrow corridors, or shared entrances, our staff will take additional care when moving large items to prevent collisions, falls, or damage to fixtures. We will always try to coordinate movements with residents, building staff, or businesses to minimise disruption and safety risks in communal spaces and on nearby streets.

Training, Information, and Supervision

Man and Van Marylebone provides staff with suitable information and instruction on health and safety matters relevant to removal work. This includes guidance on manual handling, safe lifting techniques, loading practices, and working safely in clients properties and public areas.

New staff receive an induction covering our health and safety expectations and the specific risks associated with our services. Ongoing supervision is provided to ensure that procedures are followed and any unsafe practices are corrected. Where needed, additional briefing is given before complex or higher-risk jobs, such as large office moves or properties with restricted access.

Equipment and Personal Protective Measures

We supply and maintain appropriate moving equipment, such as protective blankets, straps, and trolleys, and ensure that it is in good working condition. Staff must use equipment only for its intended purpose and report any defects immediately so that faulty items can be removed from use.

Where necessary, staff may use personal protective measures, such as gloves or safety footwear, suited to the task being undertaken. We will review equipment and protective needs regularly in line with the type of properties and environments in which we operate.

Accidents, Incidents, and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents, and significant near misses occurring during our removal operations must be reported to management as soon as possible. We will investigate these events to identify causes and implement corrective actions to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Records of accidents and incidents are kept to help us monitor trends and improve our health and safety performance over time. When appropriate, we will review and update our risk assessments and procedures in light of these findings.

Consultation, Review, and Continuous Improvement

Man and Van Marylebone values feedback from employees and clients regarding health and safety. Staff are encouraged to raise concerns or suggestions for improving safety on jobs, routes, or specific properties, and management will consider these as part of our continual improvement process.

This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly and updated when there are significant changes to our services, vehicles, equipment, or working methods. Our aim is to ensure that the policy remains relevant, practical, and effective for the removal work we undertake.

By following this policy and working together, we seek to provide a reliable and safe man and van service that protects our staff, clients, and the wider community in every area we serve.