Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Barnes Cray

Man with Van Barnes Cray 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 removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks and promoting safe working practices across all removal and delivery services.

Our Commitment to Health and Safety

We recognise that professional moving and transport work involves specific hazards, including manual handling, driving, loading and unloading, and working in varied residential and commercial environments. Our policy is to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment by planning our work carefully and following recognised good practice for the removals industry.

We will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and codes of practice applicable to our operations. We will regularly review and update our procedures to reflect changes in law, guidance and our own experience.

Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety within Man with Van Barnes Cray rests with the company management. They are responsible for ensuring that effective arrangements, resources and supervision are in place to implement this policy.

All employees and contractors have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. They must follow all safety instructions, use equipment correctly, report hazards and cooperate fully with training and risk control measures.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Before starting any removal or transport job, we assess the risks associated with the tasks, vehicles, equipment and locations involved. This includes considering access routes, parking, lifting requirements, stairways, narrow corridors, and potential obstacles or hazards at collection and delivery points.

Where necessary, site-specific risk assessments are carried out and safe systems of work are developed. These may include the use of additional staff, specialised equipment, protective materials, or revised loading and unloading methods. All staff are made aware of the relevant findings and instructed to follow the agreed safe practices.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Much of our work involves lifting, carrying and moving items of varying size and weight. To minimise the risk of injury, we:

Provide training in correct manual handling techniques, including safe lifting, carrying, team lifts and the use of handling aids.

Plan jobs to reduce unnecessary lifting and carrying by using appropriate equipment such as trolleys and dollies where suitable.

Assess the weight and shape of items before moving them and allocate sufficient staff where heavy or bulky items are involved.

Encourage staff to stop and seek assistance rather than attempt unsafe lifts or awkward manoeuvres.

Use of Vehicles and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are an essential part of our removal services, and safe driving is a core component of this policy. We ensure that:

Vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition with regular checks, inspections and servicing.

Loads are distributed safely, secured correctly and do not exceed vehicle weight limits.

Drivers hold the appropriate licences, are competent and understand their responsibilities for safe driving and loading.

Journey planning takes account of realistic travel times, traffic and access restrictions to reduce the risk of accidents and unsafe parking or unloading.

Equipment and Protective Measures

We provide and maintain suitable equipment to support safe moving and handling, such as moving blankets, straps, trollies and other aids appropriate to the job. Where necessary, personal protective equipment may be supplied and its use required, for example safety footwear or gloves for particular tasks.

All equipment is inspected regularly and taken out of use if damaged or defective. Staff are instructed not to improvise with unsuitable items and to report any equipment concerns immediately.

Customer and Public Safety

We take care to protect customers, their property and members of the public from risks arising from our work. This includes:

Planning loading and unloading to avoid blocking entrances, exits or public walkways where possible.

Using caution when moving items through shared spaces such as hallways or communal areas.

Being mindful of noise, trip hazards, and the security of premises while work is in progress.

Taking reasonable steps to prevent damage to buildings, fixtures and fittings when moving large or fragile items.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide relevant health and safety training to our team, including induction training for new starters and refresher training as needed. This covers manual handling, safe use of equipment, vehicle safety, hazard awareness and incident reporting.

Supervision is provided according to the skills and experience of staff and the complexity of the job. Clear instructions are given before work starts, and supervisors monitor operations to ensure that procedures are followed.

Accident, Incident and Near-Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents and near-misses are to be reported promptly to management. We investigate these events to identify root causes and take corrective action to prevent recurrence. Records are kept to help us monitor performance and continuously improve our safety standards.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Man with Van Barnes Cray monitors compliance with this policy through regular checks, feedback from staff and customers, and review of incident data. We use this information to refine our risk assessments, training and procedures.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically, and whenever there are significant changes in our operations or relevant legislation. Updated versions are communicated to all staff and made available to customers on request.

Policy Approval and Communication

This policy is approved by the management of Man with Van Barnes Cray, who are responsible for ensuring it is implemented effectively. All staff are required to read, understand and follow this policy as a condition of their work with the company. We are committed to maintaining high standards of safety in every removal and transport service we provide.