Health and Safety Policy for Man and a Van Battersea
Man and a Van Battersea is committed to providing safe, reliable and professional removal services. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to protecting our staff, our customers and the public during all moving, loading, transportation and unloading activities. Our aim is to prevent accidents and work-related ill health and to create a culture of safety in every aspect of our operations.
Our Health and Safety Commitments
We recognise our responsibility to comply with relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice. We are committed to continually improving our performance and ensuring that safety considerations are integrated into planning and delivering all removal jobs. Management and staff share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment, and every worker is expected to act with care and attention at all times.
Responsibilities of Management
Management at Man and a Van Battersea will provide clear leadership on health and safety. This includes allocating appropriate resources, setting safety standards and ensuring that safe systems of work are in place for all removal tasks. Management will review this policy regularly and revise procedures whenever new risks are identified or when services expand into new types of removal work.
Managers will ensure that employees and contractors receive suitable induction and ongoing training. They will also ensure that all equipment, including vans, lifting aids and securing devices, is properly maintained and fit for purpose. Any defects will be dealt with promptly, and unsafe equipment will be taken out of service.
Responsibilities of Employees
All employees and regular subcontractors have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work. This includes following training and safety instructions, using equipment correctly and reporting hazards, near misses or incidents immediately to management.
Staff must not misuse or interfere with anything provided for health, safety or welfare. They must wear appropriate clothing and personal protective equipment when required and use safe lifting techniques at all times. Any concerns about unsafe practices or conditions must be raised without delay so that appropriate action can be taken.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Before undertaking any removal job, we consider the nature of the property, access points, parking arrangements, size and weight of items and any special handling requirements. Where necessary, a site-specific risk assessment will be carried out to identify hazards and define appropriate control measures.
Common risks include manual handling injuries, slips and trips, falls from vehicles, traffic-related incidents and damage to property. Our procedures address these risks by planning routes carefully, using safe loading techniques, securing loads correctly, maintaining clear walkways and coordinating with customers about access and timing to reduce congestion or obstruction.
Manual Handling and Lifting Techniques
Manual handling is a key part of our daily activities, so we place particular emphasis on safe lifting. Staff are trained to assess the weight and shape of items before moving them, to use team lifting where needed and to avoid awkward or rushed movements. For heavy or bulky items such as furniture and appliances, appropriate handling equipment may be used, and extra personnel may be assigned to ensure safe transfer.
Where items are too heavy or unsafe to be moved manually, alternative solutions are considered. Employees are expected to stop and consult a supervisor if they believe a lifting task cannot be completed safely with the available resources.
Vehicle Safety and Load Security
Our vehicles are essential to our removal services, and their safe operation is a priority. Drivers are responsible for conducting basic pre-use checks and reporting any defects. Vehicles are serviced and maintained in line with manufacturer recommendations and legal requirements to ensure they remain roadworthy.
All loads must be arranged and secured to prevent movement during transit. Heavy items are placed low and evenly distributed to maintain stability, and appropriate securing straps and packing materials are used. Doors and tailgates must be properly closed and checked before departure to protect both the load and other road users.
Customer and Public Safety
We recognise that our work often takes place in residential streets, shared entrances, stairwells and communal areas. Our teams work with care to minimise disruption and to protect customers and members of the public from harm. This includes keeping exits and access routes clear, using safe parking locations where possible and communicating with customers about areas to avoid while heavy lifting is taking place.
We take care to protect property by using appropriate coverings and padding where necessary and by planning safe routes for large or awkward items to avoid damage to walls, floors and fixtures.
Training, Information and Supervision
All staff receive information, instruction and training relevant to their role. Training topics include manual handling, use of equipment, vehicle safety, hazard awareness and incident reporting. New starters are given an induction covering our core health and safety procedures and expectations.
Supervision is provided appropriate to the level of risk and the experience of staff. Less experienced workers are supported and monitored during more complex moves until they demonstrate safe working competence.
Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting
To improve safety performance, it is essential that accidents, incidents and near misses are reported promptly and recorded accurately. We maintain internal records of such events and use them to identify patterns, implement corrective actions and update risk assessments where needed.
Where an incident involves a customer or member of the public, we will respond with professionalism and care, making safety the first priority and cooperating fully with any necessary follow-up.
Review and Continuous Improvement
This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains suitable and effective. Reviews may be carried out sooner if there are significant changes in our operations, legal requirements or industry standards, or following serious incidents.
Man and a Van Battersea is committed to continuous improvement. Through consultation with staff, learning from experience and ongoing training, we aim to maintain a safe, responsible and trustworthy removal service for every customer.
