Health and Safety policy
Man with Van Leaves Green Health and Safety Policy
Man with Van Leaves Green is committed to providing removal and transport services in a manner that protects the health, safety and welfare of our employees, customers, contractors, visitors and members of the public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving, handling, loading, transport and related activities throughout our service area.
We aim to maintain safe systems of work, safe equipment and a safe environment, and to embed health and safety as a core part of our day-to-day operations.
Policy Objectives
The objectives of this policy are to
Promote a positive health and safety culture across all Man with Van Leaves Green operations.
Prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health.
Identify, assess and manage risks linked to removal and transport work.
Provide clear responsibilities, information, instruction and training to staff.
Ensure that vehicles, equipment and premises are maintained in a safe condition.
Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry good practice.
Management Responsibilities
Management at Man with Van Leaves Green is responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that health and safety is given equal priority with operational and commercial considerations.
Management will
Provide and maintain a safe working environment and safe systems of work.
Carry out and regularly review risk assessments for all key activities, including packing, lifting, loading, transport and unloading.
Ensure that suitable measures are in place to control identified risks.
Provide appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision to all workers so they can carry out their tasks safely.
Make sure all vehicles and equipment are selected, inspected, used and maintained in a safe condition.
Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses, and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Allocate adequate resources for health and safety and review performance regularly.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee of Man with Van Leaves Green has 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.
Employees are expected to
Follow all safety procedures, instructions and training provided.
Use vehicles, equipment and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately.
Cooperate with management in complying with health and safety requirements.
Report hazards, accidents, incidents, near misses and unsafe practices without delay.
Avoid horseplay, misuse of equipment or any behaviour that could endanger themselves or others.
Maintain good standards of personal fitness and be free from the influence of alcohol or drugs while at work.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Man with Van Leaves Green will identify significant hazards and assess risks arising from its removal and transport activities. Risk assessments will cover, as a minimum
Manual handling and lifting of furniture, appliances and boxes.
Use of trolleys, ramps and other handling aids.
Loading, securing and unloading of goods in vehicles.
Vehicle movements, driving standards and parking at collection and delivery addresses.
Working in and around customers premises, including stairs, narrow access, uneven surfaces and shared spaces.
Weather conditions, lighting and time of day when work is performed.
Based on these assessments, safe systems of work and method statements will be established and communicated to all relevant staff.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a core aspect of our work. To minimise the risk of injury
All staff involved in lifting and carrying will receive training on correct manual handling techniques.
Team lifting will be used for heavy or bulky items, and lifting aids will be provided where appropriate.
Loads will be assessed before moving to ensure they are stable, secure and within safe handling limits.
Routes will be checked in advance for obstacles, trip hazards and restricted access.
Staff are instructed not to attempt to lift items that are beyond their capability or that cannot be moved safely.
Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety
Man with Van Leaves Green recognises that driving is one of the higher risk activities in our operations. We will
Ensure that all drivers hold the correct licences and are competent, experienced and medically fit to drive.
Maintain vehicles in roadworthy condition through regular checks, servicing and inspections.
Require that loads are properly distributed and adequately secured to prevent movement during transit.
Promote safe driving practices, including adherence to speed limits, rest breaks and avoidance of mobile phone use while driving.
Plan journeys to allow sufficient time, taking account of traffic, parking and loading constraints in residential and commercial areas.
Customer and Public Safety
When working at or near customers premises, the safety of customers, neighbours, visitors and the general public is a priority. To protect others we will
Assess the working area on arrival and identify any immediate hazards.
Where practicable, create clear walkways and keep access routes free from obstructions.
Use safe techniques when moving large items through shared spaces, corridors and stairwells.
Communicate clearly with customers about any actions they need to take to stay safe while work is in progress.
Take care to reduce noise and disruption and to respect the property and privacy of those around us.
Training, Information and Supervision
All staff will receive induction training covering general health and safety responsibilities, emergency arrangements and specific hazards related to removal work.
Additional training will be provided for tasks requiring particular competence, such as driving, load securing, use of lifting aids and handling fragile or specialist items.
Supervision and periodic monitoring will ensure that procedures are followed and that training remains effective.
Accidents, Emergencies and First Aid
All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported promptly so they can be investigated and recorded. Appropriate action will be taken to address root causes and reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
First aid arrangements will be maintained, including the provision of suitable first aid supplies in vehicles and access to trained first aiders where reasonably practicable.
Emergency procedures, including response to fire, serious injury, road traffic collision and property damage, will be communicated to staff and reviewed regularly.
Monitoring, Review and Policy Updates
Man with Van Leaves Green will monitor health and safety performance by reviewing incident reports, feedback from staff and customers, inspection findings and any enforcement or advisory communications from relevant authorities.
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed at regular intervals and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, best practice, operational methods or the scale of our services. All employees will be informed of any significant changes and provided with updated information or training as required.
By working together and maintaining a strong commitment to health and safety, Man with Van Leaves Green aims to deliver reliable, efficient and safe removal services for every customer we serve.
