Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Peckham
Man with Van Peckham is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety during collection, loading, transport, unloading and related services.
Our Health and Safety Commitment
We aim to carry out all removals, deliveries and associated services in a manner that minimises risk of injury, ill health, property damage and environmental harm. We comply with relevant health and safety legislation and continually seek to improve our standards and working practices.
Health and safety is a core part of our planning and decision-making. Management has overall responsibility for this policy, while every member of our team is required to work safely and follow all agreed procedures.
Responsibilities and Management
Management at Man with Van Peckham is responsible for implementing and maintaining this health and safety policy. This includes assessing risks, providing appropriate equipment, arranging training and monitoring performance. Supervisors ensure that daily work is carried out in line with safe systems of work and that any issues are quickly addressed.
All employees and contractors must take reasonable care of their own safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They must follow instructions, use equipment correctly, report hazards or incidents promptly and cooperate fully with health and safety measures.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Before starting removal work, we consider the specific risks related to the property, access routes, parking, manual handling requirements and any special customer requests. Where necessary, we perform on-site assessments to identify potential hazards such as narrow stairways, uneven surfaces, low ceilings or heavy and awkward items.
From these assessments we establish safe working practices, including how items will be lifted and carried, how many team members are needed for a task, what equipment is required and how vehicles will be safely loaded and unloaded. These practices are reviewed regularly and updated if working conditions change or new risks are identified.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a key part of removal work. Our team is trained in correct lifting techniques, team lifting procedures and the use of appropriate handling aids. Staff are instructed to avoid unnecessary lifting, to use trolleys, dollies, straps and other equipment where possible, and to seek assistance when an item is too heavy or unwieldy for one person.
We ensure that any lifting and handling equipment used during moves is suitable, well maintained and inspected at appropriate intervals. Equipment that is damaged or defective is taken out of use immediately and replaced or repaired before being returned to service.
Vehicle Safety and Loading
Our vehicles are maintained in good mechanical condition and checked regularly to ensure they are safe and roadworthy. Drivers are responsible for conducting basic pre-use checks and reporting any concerns without delay.
Safe loading is essential to protect both staff and customers. Items are packed and secured in a way that prevents movement during transit. Heavy items are placed low and evenly distributed, and fragile items are appropriately protected. Team members must never overload vehicles and must follow relevant weight and load distribution guidance.
Site Safety and Public Protection
We plan our activities to minimise disruption and risk to customers, neighbours and members of the public. This includes careful positioning of vehicles, safe use of pavements and shared access areas, and keeping routes as clear as practicable.
Where work takes place in shared or busy areas, we take reasonable steps to mark hazards, organise clear walkways and coordinate with customers to reduce congestion. Our team is trained to be aware of their surroundings and to act promptly if a situation presents a risk to others.
Training, Information and Supervision
All staff involved in removals receive appropriate training relevant to their role. This includes safe lifting techniques, use of equipment, vehicle safety, basic hazard awareness and our procedures for working in homes, offices and other premises.
New staff are supervised and supported until they are competent to work safely on their own. Existing staff receive refresher training where necessary and are kept informed of any changes to procedures or equipment that may affect health and safety.
Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, incidents, near misses and damage to property or vehicles must be reported as soon as reasonably possible. This allows us to investigate what happened, take corrective action and prevent recurrence. Records of incidents are kept and reviewed so that we can identify trends and improve our practices.
Our team members are briefed on what to do in an emergency, including incidents such as injuries during lifting, vehicle accidents, fire, or sudden hazards on site. Where appropriate, basic first aid resources are available and access routes for emergency services are kept clear.
Customer Cooperation and Information
We encourage customers to share relevant information about their property in advance, especially issues such as limited access, parking restrictions, steep stairs, loose flooring or particularly heavy items. This helps us plan the move safely and bring the correct equipment and number of team members.
Customers are asked to keep children, pets and non-essential persons away from areas where lifting, loading and unloading are taking place. We may pause work if we believe that continuing would be unsafe for our team or for others present.
Continuous Improvement and Policy Review
Man with Van Peckham is committed to continuously improving our health and safety performance. We review this policy regularly, and sooner if there are changes to our operations, applicable legislation or identified risks. Feedback from staff and customers is welcomed and used to refine our procedures.
By following this Health and Safety Policy, we aim to ensure that our removal and transport services are delivered in a way that protects people, property and the wider community.
