Man with Van Sutton Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Sutton is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and man and van services. This policy outlines how we manage health and safety across our day to day work, including domestic and commercial moves, loading and unloading, transport and related services.

Our objective is to conduct all activities in a way that prevents injury, ill health, property damage and unnecessary risk. Health and safety considerations are integral to our planning, decision making and delivery of every move.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management has overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy. This includes providing suitable resources, setting clear standards, and reviewing performance on a regular basis. Management will ensure that safe systems of work are in place for all removal activities and that these systems are communicated, understood and applied.

Managers and supervisors are responsible for leading by example, monitoring working practices, investigating incidents or near misses, and taking prompt action where improvements are required. They must ensure that staff are competent for the tasks they perform and that any specific risks related to moving furniture, appliances, boxes and specialist items are fully assessed and controlled.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee of Man with Van Sutton 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. Staff must follow all safety instructions, use equipment correctly, wear any personal protective equipment provided and report hazards or concerns without delay.

Employees are required to cooperate with management in implementing this policy, attending training sessions, participating in risk assessments where necessary and supporting a culture of safe working. Failure to follow safe working procedures may result in disciplinary action.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out suitable and proportionate risk assessments for our removal activities, including but not limited to lifting and carrying, use of vehicles, loading and unloading, working in customers homes or business premises, and working in public spaces such as pavements and car parks.

Risk assessments are used to develop safe systems of work that address the specific needs of each job. This may include planning access routes, identifying heavy or awkward items, assessing parking and loading areas, and considering any particular customer requirements. Where conditions change, dynamic risk assessments are performed by staff on site to identify new hazards and agree appropriate control measures.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of removal work and is a significant area of risk. We minimise manual handling injuries by providing appropriate training on lifting techniques, team lifting procedures and the use of handling aids such as trolleys, dollies and straps.

Staff are instructed to assess the weight and shape of items before moving them, to request assistance when needed, and to avoid unsafe practices such as twisting while lifting, overreaching, or carrying loads that obstruct vision. Where an item is too heavy, bulky or unstable to move safely by hand, alternative methods must be used or the task must not proceed until it can be performed safely.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are maintained in safe, roadworthy condition in line with legal requirements and internal standards. Regular checks are carried out on tyres, lights, brakes, securing points and load space areas. Any defects must be reported immediately and vehicles taken out of service if necessary.

Drivers must be properly licensed, competent and familiar with the vehicles they operate. They are expected to drive responsibly, comply with traffic laws, and plan routes to allow sufficient time for safe travel. Loads must be distributed evenly and secured to prevent movement during transit, reducing the risk of injury and damage.

Loading, Unloading and Site Safety

Loading and unloading operations are planned to prevent accidents or damage to property. Staff are trained to use ramps, tail lifts and other equipment correctly and to maintain clear communication when manoeuvring large items. Where possible, loading areas will be kept free from obstructions and trip hazards, with attention given to weather conditions, lighting and surface quality.

When working at customers premises, our teams take care to protect floors, walls and doorways, and to maintain safe access routes. Caution is exercised when working on stairs or in confined spaces, and additional controls are used where risk is higher, such as using extra staff or equipment.

Personal Protective Equipment

Man with Van Sutton provides suitable personal protective equipment where identified by risk assessment. This may include safety footwear, protective gloves, high visibility clothing and other items relevant to the task. Employees must use the equipment provided, maintain it in good condition and report any defects.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide our staff with appropriate health and safety training relevant to their role, including induction training, manual handling instruction, safe driving practices and equipment use. Refresher training is delivered when necessary and whenever work methods or equipment change.

Information on hazards and control measures is communicated clearly before work begins. Less experienced staff are supervised until they can demonstrate safe and competent working practices.

Customer and Public Safety

We recognise our responsibility to protect customers and members of the public during removal work. Our teams take care to position vehicles and equipment safely, avoid blocking access routes unnecessarily, and use clear verbal communication to warn of any short term risks while loading and unloading.

Customers are asked to keep children, pets and non essential persons away from work areas to reduce the chance of accidents. Our staff will pause work if an immediate risk to anyone is identified until it can be controlled.

Accident Reporting and Continuous Improvement

All accidents, incidents, near misses and cases of work related ill health must be reported promptly to management. We investigate these events to understand root causes and to identify corrective and preventive actions. Lessons learned are shared with staff and reflected in updated procedures and training.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains suitable and effective. We are committed to continual improvement and to maintaining high standards of safety for every move we undertake.