Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Swiss Cottage

Man with Van Swiss Cottage 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 identifying, controlling, and reducing risks associated with moving, lifting, loading, transport, and related services.

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property by promoting a positive safety culture throughout our operations. This policy applies to all members of staff and to all removal and delivery services carried out by Man with Van Swiss Cottage.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management is responsible for establishing, implementing, and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy. Management will provide appropriate resources, information, instruction, and supervision to support safe working practices across all removal and transport activities.

Managers will regularly review risk assessments, method statements, and work procedures to ensure they remain suitable and effective. They will also monitor safety performance, investigate incidents and near misses, and ensure that corrective actions are implemented promptly.

Management is responsible for ensuring that all workers understand their health and safety duties and are competent to carry them out. This includes providing ongoing training in manual handling, safe loading, vehicle safety, and the use of any equipment involved in our services.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee of Man with Van Swiss Cottage has an individual responsibility to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. This includes colleagues, customers, building occupants, pedestrians, and other road users.

Employees must follow all safety instructions, training, and company procedures, use equipment correctly, and wear any required personal protective equipment. They must report hazards, near misses, and incidents to management without delay so that risks can be controlled and lessons learned.

No employee should undertake any task that they believe to be unsafe or for which they are not properly trained or equipped. Concerns about health and safety should be raised immediately with a supervisor or manager.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our removal and delivery operations to identify potential hazards and implement control measures. These assessments consider factors such as manual handling, access routes, stairways, parking and loading areas, use of lifting equipment, and the nature and weight of items being moved.

Safe systems of work are developed based on these assessments and are communicated to all relevant staff. Where necessary, job specific assessments are completed before work begins at a property or site to ensure conditions are safe and suitable for the planned move.

We aim to minimise risks by planning routes, assessing access in advance where possible, and ensuring that adequate staff and equipment are provided for each job. Where conditions are found to be unsafe, employees are authorised to pause work and seek further guidance from management.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of our work and presents significant potential for injury if not managed correctly. All staff involved in lifting and moving items receive training in proper manual handling techniques, including assessing the load, using appropriate posture, and working as a team when handling heavy or bulky items.

We avoid single person lifting of heavy items wherever possible and use lifting aids and equipment when suitable. Loads are evaluated before being moved to determine the safest method. Staff are instructed not to lift items that exceed their physical capability or that cannot be safely handled due to size, shape, or access constraints.

We promote a culture where staff feel supported in requesting help and are not pressured to rush or take shortcuts that could compromise safety.

Vehicle and Transport Safety

Our vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition in line with legal requirements and manufacturer recommendations. Regular checks are carried out on brakes, tyres, lights, and other safety critical components.

Drivers are expected to hold appropriate licences, follow road traffic laws, and operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner. Journey planning takes account of safe loading, unloading, and parking arrangements to minimise risk to staff, customers, and other road users.

Loads are secured correctly to prevent movement during transit. Heavy items are positioned to maintain vehicle stability, and weight limits are never exceeded. Drivers are trained to check that loads remain secure during longer journeys and to adjust if necessary.

Customer and Public Safety

We take reasonable steps to protect customers, visitors, and members of the public during our removal operations. This includes maintaining clear access routes where possible, using safe lifting and carrying practices, and taking care when moving large items through shared hallways, entrances, and public areas.

Where practical, we may request that customers and others remain in safe areas away from moving operations, particularly when large or heavy items are being handled. Our staff are trained to work with consideration for residents, neighbours, and other users of the area.

Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

All tools, trolleys, straps, and other equipment used during moves are selected for suitability and maintained in good condition. Defective or damaged equipment is taken out of use and reported to management for repair or replacement.

Where required, staff are provided with personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety footwear, or high visibility garments and instructed on their correct use and care. Employees are expected to use this equipment consistently whenever it is provided for their protection.

Training, Communication, and Consultation

We provide appropriate induction and ongoing training to ensure staff are competent to carry out their duties safely. This includes training in manual handling, safe use of equipment, vehicle safety, customer interaction, and hazard awareness.

Health and safety information is communicated to staff through briefings, written procedures, and supervision on site. We encourage open discussion of health and safety issues and welcome suggestions for improving our arrangements.

Employees are consulted on changes that may affect their health and safety and are encouraged to participate actively in maintaining and improving our safety performance.

Accidents, Incidents, and Continuous Improvement

All accidents, incidents, and near misses are reported and recorded so that causes can be identified and appropriate action taken to prevent recurrence. Where necessary, risk assessments and procedures are updated in light of these findings.

We are committed to the continuous improvement of our health and safety performance. This policy and our associated procedures are reviewed regularly, and at least annually, to ensure they remain relevant and effective for our removal and transport services.

By working together and following this Health and Safety Policy, Man with Van Swiss Cottage aims to deliver reliable removal services while protecting the wellbeing of our staff, customers, and the wider community.