Highbury Man and Van Health and Safety Policy
Highbury Man and Van is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transportation activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety in connection with our man and van and removal services.
Policy Aims and Scope
This Health and Safety Policy applies to all activities carried out by Highbury Man and Van, including domestic and commercial removals, loading and unloading, packing, handling of goods, driving and vehicle operations, and work carried out at customer premises or in public areas.
Our aims are to prevent injury and ill health, reduce risks arising from our work, comply with relevant health and safety legislation, and continually improve our performance in managing safety during moving and transport services.
Management Responsibilities
Management at Highbury Man and Van accepts overall responsibility for health and safety and will provide leadership to ensure this policy is implemented effectively. Management will:
Assess and manage risks arising from removal and transport work. Provide and maintain safe vehicles, tools, and equipment. Ensure safe systems of work for lifting, carrying, loading and unloading. Provide appropriate information, instruction, supervision and training. Consult with workers on health and safety matters. Review this policy regularly and update it when necessary.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee and contractor working with Highbury Man and Van has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. All staff must:
Follow the instructions, procedures and training provided. Use equipment, vehicles and protective gear safely and correctly. Report any hazards, defects, near misses or incidents promptly. Co operate in accident investigations and safety reviews. Avoid horseplay or unsafe practices while at work or driving for work.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Highbury Man and Van will carry out risk assessments for typical removal and transport tasks, as well as for any non routine work. These assessments consider hazards such as manual handling, slips and trips, vehicle movements, working at height when needed, working in confined or cluttered spaces, and interaction with the public.
Based on these assessments we will develop and implement safe systems of work. These will include guidance on planning each move, selecting appropriate equipment, safe loading patterns, securing loads in vans, and communication between team members on site and while on the road.
Manual Handling and Lifting Safety
Manual handling is a key part of removal work and presents a significant risk of injury if not managed correctly. Highbury Man and Van will:
Provide training in safe lifting and carrying techniques. Use trolleys, dollies, lifting straps and other mechanical aids whenever reasonably practicable. Plan routes to avoid unnecessary carrying or lifting. Ensure that loads are assessed before lifting and shared between team members when required. Prohibit staff from lifting items they believe to be unsafe or beyond their physical capability.
Use of Equipment and Vehicles
Highbury Man and Van will ensure that vehicles and equipment used for removal services are suitable, well maintained and inspected at appropriate intervals. This includes:
Regular checks on vans and other vehicles, including tyres, lights, brakes and securing points. Routine inspection and maintenance of trolleys, ramps, straps and protective materials. Ensuring that safety devices are used correctly, such as load securing straps and covers. Restricting the use of vehicles and specialist equipment to trained and authorised staff.
Driving and Road Safety
Safe driving is essential for protecting our staff, customers and other road users. Highbury Man and Van will promote road safety by:
Ensuring drivers are competent, licensed and familiar with the vehicles they operate. Planning routes and schedules to reduce time pressure and unsafe driving behaviour. Enforcing rules on seat belt use, speed limits and safe parking. Prohibiting driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that impairs performance. Encouraging drivers to report vehicle faults, near misses and road incidents immediately.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
When working at customer premises or in shared and public areas, Highbury Man and Van will take care to protect the safety of customers, neighbours and passers by. This includes:
Assessing access routes, stairs and doorways before starting work. Using warning signs or verbal warnings when moving bulky items through shared spaces. Keeping walkways as clear as reasonably practicable to reduce trip hazards. Moving and stacking items safely to avoid collapse, damage or obstruction.
Training, Information and Supervision
Highbury Man and Van provides appropriate training and instruction to ensure that staff can carry out their work safely and competently. This includes induction training on our health and safety procedures, task specific training for manual handling, equipment use and driving, and refresher training when needed or when procedures change.
Supervisors will monitor working practices on site and on the road to ensure compliance with this policy and to identify opportunities for improvement.
Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting
All accidents, incidents, injuries and near misses related to our removal and transport work must be reported as soon as possible to the responsible person. Highbury Man and Van will:
Record and investigate all reported events to identify root causes. Take appropriate action to prevent recurrence, including changes to procedures, equipment or training. Comply with any legal reporting requirements in relation to serious incidents. Review investigation findings at management level to support continuous improvement.
Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work
Highbury Man and Van recognises the importance of health and wellbeing for staff engaged in physical work. We will encourage staff to highlight any health issues that may affect their ability to perform removal tasks or driving safely, and we will take reasonable steps to adjust work where possible.
Staff must not present themselves for work if they are unfit through illness, fatigue, alcohol, drugs or any other factor that could compromise safety.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, industry practice and the nature of our removal services. We monitor our performance through incident data, staff feedback, vehicle and equipment inspections, and on site observations.
Highbury Man and Van is committed to continually improving our approach to health and safety so that our staff, customers and the public can have confidence in the safe delivery of our removal and man and van services.
