Health and Safety policy

Harringay Man and Van Health and Safety Policy

Harringay Man and Van is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, subcontractors, customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our removals and transport activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks associated with our man and van and removal services.

Policy Aims

Our aims are to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health; to protect property and the environment; and to continually improve our health and safety performance. We will meet all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice relating to transport, manual handling and moving household and commercial goods.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management has overall responsibility for health and safety within Harringay Man and Van. Management will ensure that:

Suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out and regularly reviewed for all key activities, including loading, unloading, packing, lifting, carrying, driving and working at customers premises.

Safe systems of work are developed, implemented, communicated and monitored.

All employees and regular subcontractors receive appropriate induction, information, instruction, training and supervision to carry out their tasks safely.

Vehicles, lifting aids, trolleys and other equipment are maintained in a safe condition and checked regularly.

Resources are allocated to support effective health and safety management, including time for training, inspections and maintenance.

Any accidents, near misses or incidents are investigated where appropriate, and findings are used to improve our procedures.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee and subcontractor working with Harringay 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 team members must:

Follow company safety procedures, instructions and training at all times.

Use equipment, vehicles, tools and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately.

Apply safe manual handling techniques, avoid taking unnecessary risks, and request assistance or extra equipment where needed.

Cooperate with any risk assessments, safety checks or health and safety investigations.

Report hazards, unsafe conditions, near misses and any concerns about health and safety to management as soon as possible.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our core removal and transport activities and review them regularly or after any significant change in work practices. These assessments cover areas such as:

Manual handling of furniture, appliances, boxes and other items.

Use of vehicles, tail lifts, ramps, trolleys and lifting aids.

Access to and from properties, including stairs, narrow corridors and shared entrances.

Working in different environments, including homes, offices, storage units and loading areas.

Weather conditions, lighting and surfaces that may affect loading and unloading.

Where risks cannot be eliminated, they will be reduced so far as is reasonably practicable using a combination of planning, equipment, team working and training.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a significant part of our work, so we place particular emphasis on controlling the risks of strains, sprains and other injuries. We will:

Provide training in safe lifting and carrying techniques and team handling.

Encourage assessment of each load before lifting, including weight, shape, stability and route.

Use handling aids such as trolleys, barrows and straps wherever reasonably practical.

Avoid single-person lifts of heavy or awkward items and encourage two-person or multi-person lifts where necessary.

Plan moves to minimise carrying distances and avoid obstacles where possible.

Vehicle and Driving Safety

Safe use of vehicles is essential to our operations. Harringay Man and Van will:

Ensure that all drivers hold the appropriate driving licence and are competent to operate the vehicles they use.

Maintain vehicles in safe working order, with regular checks on brakes, tyres, lights, securing points and loading equipment.

Require drivers to comply with road traffic laws, speed limits and parking rules at all times.

Ensure loads are correctly distributed and secured to prevent movement during transit.

Discourage the use of mobile phones or other distractions while driving, except for legally permitted hands-free systems used safely.

Allow sufficient time for journeys and loading so that drivers are not pressured into unsafe behaviours.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

Our teams often work in and around customers homes, workplaces and public areas. To protect customers, visitors and the public we will:

Assess access routes for hazards such as loose flooring, clutter, low lighting or trip risks and take reasonable steps to control them.

Use appropriate lifting and carrying methods to avoid damage to property and maintain safe clear walkways.

Where possible, cordon off or clearly identify work areas to minimise the risk to others.

Act responsibly and courteously at all times, taking care not to obstruct exits, shared corridors or public pavements.

Equipment, Tools and Personal Protective Equipment

We will provide and maintain suitable equipment and personal protective equipment appropriate to the tasks carried out, which may include gloves, safety footwear and high visibility clothing for work near traffic or in low light conditions. Employees are expected to use this equipment correctly and store it properly after use. Any defects or damage must be reported without delay so that equipment can be repaired or replaced.

Training, Communication and Consultation

Harringay Man and Van recognises that effective health and safety relies on clear communication and active involvement. We will:

Provide health and safety induction for new starters and refresher training where required.

Brief staff on specific risks and procedures for unusual or complex moves.

Consult with employees and, where relevant, subcontractors on health and safety matters, encouraging suggestions for improvements.

Share lessons learned from incidents and near misses to help prevent recurrence.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

This policy and our related procedures will be monitored and reviewed regularly to ensure they remain effective, relevant and up to date. The review will take into account changes in legislation, industry guidance, working practices and any significant incidents or feedback from staff and customers. Where improvements are identified, we will implement them as part of our commitment to continually enhancing the safety of our man and van and removal services.

This Health and Safety policy is endorsed by the management of Harringay Man and Van and applies to all aspects of our operations.