Health and Safety policy

Man With a Van Belmont Health and Safety Policy

Man With a Van Belmont 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 policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety in all aspects of our work, including domestic moves, commercial removals, packing, loading, transport and unloading.

Policy Statement

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and disruption to our customers by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing sensible control measures. We will comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice relevant to the removals and light transport sector.

Health and safety responsibilities form a core part of our planning, decision making and day-to-day operations. We expect all staff to work safely, to take reasonable care of themselves and others, and to cooperate fully with this policy and any related procedures.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man With a Van Belmont is responsible for providing clear leadership on health and safety matters. This includes:

Ensuring that this policy is implemented, monitored and regularly reviewed. Providing appropriate resources, time and equipment to manage health and safety effectively. Identifying significant risks associated with moving, lifting, transporting and handling goods and property. Putting in place safe systems of work and clear instructions for staff. Ensuring vehicles and equipment are fit for purpose, well maintained and used correctly. Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses, and taking action to prevent recurrence.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee and regular subcontractor has a duty to safeguard their own health and safety and that of others. In particular, staff must:

Follow all safe working procedures, training and instructions provided. Use vehicles, tools, trolleys, lifting aids and personal protective equipment correctly. Report hazards, defects, near misses, accidents or unsafe conditions to management as soon as possible. Avoid taking unnecessary risks or shortcuts that could put themselves, colleagues or customers at risk. Maintain a professional standard of behaviour when working on customer premises, including respecting house rules and site-specific safety requirements.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our core activities, including home removals, office and commercial moves, collection and delivery services, and work on stairs, ramps, narrow access points and shared spaces. These assessments consider manual handling risks, slips and trips, working in confined areas, vehicle movements and the handling of fragile, bulky or awkward items.

Safe working practices are developed from these assessments and cover loading and unloading procedures, use of ramps and tail lifts where applicable, safe stacking and securing of loads, and protection of customer property and belongings. Staff are required to follow these procedures at all times.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

The nature of our business means that manual handling is a significant part of our work. To reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury, we:

Provide training in correct lifting and carrying techniques and team handling methods. Encourage the use of mechanical aids such as sack trucks, dollies and furniture sliders where practical. Plan jobs so that heavy or bulky items are handled by an appropriate number of people. Avoid unnecessary lifting by using suitable parking positions and access routes. Assess particularly heavy or high-risk items in advance so appropriate methods and equipment can be arranged.

All equipment and vehicles used in our moving and transport operations must be inspected regularly and maintained in safe working order. Any defects must be reported immediately and defective items taken out of use until repaired or replaced.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

While working in homes, offices or shared buildings, our teams take steps to protect customers, visitors and members of the public. This includes careful routing of cables and ramps to avoid trip hazards, keeping access ways as clear as reasonably practicable, using caution when moving large items through doorways, corridors and communal areas, and showing particular care where children, pets or vulnerable persons are present.

We treat customer property with respect and take practical measures to prevent damage, such as using blankets, covers, protective materials and appropriate handling techniques. Where parking or vehicle access may affect neighbours or other road users, drivers will park considerately and in accordance with road safety requirements.

Training, Information and Supervision

All staff receive an induction that covers key health and safety responsibilities and safe working methods relevant to our removal services. Task-specific training is provided for manual handling, vehicle loading, road safety and the use of any lifting or moving equipment.

We provide ongoing information and instruction through toolbox talks, briefings and updates where working methods or legal requirements change. New or less experienced workers are given appropriate supervision until they are competent to work more independently.

Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety

Our drivers and crews must follow all road traffic and transport safety regulations. We expect drivers to be medically fit, properly licensed and not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Vehicles must be loaded within safe weight limits, with loads distributed and secured to prevent movement during transit.

Drivers should plan routes to allow sufficient time for safe travel, taking account of weather, traffic and access conditions. Mobile phones and communication devices must be used safely and legally, and never in a way that distracts from driving.

Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, vehicle collisions, near misses and cases of property damage that occur during our work must be reported to management promptly. We will record and, where necessary, investigate these events to identify causes and implement corrective actions.

Staff are briefed on what to do in the event of an emergency, including personal injury, fire, a road traffic collision or serious property damage. Protecting life and preventing further harm will always take priority over property concerns.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

We are committed to continually improving our health and safety performance. This policy and our associated procedures are reviewed at appropriate intervals, or sooner if there are significant changes in legislation, our activities or operational risks.

Input from staff, customers and other interested parties is welcomed and helps us to refine the way we manage health and safety across our removal and transport services.

This health and safety policy applies to all activities carried out by Man With a Van Belmont and forms part of our wider commitment to professional, reliable and responsible moving services.