Man with Van Collier Row Health and Safety Policy
Man with Van Collier Row is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our workers, customers, visitors 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 managing risk and maintaining high standards of safety during removals, deliveries and related services across our operating area.
Policy Statement and Objectives
We aim to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing practical control measures. Health and safety is integral to the planning and delivery of every move, whether it involves household removals, office moves or single-item transport.
Our objectives are to:
Promote a positive health and safety culture throughout the business.
Comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and relevant guidance.
Provide clear information, instruction and supervision to workers.
Ensure vehicles, equipment and work practices are safe and appropriate for the tasks undertaken.
Regularly review our performance and make improvements where necessary.
Roles and Responsibilities
Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the business owner or designated manager at Man with Van Collier Row. They are responsible for ensuring appropriate arrangements are in place and that this policy is implemented and reviewed.
Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day-to-day management of health and safety on jobs, including briefing workers, checking equipment, monitoring manual handling practices and dealing with hazards promptly.
All workers, whether permanent, temporary or subcontracted, must:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others affected by their actions.
Follow safe working procedures, training and instructions provided.
Use equipment correctly and report defects immediately.
Report incidents, near misses, unsafe conditions or concerns without delay.
Cooperate fully with any investigation or review related to health and safety.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Before starting work, we assess risks associated with the move, including access routes, parking arrangements, lifting requirements, stairways, confined spaces, weather conditions and customer-specific issues. Where appropriate, we carry out site-specific risk assessments and adapt our methods accordingly.
We plan each job to minimise manual handling risks, vehicle movements in busy areas, and the likelihood of slips, trips and falls. Workers are expected to follow safe systems of work, including the use of lifting techniques, use of trolleys and other handling aids, and adherence to agreed loading and unloading procedures.
Manual Handling and Load Management
Manual handling is a core part of our removals activity and is therefore carefully controlled. Our approach includes:
Providing instruction on safe lifting, carrying and team handling techniques.
Assessing the weight, size and shape of items before attempting to move them.
Using trolleys, dollies, straps and other handling aids whenever reasonably practicable.
Ensuring sufficient manpower for heavy, awkward or bulky items.
Refusing to move items where it would be unsafe to do so without additional equipment or personnel.
Workers are encouraged to stop and reassess any lift that feels unsafe and to request support or equipment rather than risking injury.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Our vehicles are essential to our removal services and are managed with safety as a priority. We ensure that:
Vehicles are regularly inspected and maintained in roadworthy condition.
Drivers are competent, hold the appropriate licences and follow road safety rules.
Loads are secured to prevent movement during transit, using straps and appropriate loading patterns.
Access, loading and unloading areas are assessed for safety, with attention to pedestrians, other vehicles and property.
Engines are switched off where appropriate and vehicles braked securely during loading and unloading.
Protection of Customers, Public and Property
We recognise our responsibility to protect customers, visitors and members of the public during removals. Our workers are expected to:
Maintain clear walkways and minimise trip hazards from packaging materials, tools and equipment.
Use protective coverings and padding to reduce the risk of damage to property.
Communicate clearly with customers about access, timing and any temporary restrictions required for safety.
Take extra care where children, pets or vulnerable persons are present.
Work Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment
We provide and maintain suitable work equipment such as trolleys, ramps, straps and basic tools. Equipment is checked regularly and removed from use if defective.
Where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means, personal protective equipment may be provided, such as gloves or safety footwear. Workers must use any equipment or protective items supplied in accordance with training and instructions.
Training, Information and Supervision
Workers receive information and instruction relevant to their duties, including manual handling guidance, safe loading techniques, vehicle safety and incident reporting procedures. New workers or those new to removal work are supervised and supported until they demonstrate safe working practices.
We keep our health and safety information under review and provide updates when procedures change or new risks are identified.
Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, injuries, near misses and damage to property must be reported as soon as practicable to the responsible person on site. This allows us to provide support, take immediate corrective action and identify lessons for future work.
Workers are briefed on basic emergency procedures, including how to raise the alarm, contact emergency services when required and respond to incidents involving injury, fire, road traffic accidents or dangerous situations during a move.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
We monitor our health and safety performance through feedback from workers and customers, incident reports and periodic reviews of our procedures. Where issues are identified, we make reasonable changes to improve safety and efficiency.
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in operations, legislation or best practice within the removals and transport sector. The updated policy will be communicated to workers so that everyone understands their responsibilities and the standards expected.
Commitment to Safe Removals
Man with Van Collier Row believes that effective health and safety management is essential to providing a reliable, professional and considerate removal service. By working together, following this policy and continually seeking to reduce risk, we aim to protect our teams, our customers and the communities in which we operate.
