Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Cranford

Man with Van Cranford is committed to maintaining the highest standards of health and safety for our customers, employees, contractors, and members of the public. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks associated with our removal, transport, and delivery services.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our primary objective is to provide a safe working environment and safe systems of work for everyone involved in our services. We aim to prevent accidents, injuries, and work-related ill health, and to minimise risks to property and the environment during all removal and moving activities.

We regularly review this policy to ensure it remains appropriate to the nature and scale of our operations and in line with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised best practice in the removals and transport sector.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man with Van Cranford accepts overall responsibility for health and safety performance. This includes:

Ensuring that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for all key activities, including loading, unloading, lifting, carrying, driving, and operating equipment.
Providing employees with relevant health and safety information and resources to enable them to work safely.
Ensuring that vehicles and equipment are maintained in a safe, roadworthy condition and serviced at appropriate intervals.
Investigating accidents, incidents, and near misses, and implementing corrective actions to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
Reviewing and updating this policy periodically and whenever there are significant changes to operations or legislation.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee and regular contractor has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. Employees are required to:

Follow all health and safety instructions, procedures, and safe working practices provided.
Use vehicles, tools, and equipment only for their intended purpose and in accordance with training.
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment where supplied and required for the task.
Report hazards, defects, near misses, and incidents to management at the earliest opportunity.
Refrain from any behaviour that could compromise safety, including working under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Risk assessments are used to identify and evaluate potential hazards associated with our moving and transport work. Based on these assessments, we implement safe systems of work that may include:

Planning routes and access in advance to minimise manual handling distances and obstacles.
Assessing weight, size, and stability of items before lifting or moving them.
Using correct lifting techniques and team lifts for heavier or awkward items.
Utilising appropriate handling aids where available and appropriate.
Ensuring loading and unloading areas are as clear, stable, and level as reasonably practicable.

Our teams are instructed to stop work and seek guidance if they believe a task cannot be completed safely with the equipment and personnel available.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a key part of our services and is managed carefully to reduce the risk of injury. Our staff receive guidance and instruction on:

Assessing the load and working environment before attempting to move items.
Adopting safe postures, including bending the knees and keeping the back as straight as reasonably possible.
Keeping loads close to the body and avoiding twisting while lifting or carrying.
Using team lifting practices when handling large, bulky, or heavy objects.
Refusing to carry out manual handling tasks that exceed safe limits, and arranging for alternative methods or additional assistance where needed.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are central to our operations, and we are committed to ensuring they are operated safely and responsibly. This includes:

Maintaining all vehicles in accordance with manufacturer guidance and relevant road safety requirements.
Conducting basic vehicle checks by drivers before use, including tyres, lights, mirrors, and securing mechanisms.
Ensuring that loads are distributed evenly, properly restrained, and do not exceed permitted weight limits.
Encouraging safe driving practices that respect speed limits, road conditions, and other road users.
Managing driving hours and rest breaks to help reduce fatigue and maintain alertness.

Protection of Customers, Public, and Property

During removal and transport activities, we take all reasonably practicable measures to protect customers, members of the public, and property. Our teams will:

Plan safe access routes through premises, including stairways, corridors, and entrances.
Use appropriate methods to avoid damage to walls, floors, doors, and fixtures where reasonably practicable.
Place items securely to avoid tripping hazards and ensure walkways remain as clear as possible.
Communicate with customers on any identified risks or limitations that may affect safe working.

Training, Information, and Supervision

We provide our staff with appropriate instruction and guidance relevant to their role and tasks. This includes:

Induction information on company health and safety expectations and procedures.
Ongoing information regarding safe manual handling, vehicle operation, and incident reporting.
Guidance on working at customers premises, including respect for household rules and safety considerations.
Supervision and monitoring of working practices to reinforce safe behaviours and identify areas for improvement.

Accidents, Incidents, and Near Miss Reporting

We encourage prompt reporting of all accidents, incidents, and near misses, no matter how minor. This allows us to:

Record the circumstances accurately and maintain appropriate documentation.
Investigate underlying causes and identify contributing factors.
Implement corrective and preventive measures, such as changes to procedures, equipment, or training.
Continuously improve the overall safety performance of our removal and transport operations.

Continuous Improvement and Policy Review

Man with Van Cranford is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety. We will review this policy regularly to ensure it remains effective, relevant to our current services, and aligned with legal and industry standards. Feedback from staff, customers, and other stakeholders may be considered as part of this review process.

By engaging with this policy and working together, we aim to provide a safe and reliable removal and man and van service while protecting the wellbeing of all those involved in or affected by our activities.