Belsize Park Man and Van Health and Safety Policy

Belsize Park Man and Van 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 removals, transport, and related services. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks arising from our activities, including packing, lifting, loading, transporting, and unloading goods.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

We aim to prevent accidents, injuries, and work-related ill health linked to our man and van and removals operations. We do this by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing practical control measures for every stage of a move, from initial planning through to final delivery at the customer’s premises.

We seek continual improvement in our health and safety performance and regularly review our procedures to reflect changes in legislation, industry best practice, and the nature of our work.

Responsibilities and Accountability

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who ensure that adequate resources, training, and supervision are provided. Management is responsible for implementing this policy, communicating it to all staff, and monitoring compliance during day-to-day activities.

All employees and contractors working on behalf of Belsize Park Man and Van have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. This includes following safe systems of work, using equipment correctly, reporting hazards or incidents promptly, and cooperating with any health and safety instructions or training provided.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We conduct risk assessments for our key tasks, including lifting and carrying items, loading and unloading vehicles, driving, operating handling equipment, and working at customer properties. These assessments identify significant hazards such as manual handling injuries, slips and trips, vehicle movements, falls from height, and damage to property.

Based on these assessments, we establish safe working procedures that our teams are required to follow. These procedures include safe lifting techniques, maximum weight guidelines, correct use of trolleys and ramps, and careful route planning inside homes, flats, and business premises to minimise risks to staff and customers.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of our removal service and is managed carefully to reduce the risk of strain and injury. Staff are trained to assess loads before lifting, to ask for assistance with heavy or awkward items, and to use lifting aids where appropriate.

Where items are particularly heavy, bulky, or fragile, a specific plan is created to move them safely. This may include team lifting, dismantling furniture where possible, or using specialist equipment. No member of staff is required to lift anything they believe is beyond their capability or unsafe to handle.

Use of Vehicles and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition, and regular inspections are carried out to ensure they remain safe and suitable for transporting household and commercial goods. Drivers must hold the appropriate licence, follow road traffic laws, and operate vehicles responsibly at all times.

Loads are secured properly to prevent shifting in transit, and weight distribution is considered to maintain vehicle stability. Drivers are expected to plan routes to allow for safe access and egress at collection and delivery addresses, taking account of local traffic, parking restrictions, and any specific site risks.

Safe Loading and Unloading

Loading and unloading operations are planned to reduce the risk of falls, slips, trips, and crush injuries. Staff must keep loading areas tidy, avoid blocking exits, and ensure clear walkways are maintained. Ramps, steps, and tailgates, where used, must be set up correctly and checked for stability before use.

Items are stacked in vehicles to prevent toppling and to allow safe unloading at the destination. Care is taken around doorways, staircases, and narrow corridors to protect both people and property from accidental damage.

Customer and Public Safety

We recognise our responsibility to protect customers, visitors, neighbours, and members of the public during our removals work. Where practical, we establish clear working areas, advise customers to keep children and pets away from loading zones, and take steps to minimise obstructions in communal areas and on pavements.

Our teams are instructed to act with consideration and to immediately address any unsafe condition they observe that could affect others, such as tripping hazards from packaging materials or unsafe parking positions.

Training, Supervision and Information

All staff receive appropriate induction and ongoing training relevant to their roles, including manual handling, safe driving practices, use of equipment, and incident reporting. Supervisors monitor working methods on site and correct unsafe behaviour or practices promptly.

Health and safety information is communicated clearly and reinforced regularly so that employees understand both the policy and the practical steps they must follow when carrying out removal and transport tasks.

Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

We provide suitable equipment such as trolleys, straps, blankets, and protective coverings to move items safely and protect property. Where necessary, personal protective equipment is supplied and must be used as instructed. This may include safety footwear, gloves, or high visibility clothing, depending on the nature of the work and the environment.

All equipment must be inspected before use, used only for its intended purpose, and taken out of service if found to be defective or unsafe.

Accidents, Incidents and Near Misses

All accidents, injuries, and near misses associated with our work must be reported to management as soon as reasonably practicable. We investigate these events to identify root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Records of accidents and incidents are maintained and reviewed periodically to monitor trends and improve our safety management arrangements.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety policy is reviewed at regular intervals and whenever there are significant changes in our activities, working practices, or legal requirements. Feedback from staff and customers is welcomed to help us improve our approach to safety and the overall quality of our removal services.

By following this policy, Belsize Park Man and Van aims to deliver professional, reliable man and van and removal services while maintaining the highest reasonably practicable standards of health and safety.