Beckenham Man and Van Health and Safety Policy

Beckenham 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 household and commercial removal services. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our objectives, responsibilities and working practices to reduce risks associated with moving, handling, transport and on-site activities.

Policy Statement and Objectives

The primary objective of this policy is to prevent injury, ill health, property damage and unsafe practices during our removal and delivery operations. We aim to:

Identify, assess and control risks connected with removals, including manual handling, driving, loading and unloading, and working at height when required. Provide suitable information, training and supervision so that every team member is competent to carry out their work safely. Maintain vehicles, equipment and tools in a safe condition. Communicate clearly with customers so that properties, access points and items are prepared in a way that supports safe working. Monitor and review our procedures regularly and improve our safety performance over time.

Management Responsibilities

Company management is responsible for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy. This includes making sure that adequate resources are available for training, equipment and protective clothing. Management will carry out and update risk assessments relevant to removal activities and ensure findings are implemented. They will also ensure that all employees understand their responsibilities and comply with safety instructions, and that incidents and near misses are recorded, investigated and used to improve our working practices.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who might be affected by their actions. All staff members must follow safe systems of work, attend training sessions and use protective equipment provided. They must report hazards, defects, unsafe conditions and incidents to management without delay. Employees are expected to cooperate fully with health and safety procedures and never misuse or interfere with safety equipment or vehicles.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before starting a removal or delivery, a visual and, where needed, documented risk assessment will be carried out. This includes considering access routes, stairs, lifts, parking, traffic, weather conditions and the nature of items to be moved. Where risks are identified, appropriate control measures will be used, such as additional staff, use of handling equipment, adjusting the route, or refusing unsafe tasks. Work will only proceed when it can be carried out safely and without unacceptable risk to people or property.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a key part of our removal service and is managed with particular care. Staff receive instruction on safe lifting techniques, team lifting, and the correct use of trolleys, dollies, straps and blankets. Heavy or awkward items will not be lifted by a single person where this may cause injury. Wherever possible, mechanical aids will be used to reduce strain. Team members must assess the weight, size, shape and stability of items before movement, and must not attempt to move anything they believe to be unsafe or beyond their capability.

Vehicle, Driving and Road Safety

Our drivers and removal teams must follow all road safety laws and drive responsibly at all times. Vehicles are to be kept in a roadworthy condition and undergo regular checks and servicing. Loads will be packed and secured in a way that prevents movement during transit and avoids overloading. Drivers are responsible for carrying out basic daily checks and reporting defects immediately. Safe parking and unloading procedures must be followed, including the use of hazard warning lights where appropriate and minimising obstruction to traffic and pedestrians.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

When operating at customer premises, our teams will take care to protect both people and property. This includes planning safe routes through the property, protecting floors and walls where necessary, and avoiding trip hazards such as loose straps or packaging materials. Where work is taking place in shared spaces or near public walkways, the team will take steps to keep these areas clear or cordoned off as far as is reasonably practicable. Noise, dust and any potential disturbance will be kept to a minimum.

Personal Protective Equipment

Where necessary, appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, protective footwear or high visibility clothing will be provided and used. Staff are required to take reasonable care of this equipment, wear it correctly and report any damage or loss so that it can be replaced.

Training, Supervision and Communication

All new employees will receive an induction that covers the main health and safety risks associated with removal work, along with safe systems of work. Ongoing training is provided as needed, particularly in manual handling, equipment use and vehicle safety. Less experienced workers are supervised until they are assessed as competent. Health and safety information will be communicated clearly and any changes to procedures will be shared with staff promptly.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and incidents involving vehicles, property damage or public safety must be reported to management as soon as possible. First aid arrangements will be in place and staff will be informed of procedures to follow in the event of injury, fire, collision or other emergencies. Lessons learned from incidents will be used to update risk assessments and working practices.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes in our operations, legislation or industry best practice. Beckenham Man and Van is committed to continuous improvement and expects all members of the team to contribute to a positive safety culture throughout our removal services.