Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Swiss Cottage

Man with Van Swiss Cottage is committed to providing a safe, healthy and secure working environment for our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public. As a professional removal company, we recognise that our activities involve the handling, loading and transport of goods, and we take all reasonable steps to manage and minimise risks associated with these operations.

This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety across all removal, delivery and transportation services within our operating area.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our primary health and safety objectives are to prevent injury, protect health and ensure that all removal work is carried out safely and responsibly. To achieve this, we will:

Identify and control hazards associated with lifting, carrying, loading, driving and working in and around properties and vehicles. Provide information, instruction, supervision and training to ensure that employees are competent to perform their duties safely. Maintain our vehicles, equipment and tools in a safe and serviceable condition. Encourage a positive safety culture where staff and customers are aware of risks and take sensible precautions.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Man with Van Swiss Cottage has overall responsibility for implementing this policy and ensuring that effective health and safety arrangements are in place. Management will:

Regularly review this policy and update it as needed to reflect changes in legislation, best practice and company operations. Ensure that risk assessments are carried out for key activities such as lifting and carrying, use of lifting aids, loading and unloading vehicles, driving and working at customer premises. Provide appropriate personal protective equipment where necessary and ensure it is used correctly. Monitor incidents, near misses and customer feedback to identify trends and areas for improvement.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee and operative working on behalf of Man with Van Swiss Cottage has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. All staff are expected to:

Follow company safety procedures, training and instructions at all times. Use vehicles, tools and equipment only for their intended purpose, and report any defects or damage immediately. Adopt safe lifting and handling techniques, avoid unsafe shortcuts and seek assistance when an item is too heavy or awkward to move alone. Keep work areas, properties and vehicle loading areas as tidy and free from obstruction as reasonably practicable. Report accidents, incidents, near misses and any concerns about safety without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our removal operations to identify foreseeable hazards and implement suitable control measures. These assessments cover, as appropriate:

Manual handling of furniture, appliances and personal belongings. Access issues such as stairs, tight corridors, uneven surfaces and restricted parking. Use of trolleys, dollies, straps and other handling aids. Weather conditions and lighting that may affect safe loading and unloading. Security and safety when working at both residential and commercial premises. Based on these assessments, we develop and apply safe working practices to ensure that moves are completed efficiently and safely.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core element of our work and is treated as a high priority in our safety arrangements. We will:

Train staff in safe lifting techniques, including assessing the load, securing a firm grip, keeping the back straight and lifting with the legs. Encourage team lifting for heavy or bulky items and the use of mechanical aids where appropriate. Plan routes within properties to reduce the need for twisting, overreaching or carrying loads over unnecessary distances. Limit manual handling of particularly heavy or hazardous items where safe movement cannot be achieved.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are central to our services and are maintained to a high standard to protect our staff, customers and other road users. We will:

Ensure that vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced and checked for roadworthiness. Secure loads properly within vehicles to prevent shifting or falling items during transit. Require drivers to follow road traffic regulations and drive in a courteous and responsible manner. Manage working hours to reduce the risk of driver fatigue, including rest breaks where appropriate. Provide guidance for safe parking and loading at customer addresses to minimise risks to pedestrians and other vehicles.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our responsibility to work safely in and around customer premises and in public areas. Our teams will:

Assess access routes and discuss any particular risks with the customer before starting work. Take sensible steps to minimise trip hazards, such as managing trailing straps, boxes and equipment. Use caution when moving items near doors, stairways and shared access areas. Respect property fixtures and fittings and avoid practices that could cause damage or create hazards.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide appropriate training for all staff to enable them to carry out their roles safely and effectively. This includes:

Induction training on company health and safety procedures and safe systems of work. Task-specific training on manual handling, loading techniques and use of equipment. Ongoing refreshers and updates when procedures, equipment or legal requirements change. Supervision and on-the-job guidance, particularly for new or less experienced staff members.

Accident Reporting and Continuous Improvement

All accidents, incidents and near misses that occur during our removal operations must be reported to management. We will:

Record and investigate incidents to establish causes and identify corrective actions. Implement changes to working practices, training or equipment where necessary to prevent recurrence. Review incident trends as part of our regular policy review process to support continuous improvement.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains relevant, effective and aligned with current legal requirements and industry standards. Revisions may be made at any time to reflect changes in our services, operating area, equipment or organisational structure.

Man with Van Swiss Cottage expects all employees, contractors and partners to cooperate fully with this policy so that we can deliver safe, reliable and professional removal services to all customers.