Health and Safety Policy for Man With a Van Swiss Cottage

Man With a Van Swiss Cottage is committed to conducting all removal and transport activities in a manner that safeguards the health, safety and wellbeing of our customers, staff, contractors and members of the public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles, responsibilities and working practices that guide our day-to-day operations.

Health and Safety Commitment

We recognise that professional moving and removal services involve manual handling, vehicle use, access to different types of premises and the handling of customers possessions. We are committed to preventing accidents, injuries and damage by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing effective control measures.

Our objectives are to:

Promote a positive health and safety culture throughout our removal operations.

Comply with all applicable health and safety laws and recognised industry standards.

Provide safe systems of work, equipment and vehicles for our teams.

Ensure that all staff are appropriately trained, supervised and competent in their roles.

Continuously improve our performance based on monitoring, feedback and reviews.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that health and safety is integrated into business planning and decision making. This includes:

Ensuring that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for removal and delivery work.

Providing adequate resources for health and safety, including equipment, training and protective gear.

Maintaining vehicles and work equipment in safe working condition.

Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses to identify causes and prevent recurrence.

Reviewing this Health and Safety Policy at regular intervals and updating it when required.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees, including drivers, porters and supervisors, share responsibility for health and safety. Staff are expected to:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.

Follow all safe working procedures, instructions and training provided.

Use equipment, tools and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately.

Report hazards, unsafe conditions, accidents and near misses without delay.

Cooperate fully with management in implementing this policy and any related procedures.

Risk Assessment and Planning of Work

Before starting any removal or delivery job, we assess the work to identify potential hazards associated with access, parking, lifting, transport and delivery. We take into account factors such as the type and weight of items, the number of staff needed, staircases and confined spaces, and any special requirements at collection and delivery addresses.

Where risks are identified, appropriate control measures are implemented. This may include additional staff, lifting equipment, protective coverings, route planning, time allowances for safe working and alternative methods for handling heavy or awkward loads.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a key part of our removal services and is addressed through:

Training in safe lifting techniques, including team lifting and the use of handling aids.

Planning routes within properties to avoid unnecessary carrying and reduce carrying distances.

Assessing loads before lifting to determine weight, stability and the need for assistance.

Avoiding unsafe practices such as overreaching, twisting while lifting, or attempting loads beyond individual capability.

Using equipment such as trolleys, dollies or straps where appropriate to minimise strain.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are essential to our moving and delivery services, and we place strong emphasis on safe driving and vehicle operation. This includes:

Ensuring that all drivers are properly licensed, competent and familiar with the vehicles they operate.

Carrying out regular vehicle checks, inspections and maintenance to keep vehicles roadworthy.

Securing loads correctly to prevent movement, damage or risk to road users during transit.

Complying with speed limits, parking rules and site-specific access requirements.

Planning routes to allow sufficient time for safe driving and avoiding unnecessary pressure on drivers.

Use of Equipment and Protective Gear

Where required, we provide appropriate equipment and protective gear to support safe working. This may include gloves, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear, lifting straps and protective covers for furniture. Staff are required to use this equipment as instructed and to report any missing or defective items so that they can be replaced or repaired.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our responsibility to protect customers premises and ensure the safety of anyone nearby while work is taking place. Our teams aim to:

Work tidily and keep access routes clear of trip hazards, packaging and equipment.

Position ramps, trolleys and vehicles to minimise risks to pedestrians and other road users.

Protect floors, walls and doorways where there is a risk of damage during moving.

Communicate with customers about any temporary restrictions needed for safe loading and unloading.

Training, Supervision and Communication

We provide ongoing training appropriate to each role, including induction training for new staff and refresher training where needed. Topics include manual handling, safe use of equipment, vehicle safety, incident reporting and site-specific risks.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for monitoring working practices on jobs, providing guidance and addressing any unsafe behaviour. Information about hazards, changes to procedures and learning from incidents is shared with staff through regular communication.

Incident Reporting and Policy Review

All accidents, injuries, property damage and near misses must be reported promptly so that they can be recorded, investigated and used to improve safety measures. Lessons learned from incidents are fed back into training, risk assessments and procedures.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically, and whenever there are significant changes to our services, equipment or legislation. Any updates to the policy will be communicated to employees and incorporated into our working practices to ensure that health and safety remains central to the way we deliver our removal services.