St.John's Wood Man and Van Health and Safety Policy

St.John's Wood Man and Van is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public affected by our removals and man and van services. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our principles, responsibilities and working practices to ensure that health, safety and welfare are fully integrated into every stage of our operations.

Policy Aims and Objectives

Our aim is to prevent injury, ill health and property damage arising from our activities. We will achieve this by identifying and managing risks associated with household and office removals, loading and unloading, driving, manual handling, and on-site work at customer premises.

We seek continual improvement in our health and safety performance and to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice.

Management Responsibilities

The management of St.John's Wood Man and Van has overall responsibility for health and safety. This includes providing sufficient resources, information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure that work is carried out safely and without risk to health.

Managers will ensure that risk assessments are carried out for all significant activities and that appropriate control measures are implemented, communicated, monitored and reviewed. They are responsible for promoting a positive safety culture and for leading by example in safe behaviour and decision making.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees, including drivers, porters and office staff, have 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:

Cooperate with management in implementing this policy and all associated procedures, follow safe systems of work, use equipment correctly, report hazards, near misses and incidents promptly, and attend training sessions and briefings as required.

No employee is expected to undertake work that they consider unsafe or for which they have not received adequate training or equipment.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

St.John's Wood Man and Van conducts risk assessments for core activities such as packing, lifting and carrying items, moving furniture through tight spaces, operating trolleys and moving equipment, loading and unloading vehicles, securing loads for transport, and driving and parking in residential and commercial areas.

From these assessments we implement safe systems of work that may include team lifting techniques, pre-move surveys to identify access issues, use of protective covers and restraints, restricted weight limits for single-person lifts, and careful route planning to reduce driving risk.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a major part of our removals work and is managed proactively. Staff receive training in correct lifting and carrying techniques, posture, use of mechanical aids and recognition of personal limits. Where items are too heavy, awkward or unstable to move safely by hand, we use additional equipment or allocate more personnel to the task.

We encourage employees to speak up if a load appears unsafe, and we will always adjust the work method rather than risk injury.

Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety

Our vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition and are subject to regular checks, servicing and inspections. Drivers are required to carry out daily vehicle checks, including tyres, lights, brakes, securing points and doors, and to report defects immediately.

Loads are secured to prevent movement during transit and to protect both staff and customers' property. Drivers must follow all road traffic laws, drive within speed limits and adapt their driving to conditions. Fatigue management, adequate rest breaks and safe parking and unloading practices form an essential part of our driving safety arrangements.

Customer Premises and Site Safety

When working at customer premises, we take care to protect both people and property. This includes planning access routes, keeping walkways clear, using floor and corner protection where appropriate, managing trip hazards from equipment and packing materials and maintaining good communication with customers about the work being carried out.

We will always seek permission before moving or disconnecting any equipment that could affect safety, such as appliances or fixtures, and will not carry out work beyond our competence or agreed service scope.

Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

We provide and maintain appropriate tools, handling equipment and personal protective equipment for the tasks undertaken. This may include gloves, safety footwear, high visibility clothing and back support aids where relevant. All equipment is used in accordance with manufacturer instructions and internal guidance.

Employees must use the equipment provided, store it correctly and report any damage, loss or malfunction without delay.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide initial and ongoing health and safety training tailored to the removals environment. Training covers topics such as manual handling, vehicle safety, safe use of equipment, incident reporting and customer care. New staff receive induction training, and existing staff receive refresher training as required.

Supervisors monitor working practices on site and during moves to ensure that procedures are followed and to provide guidance, coaching and correction where needed.

Accident, Incident and Near-Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents, near misses and cases of work-related ill health must be reported promptly to management. We investigate such events to identify root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Records of incidents and investigations are maintained and reviewed as part of our commitment to continuous improvement.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

We encourage open communication on health and safety matters and actively seek feedback from employees and customers. Suggestions for improving safety are welcomed and will be considered by management.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, our services or operating practices. The latest version is made available to all staff and is available to customers on request.

Policy Commitment

St.John's Wood Man and Van considers health and safety to be integral to providing a professional and reliable removals service. By working together, following agreed procedures and maintaining a proactive attitude to risk, we aim to protect everyone involved in or affected by our operations.