Health and Safety policy

Ilford Man and Van Health and Safety Policy

Ilford Man and Van is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving, loading, transport and delivery of goods.

Policy Statement

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing effective controls. Health and safety is an integral part of how we plan and deliver our man and van and removal services. All work must be carried out in a way that safeguards people, vehicles, goods and premises.

We will comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and recognised best practice guidelines for the removals and transport sector. Continuous improvement in health and safety performance is a core management responsibility and a shared duty for all employees.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Ilford Man and Van will:

Ensure that this Health and Safety Policy is implemented, maintained and regularly reviewed to reflect changes in our operations and relevant legal requirements.

Provide safe systems of work for all removal and transport activities, including lifting, loading, unloading, securing loads and driving.

Assess risks before work begins at customers premises, in storage areas and on the road, and put in place suitable control measures.

Provide appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision to enable staff to carry out their duties safely and competently.

Ensure vehicles and equipment used for moving, lifting and transporting items are suitable, regularly inspected and properly maintained.

Investigate all accidents, near misses and work related incidents to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees, including drivers, porters and office staff, share responsibility for maintaining safe working conditions. Employees must:

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

Follow all safety instructions, safe systems of work and training provided by Ilford Man and Van.

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

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

Report accidents, near misses, hazards and unsafe practices as soon as possible so that corrective action can be taken.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before starting removal or delivery work, we will assess the risks associated with each job, including access routes, stairways, parking, loading areas, manual handling tasks and environmental conditions. Where necessary, we will adapt our approach or reschedule work to ensure safety.

Safe working practices will be applied to tasks such as handling heavy or awkward items, using loading ramps, carrying furniture on stairs, operating trolleys and securing loads in vehicles. When an item is too heavy or bulky to be moved safely by the team on site, alternative methods or additional resources will be arranged.

Manual Handling

Manual handling is a key element of removal work and poses risks of strain and musculoskeletal injury if not properly controlled. Ilford Man and Van will:

Train staff in safe lifting and carrying techniques, team handling and the use of mechanical aids.

Plan work to reduce unnecessary carrying distances and avoid hazardous lifting where possible.

Use suitable handling equipment such as trolleys, dollies, straps and blankets to move and protect items.

Require staff to assess their own capability for each lift and to ask for help or alternative arrangements if a task cannot be carried out safely.

Vehicle and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are central to our services and must be operated safely at all times. Ilford Man and Van will:

Ensure that drivers are competent, hold valid licences and receive appropriate training related to driving, loading and securing goods.

Maintain vehicles in a roadworthy condition with regular checks, servicing and defect reporting procedures.

Require drivers to comply with traffic laws, speed limits, parking regulations and site specific safety rules.

Plan routes, schedules and rest breaks to reduce fatigue and minimise risks associated with long journeys or congested routes.

Ensure that loads are evenly distributed, properly secured and within permitted weight limits, and that doors and tailgates are closed and locked before moving off.

Customer and Public Safety

We recognise our duty to protect customers, visitors and the general public while we carry out removal and transport work. To achieve this we will:

Plan access and exit routes to reduce the risk of trips, slips and collisions in and around premises.

Use clear communication with customers regarding timing, parking, lifting points and any restrictions affecting safe operations.

Keep working areas as tidy as reasonably practicable, taking care not to obstruct walkways, entrances or emergency exits with equipment or goods.

Stop work immediately if conditions become unsafe and only resume once risks have been adequately controlled.

Training, Information and Supervision

Ilford Man and Van will provide health and safety induction for new staff and refresher training as required. This includes manual handling, vehicle safety, safe lifting of fragile and high value items, and the correct use of protection materials and equipment.

Supervisors will monitor working practices on site and on the road to ensure procedures are followed and to identify areas for improvement. Lessons learned from incidents and near misses will be used to update training content and working methods.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

We encourage open communication about health and safety and invite suggestions from staff and customers on how we can improve our performance. Regular reviews of this policy and related procedures will be carried out, taking into account operational changes, feedback and incident data.

This Health and Safety Policy is approved by the management of Ilford Man and Van and applies to all aspects of our removal and man and van services. All employees are required to familiarise themselves with its contents and to put it into practice in their daily work.