Health and Safety policy

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

St John's Wood Man and Van is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our staff, customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our removals and transport activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks that arise from local and long-distance moves, furniture transport, packing, loading and unloading.

Our Health and Safety Commitment

We recognise that professional moving services involve manual handling, vehicle use, and work in and around customer properties. We will take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment. Health and safety considerations are integral to the planning and delivery of our man and van and removal services.

Responsibilities and Management

Overall responsibility for health and safety within St John's Wood Man and Van rests with the company management. They are responsible for ensuring that suitable resources, information and training are provided, and that safe systems of work are developed and implemented for all removal and transport activities.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day-to-day implementation of this policy, monitoring working practices at jobs, and promptly addressing any unsafe conditions or behaviours. They must ensure that removal crews follow agreed procedures for lifting, loading, driving and working at customer premises.

All employees, contractors and temporary workers have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They must follow training, instructions and risk assessments, cooperate with management, and immediately report hazards, accidents, near misses or damaged equipment.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We will conduct suitable and proportionate risk assessments for our activities, including domestic and commercial moves, packing services, furniture disassembly and reassembly, and the transport of goods. These assessments will identify significant hazards and define control measures to reduce risks to an acceptable level.

Where necessary, task-specific procedures will be developed, for example for heavy item lifting, working in confined spaces such as narrow stairwells, handling fragile items, and operating in busy streets or shared access areas. These procedures will be communicated to all relevant staff and reviewed periodically or after incidents.

Manual Handling and Safe Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of our removal services, and poor techniques can result in serious injury. To minimise these risks, we will:

Provide training on correct lifting and carrying techniques, including team lifting for bulky or heavy items.

Use appropriate handling aids such as trolleys, dollies, straps and sliders wherever reasonably practicable.

Plan moves to reduce carrying distances, avoid unnecessary stair work, and use suitable access routes.

Refuse to move items that are assessed as unsafe to lift or carry, or which exceed agreed weight or size limits without mechanical assistance.

Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety

Our vans and other vehicles are essential to our removal operations, and their safe use is a priority. We will:

Ensure vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced and maintained in line with legal and manufacturer requirements.

Require drivers to hold appropriate licences and to demonstrate competence and a responsible attitude to road safety.

Provide guidance on safe loading, weight limits, securing of loads, and the use of ramps and tail lifts where fitted.

Promote safe driving practices, including adherence to speed limits, avoidance of distraction, and adequate journey planning to manage time pressures.

Working at Customer Premises

Our teams frequently work in homes, offices and shared buildings. We will respect each property and manage risks associated with access and movement of goods by:

Assessing access routes for hazards such as uneven surfaces, low ceilings, fragile flooring, and restricted staircases.

Using protective coverings where appropriate to reduce slip risks and protect floors and surfaces.

Maintaining clear walkways by managing boxes, furniture and packing materials so they do not obstruct exits or escape routes.

Communicating clearly with customers and building managers about any safety concerns, restrictions or necessary adjustments to the move plan.

Equipment, Tools and Personal Protective Equipment

We will ensure that all equipment used in our removal operations, including trolleys, ramps, tools and accessories, is suitable for its purpose, well maintained and inspected regularly. Defective items will be taken out of service immediately.

Where risks cannot be fully eliminated by other means, appropriate personal protective equipment will be provided, such as gloves, safety footwear and high-visibility garments. Staff are required to use this equipment correctly and to report damage or loss.

Training, Information and Supervision

St John's Wood Man and Van will provide induction and ongoing training relevant to the roles of our staff. This includes safe lifting, vehicle safety, incident reporting, use of equipment, and working safely at customer sites. Additional training will be arranged when new equipment, vehicles or procedures are introduced.

Clear information on hazards and control measures will be given before start of work. Adequate supervision will be provided, particularly for new or inexperienced team members and for complex or high-risk moves.

Accidents, Incidents and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, injuries, property damage and near misses that occur during our removal activities must be reported to management without delay. We will investigate incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective measures to prevent recurrence.

Accident records will be maintained in accordance with applicable requirements and used to monitor safety performance and identify trends.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

We encourage open communication about health and safety. Employees are invited to raise suggestions, concerns or ideas for improving safe working arrangements. Constructive feedback from customers about our safety standards is also welcomed and will be considered in our reviews.

This Health and Safety policy will be reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to reflect changes in our services, vehicles, equipment, legal obligations or industry best practice. Our aim is to ensure that every local or long-distance move is carried out as safely and efficiently as reasonably practicable for our staff, customers and everyone affected by our operations.