Man with Van Rush Green Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety policy sets out the principles and procedures that guide Man with Van Rush Green in providing safe, reliable, and professional removal services. Our aim is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our workers, clients, members of the public, and anyone else who may be affected by our activities.

We recognise that removal work can involve physical handling, driving, loading and unloading, and working in and around homes, offices, and other premises. We are committed to assessing and managing these risks in a systematic and responsible way.

Health and Safety Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety within Man with Van Rush Green rests with the business owner or appointed manager. This person is responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements, resources, and training are in place to maintain safe working conditions.

All workers, whether full time, part time, or subcontracted, share responsibility for following safe systems of work, using equipment correctly, and co-operating with the business on all health and safety matters. Every worker is expected to stop work and report immediately if they identify a serious risk to themselves or others.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our core activities, including domestic removals, office moves, single-item transport, loading and unloading, and driving to and from locations in our service area. These assessments help identify foreseeable hazards and the measures required to control them.

Where necessary, we will introduce written safe systems of work or method statements, particularly for higher-risk activities such as moving heavy or awkward items, working on stairs, or operating in tight or restricted spaces. Workers are required to follow these procedures at all times.

We review risk assessments periodically and whenever there is a significant change to our operations, equipment, or the type of work we undertake.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a key part of our removal services, and we take specific steps to reduce the risk of injury:

We aim to avoid unnecessary lifting by planning each job, using suitable trolleys and other moving aids where available, and parking and positioning the vehicle as conveniently as possible. Workers receive guidance on safe lifting techniques, including team lifting for heavy or bulky items, and are instructed not to exceed their individual capabilities.

Items that are especially heavy, fragile, or awkward will be assessed before moving, and additional workers or specialist equipment may be used where needed. Workers must report any concerns about the weight or stability of items before attempting to move them.

Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety

Our vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition, with regular checks and servicing carried out by competent persons. Drivers are responsible for daily visual checks such as tyres, lights, mirrors, and load security before setting off.

All loads are secured appropriately to prevent shifting during transit, and care is taken not to exceed the vehicle’s weight limits. Drivers must comply with traffic laws, drive considerately, and plan routes that allow for safe access to customer premises whenever possible.

Drivers are required to avoid driving when fatigued, unwell, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Mobile phone use while driving must follow applicable road safety requirements.

Customer Premises and On-site Safety

When working at customer premises, our workers will take reasonable care to avoid damage, obstruction, and hazards. This includes keeping access routes as clear as possible, managing trip hazards from tools and packing materials, and using safe lifting paths on stairs and through doorways.

Where there are specific site risks, such as restricted access, uneven surfaces, or building works, our workers will review these on arrival and adapt working methods as needed, or consult the manager if the risk cannot be controlled on site.

We expect customers to inform us in advance of any known hazards such as limited parking, fragile staircases, or restricted lifts so that we can plan the work safely.

Work Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

Any equipment supplied by Man with Van Rush Green, including trolleys, straps, and protective covers, will be maintained in good condition and used only for its intended purpose.

Personal protective equipment such as gloves and safety footwear may be provided when appropriate and must be used as instructed. Damaged or defective equipment or PPE must be reported and replaced without delay.

Training, Information and Supervision

We ensure that workers receive suitable information and guidance on the safe performance of their duties. This includes instruction on manual handling, vehicle safety, safe loading and unloading, and working at customer premises.

New workers are introduced to our health and safety expectations before they begin practical tasks. Ongoing guidance will be provided where work practices, equipment, or risk assessments are updated.

Where necessary, jobs will be supervised to ensure that safe systems of work are followed, especially for complex or higher-risk moves.

Accidents, Incidents and Near Misses

All accidents, injuries, near misses, and dangerous occurrences during removal work must be reported to the manager as soon as reasonably practicable. We will record relevant details and, where appropriate, investigate the circumstances to identify underlying causes.

Findings from any investigation will be used to improve our risk assessments, training, or working methods. Workers are encouraged to report hazards or near misses even where no injury occurs, as this supports continuous improvement in safety standards.

Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work

We aim to protect the general health and welfare of our workers by managing workload, encouraging safe lifting habits, and planning work to reduce unnecessary strain. Workers are expected to report any condition or injury that may affect their ability to carry out removal tasks safely.

We will consider reasonable adjustments to duties where possible to support workers recovering from injury or managing health issues, provided it remains safe to do so.

Policy Review and Communication

This Health and Safety policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains suitable and effective for the type of removal services we provide and the areas in which we operate. It may also be reviewed following significant incidents, changes in work activities, or updates in applicable standards.

The policy is communicated to workers and made available to customers on request so that everyone understands the approach Man with Van Rush Green takes to protecting health and safety during removal work.