Health and Safety Policy for Man and Van Crystal Palace

Man and Van Crystal Palace is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers, and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and delivery activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks associated with domestic and commercial removals, transportation of goods, loading and unloading, and related services.

Our Health and Safety Commitment

We recognise our duty to comply with applicable health and safety legislation and to continually improve our standards. Management accepts overall responsibility for health and safety within the business and will provide appropriate resources, information, instruction, and supervision to ensure that work is carried out safely and responsibly.

All staff and contractors are required to take reasonable care of their own safety and the safety of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions while working for Man and Van Crystal Palace.

Objectives of This Policy

The main objectives of this Health and Safety Policy are to:

Minimise the risk of injury and ill health arising from our removal and transport activities. Provide safe systems of work for handling, lifting, loading, and transporting items. Ensure that vehicles, tools, and equipment are maintained in a safe and reliable condition. Promote a positive safety culture and encourage reporting of hazards, near misses, and incidents. Comply with relevant health and safety laws, regulations, and recognised industry best practice.

Responsibilities

Management is responsible for implementing this policy, assessing risk, and ensuring that safe working procedures are followed. Management will review health and safety performance regularly and update procedures where needed.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day-to-day health and safety management on jobs, including briefings before work starts, allocation of tasks according to capability, and ensuring that staff follow safe practices at all times.

Employees and contractors must follow safety instructions, use equipment correctly, report hazards or defects, and cooperate fully with the company in all matters relating to health and safety. Everyone has a duty to stop work immediately if they believe conditions are unsafe.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Before each job, we consider the specific risks associated with the premises, access routes, items to be moved, parking arrangements, and any special customer requirements. Where necessary, a documented risk assessment will be conducted and communicated to the team.

Safe systems of work include planning manual handling tasks, assessing the weight and shape of items, identifying available lifting aids, agreeing communication signals between team members, and ensuring clear walkways and exits throughout the move.

Manual Handling and Lifting Practices

Manual handling is a core part of our work. To reduce the risk of strain and injury, our staff are trained to:

Assess the load before lifting, including weight, balance, and any sharp edges. Use correct lifting techniques, keeping the back straight and using leg muscles to lift. Work in teams for heavy or awkward items such as furniture and appliances. Use trolleys, dollies, straps, and other handling equipment whenever reasonably practicable. Avoid twisting while lifting or carrying and take regular short breaks during demanding tasks.

Where an item is too heavy or unsafe to move with the resources on site, the team is instructed not to attempt the lift and to seek further guidance.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

All vehicles used by Man and Van Crystal Palace must be roadworthy, regularly inspected, and maintained according to manufacturer guidance and legal requirements. Drivers must hold the correct licence for the vehicle they operate and must follow all road traffic laws.

Loads must be distributed safely, adequately secured, and checked before departure. Doors, tail lifts where fitted, and ramps must be used correctly and inspected before use. Drivers and crew must not operate vehicles if they are unfit due to tiredness, illness, alcohol, or drugs.

Use of Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

We provide appropriate equipment such as moving blankets, straps, trolleys, and tools to complete removal tasks safely. Staff are trained in the safe use of all equipment and must not use any item for which they have not been trained or which appears damaged.

Where required, personal protective equipment may include gloves, high visibility clothing, and safety footwear. Staff are responsible for using this equipment correctly and reporting any loss or damage so that it can be replaced.

Working on Customer Premises

Respect for customer property and safety is central to our service. Our teams will:

Introduce themselves on arrival and agree safe access routes in and out of the property. Keep exits, stairways, and corridors clear of trip hazards as far as reasonably practicable. Use protection such as coverings where agreed to reduce the risk of damage and slips. Take care around children, pets, and other occupants and ensure that loading and unloading areas are kept as secure as possible.

Customers are asked to inform us of any known hazards, such as loose steps, broken paving, or restricted access, so that we can plan a safe approach.

Incident, Accident, and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents, and near misses that occur during removal and transport work must be reported to management as soon as practicable. This includes injuries, property damage, vehicle incidents, and any situation where a serious harm was narrowly avoided.

Reports will be reviewed to identify root causes and to implement corrective actions, such as changes to procedures, additional training, or improvements to equipment.

Training, Information, and Supervision

Man and Van Crystal Palace provides ongoing training to ensure our staff understand their responsibilities and are competent to perform their tasks safely. This includes induction training, manual handling guidance, vehicle and equipment use, and job specific briefings.

Supervisors monitor performance on site and provide additional instruction or support where needed. We encourage open communication so that staff feel comfortable raising safety concerns at any time.

Health, Welfare, and Fitness for Work

We recognise the physical nature of removal work and the importance of fitness for duty. Staff must inform management if they have any medical condition, injury, or fatigue that may affect their ability to work safely. No one should be pressured to carry out a task that they reasonably believe could cause injury or ill health.

We aim to schedule work to allow appropriate rest periods and to avoid excessive working hours, particularly for driving and heavy lifting tasks.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, our services, or lessons learned from incidents and feedback. Any updates will be communicated to staff and implemented promptly.

By working together, following safe procedures, and maintaining awareness of the risks involved in removal and transport operations, Man and Van Crystal Palace aims to provide a reliable, professional, and safe service to customers across our service area.