Health and Safety policy
Man with Van Cranham Health and Safety Commitment
Man with Van Cranham is committed to providing a safe, healthy and secure working environment for our customers, team members and members of the public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risk and promoting safe practice in all our removal, collection, delivery and transportation services.
We recognise that the nature of removal work, loading and unloading vehicles, handling heavy or bulky items and operating in different domestic and commercial premises requires careful planning and control. We actively work to prevent accidents, injuries and damage to property through clear procedures, staff training and ongoing monitoring.
Policy Objectives
Our main health and safety objectives are to:
Identify and manage risks associated with removals, loading, unloading and transportation activities.
Provide and maintain safe equipment, vehicles and working methods.
Ensure that staff are suitably trained, competent and supervised for the tasks they perform.
Protect customers, their property and the public from foreseeable harm related to our operations.
Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and industry good practice.
Review and improve our health and safety procedures on a regular basis.
Responsibilities
The management of Man with Van Cranham has overall responsibility for the implementation of this Health and Safety Policy and for ensuring that adequate resources are made available to meet our commitments.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for:
Carrying out and reviewing risk assessments for our services and work locations.
Providing staff with clear instructions, information and training.
Ensuring vehicles, equipment and tools are maintained in a safe condition.
Investigating incidents, near misses and complaints relating to health and safety.
Employees and contractors working on behalf of Man with Van Cranham are required to:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Follow all safety instructions, training and safe systems of work.
Use equipment, vehicles and protective gear correctly.
Report hazards, defects, incidents and near misses promptly to management.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
We carry out risk assessments for our typical activities, including household removals, office moves, single-item deliveries and related loading and unloading operations. These assessments guide the safe methods of work used by our teams.
Where necessary, additional on-site assessments are conducted before starting a job, particularly if there are unusual access issues, confined spaces, heavy or fragile items, stairs, or other potential hazards. Work will not proceed until a safe method has been identified, agreed and understood by the team.
Our safe working practices include controlled manual handling techniques, the use of lifting aids where appropriate, careful route planning through properties, and effective communication between team members during each stage of the move.
Manual Handling and Safe Lifting
Manual handling is a key part of removal work. To reduce the risk of injury, Man with Van Cranham:
Provides guidance and instruction on correct lifting and carrying techniques.
Plans jobs to avoid unnecessary lifting or carrying where possible.
Uses equipment such as trolleys, dollies and straps where suitable.
Allocates sufficient staff to handle heavy or awkward items safely.
Encourages staff to refuse to lift loads they consider unsafe or beyond their capability.
We will not compromise safety for speed. If an item cannot be handled safely within the available resources, we will discuss alternative arrangements with the customer.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Our vehicles are maintained to a high standard and are inspected regularly to ensure they are safe and suitable for the road and the loads they carry. Drivers must hold the appropriate licence, follow road traffic laws and operate vehicles responsibly at all times.
Loads are secured to prevent movement during transit, and vehicles are not overloaded. Routes are planned to allow sufficient time for safe driving, taking account of traffic and weather conditions.
Customer and Public Safety
We take care to protect customers, neighbours, passers-by and other members of the public during loading and unloading at residential and commercial addresses. Our teams aim to:
Keep access routes clear and tidy.
Use safe systems when carrying items through shared spaces, stairs and corridors.
Minimise noise and disruption where reasonably practicable.
Warn others of potential slip, trip or collision hazards created during the move.
We may temporarily restrict access to certain areas while heavy or bulky items are being moved in order to prevent accidents.
Equipment, Protective Gear and Housekeeping
We provide appropriate tools and equipment for our work, and these are regularly checked and maintained. Where required, staff are issued with protective gear suitable for the task and environment, such as gloves or safety footwear.
Good housekeeping is an essential part of safety. Our teams keep working areas as orderly as possible, avoid leaving packing materials and tools where they could cause trips or falls, and remove waste at the end of the job.
Training, Information and Supervision
Man with Van Cranham ensures that staff receive appropriate induction and on-the-job training covering manual handling, safe use of equipment, vehicle safety, customer care and emergency procedures. Less experienced team members work under supervision until they are competent to work independently.
Information about specific risks and control measures for each job is shared with the team before work begins, and any changes during the job are communicated clearly to everyone involved.
Incident Reporting and Policy Review
All accidents, injuries, near misses and significant property damage incidents that occur during our services are recorded and, where necessary, investigated. Lessons learned are used to improve our methods, training and risk assessments.
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated when there are changes to legislation, our services, equipment or working methods. We remain committed to continually improving our health and safety performance across our service area and to working with customers to ensure moves are completed safely and efficiently.
