Dulwich Man and Van Health and Safety Policy
Dulwich Man and Van 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 transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risk, preventing injury and protecting property during local and regional moves.
Our management team accepts overall responsibility for health and safety and ensures that the necessary resources, training and supervision are provided so that work can be carried out safely and efficiently at all times.
Scope and Objectives
This policy applies to all activities carried out by Dulwich Man and Van, including residential and commercial removals, loading and unloading vehicles, packing and unpacking, handling furniture and equipment, driving vehicles, and working at customer premises or storage locations.
Our key objectives are to prevent accidents, injuries and ill health, protect the wellbeing of our staff and customers, safeguard property and possessions during removals, and comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and industry best practice.
Management Responsibilities
Management at Dulwich Man and Van is responsible for implementing and maintaining this policy, providing safe systems of work for removal and transport operations, ensuring that vehicles, tools and equipment are maintained in a safe condition, conducting and reviewing risk assessments for all significant activities, and supplying appropriate personal protective equipment where necessary.
Managers and supervisors will monitor day to day standards, investigate any accidents or near misses, and take corrective action to prevent recurrence. They will lead by example in promoting a positive safety culture.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee and contractor working with Dulwich Man and Van has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. All staff must follow safe working procedures and instructions, use vehicles, lifting equipment and tools correctly and only for their intended purpose, wear any personal protective equipment provided, report hazards, incidents, injuries or near misses promptly to a manager, and refrain from horseplay, dangerous behaviour or working under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Employees are encouraged to raise suggestions for improving health and safety and to participate fully in any safety briefings or training.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Dulwich Man and Van carries out risk assessments for key activities such as manual handling of furniture and heavy items, operating lifting equipment and trolleys, vehicle loading and unloading, securing loads for transport, working in confined or restricted spaces such as stairwells and narrow corridors, and operating on public roads and at the kerbside.
These assessments inform our safe working procedures, which may include planning routes and access before each job, using lifting aids and team lifting techniques, limiting the weight of individual items lifted by one person, maintaining clear walkways to prevent slips, trips and falls, and ensuring vehicles are parked and manoeuvred safely with due consideration for other road users and pedestrians.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a major part of removal work and is treated as a key safety priority. Staff receive instruction in correct lifting and carrying techniques, the importance of assessing loads before moving them, and when to request assistance or use equipment. We provide suitable handling aids such as sack trucks, dollies, straps and furniture blankets to reduce strain and prevent damage to items and property.
Any equipment used by our teams is inspected regularly and removed from service if damaged or unsafe. Only trained and authorised personnel may use specialist lifting equipment.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Our drivers are responsible for the safe operation of their vehicles and must hold the appropriate driving licence for the vehicle being used. Vehicles are inspected and maintained in line with manufacturer guidance and legal requirements. Daily pre use checks are completed to identify defects such as issues with tyres, lights, mirrors or securing points.
Loads are distributed and secured to prevent movement during transit, with particular care taken when transporting large furniture, appliances and fragile items. Drivers must adhere to speed limits and road traffic laws, drive with consideration for weather and road conditions, avoid distractions while driving, and never operate a vehicle when fatigued or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
When working at customer homes or business premises, our teams will treat the property with care and will take reasonable steps to protect floors, walls and fixtures where practicable. We aim to maintain safe access and egress at all times, minimise obstruction of pathways and entrances, and use warning signs or verbal warnings where necessary when moving large items through shared or public areas.
Special attention is paid to avoiding hazards for children, pets, neighbours and passers by while work is being carried out.
Training, Instruction and Supervision
Dulwich Man and Van provides appropriate training and information to ensure that staff are competent to carry out their duties safely. This includes induction training for new starters, job specific training on manual handling, equipment use and safe driving practices, on the job instruction and supervision by experienced team members, and refresher training where procedures or regulations change.
Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that staff understand and follow this policy and that any unsafe behaviour is corrected promptly.
Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, incidents, near misses and cases of work related ill health must be reported to management as soon as reasonably practicable. Incidents will be recorded, investigated and reviewed to identify root causes and implement measures to prevent recurrence.
Our teams are briefed on basic emergency procedures, including what to do in the event of fire, serious injury, road traffic collision or sudden illness on site or in transit. Where appropriate, first aid kits are carried in vehicles and at operational bases.
Monitoring, Review and Policy Updates
Dulwich Man and Van is committed to continual improvement in health and safety performance. We monitor working practices, review risk assessments and analyse incident records to identify trends and areas for improvement. This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance or our operating practices. Updated versions are communicated to all staff and made available to customers on request.
By following this policy and working together, we aim to ensure that every move is carried out as safely and efficiently as possible, protecting our staff, our customers and the wider community.
