Brixton Man and Van Health and Safety Policy

Brixton 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 risks associated with moving, handling, transportation, and related services.

Policy Aims and Objectives

Our primary aim is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property arising from our operations. We will identify, assess, and control risks so far as is reasonably practicable. We aim to continually improve our health and safety performance through regular review, staff engagement, and effective management systems.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management is responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements, resources, and systems are in place to manage health and safety throughout the company. This includes setting standards, reviewing performance, and ensuring compliance with relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice.

Managers and supervisors are required to implement this policy within their areas of responsibility, communicate safe working procedures, monitor compliance, and ensure that staff receive the information, instruction, and training necessary to work safely.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work. All staff must follow company procedures, use equipment correctly, report hazards or incidents promptly, and cooperate fully with health and safety instructions and training.

No employee is expected to work in unsafe conditions. If a situation appears hazardous, employees must stop work where safe to do so and report the issue to a supervisor or manager without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for our removal and transport activities, including lifting and carrying, loading and unloading vehicles, driving, use of equipment, and working at customers' premises. These assessments identify significant hazards and define control measures to reduce risks to an acceptable level.

Safe systems of work and method statements are developed from our risk assessments and are communicated clearly to staff. These include safe lifting techniques, correct use of trolleys and moving equipment, secure loading of vehicles, and procedures for navigating stairs, narrow access routes, and confined spaces.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a core part of our removal service, so we place strong emphasis on correct techniques and mechanical assistance. All staff receive instruction on safe lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling to minimise the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

Where possible, we use equipment such as sack trucks, dollies, furniture sliders, webbing, and lifting aids to reduce strain and improve safety. Employees are trained to inspect equipment before use, report defects immediately, and remove damaged items from service until repaired or replaced.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our drivers and crew members must operate vehicles safely at all times and comply with road traffic laws and company driving policies. Vehicles are maintained and inspected regularly to ensure they are roadworthy and suitable for carrying goods securely.

Loads must be distributed evenly and secured using appropriate restraints to prevent movement during transit. Drivers are responsible for carrying out pre-use checks, driving with due care, allowing adequate time for journeys, and avoiding unsafe manoeuvres or excessive speed.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

When working at customers' homes, offices, or other locations, our teams take care to protect occupants, visitors, and members of the public. Access routes are assessed for hazards such as trip risks, poor lighting, and restricted spaces. Where necessary, staff will create clear walkways, use caution signage where appropriate, and control movement of large or heavy items.

We aim to minimise disruption and prevent damage to property by planning moves carefully, using protective coverings where reasonable, and coordinating lifting and carrying activities to avoid congestion and confusion.

Training, Information, and Supervision

Brixton Man and Van provides appropriate health and safety training to all staff, tailored to their roles and responsibilities. This includes induction training, manual handling instruction, vehicle and driving safety awareness, use of equipment, and site-specific procedures where necessary.

Refresher training and toolbox talks are carried out periodically to reinforce safe practices and update staff on any changes to procedures or regulations. Adequate supervision is provided, particularly for new or inexperienced employees, to ensure that work is carried out safely and correctly.

Accidents, Incidents, and Near Misses

All accidents, incidents, injuries, and near misses must be reported promptly so that they can be investigated and recorded. We analyse incident reports to identify underlying causes and take appropriate corrective and preventive actions.

Where applicable, statutory reporting requirements are followed. Lessons learned from incidents are communicated to staff and used to improve our procedures, training, and risk controls.

Health, Welfare, and Fitness for Work

We recognise the physical demands of removal work and the importance of health and fitness. Employees are encouraged to report any health issues that may affect their ability to carry out tasks safely. We will make reasonable adjustments where possible and ensure that individuals are not required to undertake work that is beyond their physical capability.

We do not tolerate working under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including misuse of prescription medication. Any suspicion of impairment will be investigated and may result in removal from duties.

Emergency Procedures

Appropriate emergency procedures are in place for fire, accidents, and other serious incidents. Staff are briefed on how to respond in an emergency, including safe evacuation, contacting emergency services, and providing information to customers and colleagues.

Where we operate within customer sites, we will familiarise ourselves with local emergency arrangements and follow on-site instructions provided by the customer or site management.

Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement

We regularly monitor our health and safety performance through inspections, incident analysis, staff feedback, and management review. This policy and associated procedures are reviewed periodically, and whenever there are significant changes in operations, legislation, or identified risks.

Brixton Man and Van is committed to continually improving the effectiveness of our health and safety management. We value employee involvement and encourage suggestions that help make our working practices safer and more efficient for our teams and our customers.