The Man Health and Safety Policy

The Man is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, visitors, and members of the public who may be affected by our removals and related services. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with lifting, carrying, transporting, and handling goods, as well as working in customers homes, offices, and other locations.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our objectives are to prevent injury and ill health, protect property, and maintain safe systems of work throughout every stage of a move. We aim to identify hazards in advance, reduce risk to the lowest level reasonably practicable, and encourage a culture where safety is a shared responsibility for all employees and contractors representing The Man.

Management Responsibilities

Management at The Man is responsible for implementing and maintaining effective health and safety arrangements. This includes establishing clear procedures, ensuring adequate resources are available, and reviewing performance on a regular basis. Managers must lead by example and ensure that all work is planned and conducted in a way that prioritises safety and wellbeing.

Management will ensure that all employees understand this policy and the specific instructions relevant to their role. They must also ensure that equipment used for removals and transportation is suitable, regularly inspected, and properly maintained.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee of The Man has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Staff must co-operate fully with all safety instructions, training, and procedures, and must not interfere with or misuse anything provided for health and safety purposes.

Employees are required to report hazards, incidents, near misses, defective equipment, or unsafe conditions immediately to their manager or supervisor. Staff must only undertake tasks for which they are trained and authorised, particularly in relation to manual handling, use of vehicles, and operation of any lifting aids or equipment.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

The Man undertakes risk assessments for key activities involved in removals, transportation, loading, unloading, packing, and storage. These assessments consider potential hazards such as manual handling injuries, slips and trips, falls from height, vehicle movements, working in confined or cluttered spaces, and handling fragile or heavy items.

Based on these assessments, we implement safe systems of work that may include the use of lifting equipment, team lifting methods, careful route planning, and restrictions on the maximum weight to be carried by individuals. These procedures are reviewed periodically and updated whenever there is a significant change to our operations or equipment.

Manual Handling and Lifting Practices

Manual handling is a core element of removal work and presents a significant risk of injury when not managed correctly. The Man trains staff in correct lifting techniques, use of trolleys, dollies, and other aids, and the importance of planning each lift before starting. Where an item is too heavy, awkward, or unstable for safe manual handling, alternative methods must be used or additional personnel assigned.

Employees must never attempt to move loads that exceed safe limits or that they do not feel confident handling. Where access routes are narrow, uneven, or obstructed, staff are expected to assess the safest way to move items and to communicate clearly with colleagues and customers.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

The Man is committed to ensuring that all vehicles used in our services are roadworthy, regularly checked, and maintained in line with applicable standards. Drivers must hold the appropriate licence, follow all road safety rules, and adhere to company guidelines on loading, securing loads, and safe driving behaviour.

Loads must be evenly distributed and securely restrained to prevent movement during transport. Drivers are responsible for conducting basic pre-use checks and reporting any defects or concerns immediately. Fatigue management and adherence to driving time limits are essential to protect both our staff and other road users.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

Our teams frequently work within customer premises and in public spaces when loading and unloading vehicles. The Man takes care to minimise disruption and safeguard anyone who may be affected by our activities. This may include using clear access routes, avoiding blocking exits, and placing warning signs or verbal notices where necessary.

Staff must remain alert to risks such as loose flooring, stairs, low ceilings, traffic, and bystanders. When working in shared areas such as corridors, car parks, and pavements, additional precautions may be taken to protect the public from moving items or vehicles.

Training, Information, and Supervision

The Man provides appropriate training for employees relevant to their roles, including induction training on company safety procedures, manual handling techniques, use of equipment, and incident reporting. Refresher training is provided where necessary, and additional instruction is given when new equipment or methods are introduced.

Supervisors and team leaders monitor on-site practices to ensure that procedures are followed, and they provide guidance and support to staff, especially during complex or high-risk moves. Information about hazards and required control measures is communicated clearly before and during each job.

Accident Reporting and Investigation

All accidents, injuries, near misses, and dangerous occurrences must be reported as soon as possible. The Man keeps records of such events and investigates them to identify underlying causes and implement corrective actions. Lessons learned are communicated to relevant staff and, where appropriate, reflected in updated procedures or training.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

The Man encourages open communication on health and safety matters. Employees are invited to share concerns, suggestions, and observations that may help improve safety performance. Regular reviews of this policy and related procedures are carried out to ensure they remain effective, relevant, and aligned with best practice in the removals sector.

Policy Review and Authority

This Health and Safety Policy is approved by The Man senior management and is reviewed at regular intervals, or sooner if there are significant changes to our operations or applicable standards. We are committed to continual improvement in health and safety performance and to maintaining a safe environment for everyone involved in or affected by our moving and removal services.