Company van parked ready for loading with safety cones

Health & Safety Policy for Man With a Van Claphamcommon

Policy statement: This document sets out the health and safety commitments for the Man With a Van Claphamcommon service. Our objective is to protect employees, contractors, customers and the public by maintaining safe working practices across all moving, delivery and collection activities. The policy applies to every operative working for the man with a van Claphamcommon service and to any temporary staff engaged to support activities.

Scope and purpose

The purpose of this Health and Safety Policy is to ensure that all risks associated with van-based moving and transportation are identified, assessed and controlled. The policy covers vehicle operation, loading and unloading, manual handling, use of equipment, hazardous materials handling where applicable, and site and roadside safety. It is designed to align with general safety best practices for man & van providers while remaining practical for day-to-day operations.

Workers performing a site risk assessment near a vehicle

Responsibilities

Management: Management will provide leadership and resources to implement procedures, ensure vehicles are maintained, and that staff receive suitable training. Employees and drivers: All drivers and loaders must follow procedures, report hazards and participate in training. Supervisors are responsible for monitoring compliance and taking corrective action where necessary. Variations of the service name — Man & Van Claphamcommon, man with a van Claphamcommon — should be used consistently in documentation to avoid confusion.

Risk assessment and safe systems

Risk assessments will be carried out for each regular activity and for non-routine jobs. Controls will include vehicle checks, load restraint procedures, traffic management at sites, and safe working zones when loading or unloading. A safe systems approach ensures hazards are reduced through planning, training and equipment selection. Key controls are listed below.

Pre-shift vehicle checks: tyres, brakes, lights, load security.
Manual handling controls: use of trolleys, lifting aids and team lifts.
PPE: hi-vis, safety boots, gloves where required.
Site assessment: check for slopes, vehicle access, pedestrian routes.

Driver inspecting van and securing equipment before departure

Vehicle safety and equipment

Vehicles used by the man-with-a-van Claphamcommon team must be maintained to a high standard. A documented maintenance schedule will be kept for each vehicle and checked against mileage and usage. Equipment such as ramps, tail lifts, straps, blankets and dollies must be inspected before use. Electrical or mechanical lifting aids must be used only by trained staff. Records of maintenance and equipment checks will be held centrally and made available during audits.

Manual handling and ergonomics

Safe manual handling is central to reducing injury risk. Staff will receive training in lifting techniques and will be encouraged to use mechanical aids. Tasks will be planned to avoid heavy or awkward lifts where possible. If a load cannot be moved safely by one person, a team lift or mechanical assistance is required. Clear communication and agreed lifting commands must be used during team lifts to reduce the chance of slips, trips and falls.

First aid kit and emergency response items in vehicle

Incident reporting and emergency procedures

All incidents, near misses and injuries must be reported promptly so that causes can be identified and prevented in the future. The reporting process will be straightforward and non-punitive to encourage transparency. Emergency procedures include vehicle breakdown protocols, first aid arrangements and steps to follow for traffic incidents. Training on these procedures will be part of induction and refresher sessions.

Team lifting heavy item using proper technique and equipment

Training, competence and communication

Competence of the workforce is essential. Induction training covers safe vehicle operation, manual handling, customer site etiquette and basic first aid. Refresher training will be scheduled regularly and after any significant incident or change in equipment or procedures. Communication will be maintained through toolbox talks, written briefings and on-the-job supervision. The term Man With a Van Claphamcommon appears in training materials to maintain clarity on the specific service covered by this policy.

Monitoring, review and continuous improvement

The policy will be reviewed at least annually, or sooner following an incident, significant change in operations, or changes in best practice. Monitoring will include spot vehicle checks, review of incident reports, and feedback from staff on practical risks. Audits will identify trends and improvement opportunities; corrective actions will be tracked to completion.

Key performance indicators (KPIs) for health and safety include:

Number of incidents and near misses reported.
Compliance with vehicle check schedules.
Completion rates of mandatory training.

Commitment: The organization providing man with a van Claphamcommon services is committed to continually improving health and safety performance. Everyone engaged in operations is expected to read, understand and act in accordance with this policy. By working together and following the controls set out here, risks will be reduced and a safer working environment will be maintained for staff, customers and the public.