Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van West Kensington
Man with Van West Kensington is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our workers, customers, contractors, and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and delivery activities. Our aim is to prevent accidents, injuries, and work-related ill health, and to continually improve our performance in all areas of health and safety.
1. Policy Statement and Objectives
This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with our man and van and removal services. We will take all reasonably practicable steps to:
Identify and manage hazards associated with lifting, carrying, driving, loading, unloading, and working in and around customer premises and public areas.
Provide appropriate information, instruction, training, and supervision to all workers so they can carry out tasks safely and competently.
Ensure that vehicles, equipment, and tools used in our services are maintained in a safe condition and are suitable for their intended purpose.
Promote a positive safety culture where everyone is encouraged to report hazards, near misses, and incidents promptly so that corrective actions can be taken.
2. Responsibilities
Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the owner or manager of Man with Van West Kensington, who will ensure that this policy is implemented, maintained, and reviewed regularly.
Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day-to-day enforcement of this policy, ensuring that safe systems of work are followed and that workers understand their health and safety duties.
All workers, whether permanent, temporary, or self-employed, must:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.
Follow all safe working procedures and instructions provided by the company.
Use any equipment, tools, and personal protective equipment supplied for their safety in accordance with training and instructions.
Report hazards, unsafe conditions, incidents, injuries, or near misses immediately to a supervisor or manager.
3. Risk Assessment and Safe Working Procedures
We will carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments for our activities, including lifting and handling, loading and unloading vehicles, driving, and working at customer addresses and in public spaces. Based on these assessments, we put in place safe working procedures designed to reduce risks as far as reasonably practicable.
Before starting work at any location, workers must consider the specific site conditions, including access routes, stairs, lifts, parking, and any other factors that may pose additional risks. Where necessary, work methods must be adjusted or additional controls applied to maintain a safe working environment.
4. Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a core element of our removal services and is a significant source of potential injury. To reduce the risk of strains, sprains, and other injuries, we will:
Provide instruction in safe lifting techniques, including team lifting and the use of moving aids where appropriate.
Encourage workers to assess each load before lifting, considering size, weight, shape, and stability.
Require the use of approved handling equipment such as trolleys, dollies, and lifting straps when appropriate.
Discourage lone handling of heavy or awkward items and require team lifts where necessary to prevent injury.
5. Vehicles, Driving, and Road Safety
Our vehicles are essential to our man and van service, and vehicle safety is a key priority. We will ensure that:
Vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced, and maintained to a safe standard.
Loads are secured properly to prevent movement during transit and to avoid risk to workers, customers, and other road users.
Drivers hold the appropriate licence and are competent to drive the type of vehicle they are using.
Drivers follow safe driving practices, observe speed limits, avoid distractions, and comply with all applicable road traffic requirements.
Where practicable, driving schedules will allow for rest breaks to reduce the risk of fatigue-related incidents.
6. Working at Customer Premises
We aim to carry out all work at customer properties in a way that protects both our workers and the people present at the premises. To achieve this, we will:
Assess access routes, stairs, corridors, and doorways to identify any hazards that may require special handling techniques or additional resources.
Use protective coverings where appropriate to reduce slips, trips, and falls on floors and steps during the removal process.
Maintain clear walkways and ensure items are not left where they could cause trips or obstruct emergency exits.
Communicate with customers about any safety issues that may affect the work, and agree safe access and parking arrangements wherever possible.
7. Equipment, Tools, and Personal Protective Equipment
All equipment and tools used in our services must be suitable, properly maintained, and used only for their intended purpose. We will ensure that:
Any defective or damaged equipment is taken out of use immediately and reported to a manager for repair or replacement.
Workers receive guidance on the correct use of tools and mechanical aids.
Personal protective equipment, such as gloves, safety footwear, or high-visibility garments, is provided where risk assessments indicate a need and is used in line with training and instructions.
8. Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, injuries, near misses, or dangerous occurrences must be reported promptly. This enables us to investigate the causes, implement corrective measures, and prevent recurrence. We will maintain appropriate records of incidents and review them to identify trends and areas for improvement.
In the event of an emergency, workers must follow the relevant procedures for the location in which they are working, including evacuation routes and assembly points when at customer premises that have their own procedures in place. Where necessary, workers will contact the emergency services without delay.
9. Training, Supervision, and Communication
We recognise that effective training and supervision are essential to maintaining high standards of health and safety. We will:
Provide initial and ongoing instruction and guidance specific to the tasks carried out in our removal and man and van operations.
Ensure that new or inexperienced workers receive an appropriate level of supervision.
Communicate this policy and any updates to all workers and make it available to customers who wish to understand our health and safety approach.
10. Review of Policy
This Health and Safety policy will be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to our activities, working methods, or relevant requirements. We are committed to continually improving our health and safety arrangements to support safe and reliable removal services for all customers.
