Health and Safety policy

West Kensington Man and Van Health and Safety Policy

West Kensington Man and Van is committed to providing a safe, healthy and secure environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our principles and procedures for managing risks associated with man and van and removal activities, including lifting, loading, transportation and delivery of goods.

Policy Objectives

Our objectives are to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment arising from our work. We aim to:

Identify and control health and safety risks associated with removals and transport services.

Ensure that vehicles, equipment and premises are maintained in a safe condition.

Provide information, instruction, supervision and training to enable safe working practices.

Promote a positive health and safety culture at all levels of the business.

Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice.

Management Responsibilities

Management has overall responsibility for implementing this policy and for ensuring that adequate resources are provided. This includes:

Developing, reviewing and updating health and safety procedures and safe systems of work.

Ensuring that risk assessments are carried out for removal and transport tasks, including manual handling, working in and around vehicles, and use of equipment.

Making sure that employees are competent to carry out their duties and receive appropriate training and supervision.

Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses and taking corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Regularly monitoring performance and promoting continual improvement in health and safety standards.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and workers of West Kensington Man and Van share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. They are required to:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.

Follow all safety procedures, instructions and training given for removal and transportation operations.

Use vehicles, equipment and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately.

Report accidents, incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions to their supervisor without delay.

Cooperate fully with management in achieving the aims of this policy.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for all key activities involved in our man and van and removal services, including packing, loading, unloading, driving and working at customer premises. These assessments identify potential hazards and define control measures to reduce risks as far as is reasonably practicable.

Safe systems of work, method statements and guidance are provided to staff for tasks such as carrying furniture, using lifting aids, stacking goods in vehicles, securing loads, and operating tail lifts where applicable. These procedures must be followed at all times.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of our removal services and is managed carefully to minimise the risk of injury. We:

Provide manual handling training focusing on safe lifting techniques, team lifting and the use of handling equipment.

Assess the weight, size and shape of items before lifting and plan the route to avoid obstacles and uneven surfaces.

Encourage the use of trolleys, dollies, straps and other aids whenever practical.

Require staff to refuse to move items that are unsafe to handle without additional staff, equipment or adjustments.

Vehicles and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are essential to our man and van operations and are managed to ensure safe use on the road and at loading points. We:

Maintain vehicles in roadworthy condition with regular inspections and servicing.

Ensure drivers are appropriately licensed, trained and familiar with each vehicle they operate.

Require drivers to conduct pre-use checks and record any faults.

Secure all loads correctly to prevent movement during transit and to avoid risk to staff and other road users.

Promote safe driving practices, including adherence to speed limits, legal driving hours and safe parking and reversing procedures.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

Work at customer locations is planned to protect clients, visitors, neighbours and the public. Our teams:

Assess access routes, stairs, lifts and parking areas prior to beginning work.

Use warning cones or other visual markers if work takes place near driveways, pavements or shared entrances.

Keep work areas as tidy as possible, minimising trip hazards caused by packing materials, tools and removed items.

Handle customer property carefully to avoid damage and ensure that escape routes are not blocked.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide staff with training relevant to their roles, including induction training for new starters and refresher training as needed. Training may cover manual handling, safe loading, road safety, use of equipment, hazard awareness and emergency procedures. Supervisors monitor working practices to ensure that training is put into effect and that standards are maintained.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported promptly. We keep appropriate records, investigate incidents and implement improvements where necessary. Staff are briefed on emergency procedures, including what to do in the event of injury, fire, vehicle collision or damage to property.

Health and Wellbeing

We recognise the importance of overall health and wellbeing in carrying out physical removal work safely. We encourage staff to disclose any condition that may affect their fitness for tasks such as lifting or driving so that suitable adjustments can be considered. Fatigue management, hydration and appropriate breaks are promoted as part of safe working practices.

Policy Review and Communication

This Health and Safety Policy is communicated to all employees and made available to customers and other interested parties on request. The policy is reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, operations, risk assessments or industry standards.

By following this Health and Safety Policy, West Kensington Man and Van seeks to ensure that all removal and man and van activities are carried out in a manner that protects our team, our clients and the wider community.