Man with Van West Kensington Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van West Kensington is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our workers, customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and procedures we follow to manage risks associated with moving, lifting, loading, driving and operating within residential and commercial premises.

Our objective is to prevent accidents, injuries and damage to property by planning our work carefully, using safe systems of work and promoting a strong safety culture throughout all aspects of our removal services.

Responsibilities and Management Commitment

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who ensure that this policy is implemented, maintained and reviewed regularly. Management is responsible for providing suitable resources, information, instruction and training necessary to protect the health and safety of workers and customers.

All workers, including drivers, porters and contractors, have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They must follow the procedures set out in this policy, cooperate with management, and report hazards, near misses, incidents or unsafe conditions immediately.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for our activities, including collection, loading, transport and delivery of items. These assessments identify significant hazards and the measures required to control them. Where the work involves unusual environments or higher risk conditions, a specific assessment will be made before work begins.

Safe systems of work are developed based on these assessments. Workers are given clear instructions on how to carry out tasks safely, and are expected to follow these methods at all times. Any change in working methods or new equipment will be reviewed to ensure that risk levels remain as low as reasonably practicable.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling and lifting are core elements of our removal services, and we treat them as a priority risk area. We aim to minimise the need for manual handling by using appropriate equipment and planning the work to reduce unnecessary lifting and carrying.

Key manual handling controls include:

Planning each move in advance, including routes and access points.

Using trolleys, dollies, straps and other equipment where suitable.

Ensuring that loads are within safe weight and size limits for the team.

Encouraging team lifting for heavy or awkward items.

Providing guidance on correct lifting techniques, such as keeping the load close to the body, bending the knees and avoiding twisting.

Workers must never attempt to lift or move items that they believe may cause injury or risk to themselves or others.

Use of Vehicles and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are essential to our services and their safe operation is critical for both staff and the public. Drivers are responsible for driving with due care and attention, adhering to road traffic laws and company procedures at all times.

We promote safe driving by:

Ensuring drivers hold the correct and valid licence for the vehicle they operate.

Carrying out regular checks on vehicles, including tyres, lights, brakes and securing mechanisms.

Ensuring loads are distributed evenly and secured properly so that items cannot move in transit.

Discouraging the use of mobile phones or other distractions while driving, except through safe hands-free systems where legally permitted.

Planning routes to minimise time pressure and reduce stress for drivers.

Site Safety at Customer Premises

Our teams work in a range of environments, including private homes, communal areas, offices and other premises. We aim to protect all occupants and visitors by managing site safety effectively.

Our procedures include:

Assessing access routes, stairs, lifts and doorways before work starts.

Identifying slip, trip or fall hazards, such as loose rugs, trailing cables or wet floors, and addressing them where possible.

Using suitable protective equipment for property, such as blankets, covers and floor protection, to prevent damage and hazards.

Keeping walkways as clear as reasonably practicable and stacking goods in a stable and safe manner.

Maintaining good communication with customers about the movement of large or heavy items.

Equipment, Tools and Personal Protective Equipment

We provide and maintain suitable equipment and tools for lifting, securing and transporting items. All equipment must be used only for its intended purpose and inspected regularly for signs of damage or wear.

Where required, workers are provided with personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety footwear and high visibility clothing. Workers are responsible for using this equipment correctly and reporting any defects or the need for replacement.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide information and guidance to workers so that they understand the risks associated with removal work and how to manage them. This includes instruction on manual handling, vehicle safety, site safety and emergency procedures.

New workers are introduced to our safety policies and are supervised until they are competent to carry out tasks on their own. Ongoing guidance is given where needed, and any changes to procedures or equipment are communicated clearly.

Accidents, Incidents and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents, injuries and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. This allows us to investigate what happened, identify the underlying causes and take action to prevent recurrence.

Records of incidents are kept and reviewed to spot patterns and areas where improvements can be made. We encourage an open reporting culture, where workers feel able to raise concerns without fear of blame.

Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work

We recognise the physical nature of removal work and the importance of good health and fitness for those tasks. Workers are expected to present themselves fit for work and must not work under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that could impair their judgement or performance.

Where a worker has a medical condition or injury that may affect their ability to perform certain tasks safely, they should inform management so that suitable adjustments or alternative duties can be considered.

Continuous Improvement and Policy Review

Man with Van West Kensington is committed to continually improving its health and safety performance. We will review this policy regularly, and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, legal requirements or best practice guidelines.

Feedback from workers and customers is welcomed and will be taken into account when updating our procedures. By working together and following this policy, we aim to provide a safe, reliable and professional removal service across our operating areas.