Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Notting Hill Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out how Man with Van Notting Hill manages the safety and wellbeing of our workers, customers, visitors and members of the public during the provision of removal, collection and delivery services. Our aim is to conduct all activities in a manner that prevents injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment.

This policy applies to all employees, contractors, temporary staff and any other persons engaged in work on behalf of Man with Van Notting Hill, regardless of the location or type of removal or transport activity being undertaken.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Man with Van Notting Hill is committed to:

Identifying, assessing and controlling risks arising from our moving and transport activities.

Providing and maintaining safe vehicles, equipment and systems of work.

Ensuring all staff are suitably trained, competent and supervised.

Complying with all relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice.

Investigating incidents and near misses to prevent recurrence.

Continually improving our health and safety performance.

Management Responsibilities

Management has overall responsibility for implementing this Health and Safety Policy and for ensuring that adequate resources are made available to meet our obligations. This includes:

Setting clear health and safety standards and communicating them to all staff.

Conducting regular risk assessments for all removal and transportation tasks.

Ensuring vehicles, lifting equipment and tools are fit for purpose and regularly inspected.

Providing appropriate personal protective equipment and ensuring it is used correctly.

Ensuring that all staff receive suitable information, instruction, training and supervision.

Reviewing this policy periodically and following any significant changes in operations or legislation.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and contractors working on behalf of Man with Van Notting Hill have a duty to protect their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They are required to:

Take reasonable care of themselves and others while at work.

Follow all safety procedures, instructions and training provided.

Use equipment, vehicles and protective clothing in a safe and responsible manner.

Report hazards, defects, near misses and incidents immediately to management.

Cooperate fully with any health and safety investigations or audits.

Refrain from any behaviour that could endanger themselves, colleagues, customers or the public.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Risk assessments are carried out for typical removal and transport tasks, including loading, unloading, lifting, carrying, driving and working in domestic and commercial environments. Where specific or unusual risks are identified, additional assessments and control measures will be implemented.

To minimise risk, Man with Van Notting Hill adopts safe working practices such as:

Planning each job in advance, including access routes, parking arrangements and handling of heavy or awkward items.

Using appropriate lifting techniques and mechanical aids where available.

Ensuring loads are secure and evenly distributed within the van to prevent movement during transit.

Avoiding overloading vehicles and equipment beyond recommended limits.

Maintaining clear access routes and keeping work areas tidy to reduce slips, trips and falls.

Assessing potential hazards when working in shared spaces such as residential blocks, offices or public areas.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of removal work and presents a significant risk of injury if not managed correctly. Our approach includes:

Providing manual handling training to all staff, covering posture, team lifting and use of aids.

Encouraging assessment of each lift before handling, including weight, size, grip and route.

Using two-person or team lifts for heavy, bulky or awkward items.

Utilising trolleys, dollies, straps and other aids wherever reasonably practicable.

Stopping work if an item cannot be moved safely with the resources available.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Safe operation of vehicles is essential for the protection of drivers, passengers, customers and other road users. Man with Van Notting Hill will:

Ensure that all drivers are appropriately licensed, competent and medically fit to drive.

Keep vehicles in a roadworthy condition through regular inspections and servicing.

Require drivers to obey all road traffic laws, speed limits and parking regulations.

Plan routes to minimise risk and avoid unsafe manoeuvres wherever possible.

Prohibit driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substances that impair judgement.

Discourage the use of mobile phones or other distractions while driving, except with approved hands free systems where lawful.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

Removals and deliveries often take place in homes, workplaces and public areas. To protect customers and the public, we will:

Conduct dynamic risk assessments on arrival at each location.

Take care to protect floors, walls, stairways and doorways where reasonably practicable.

Manage entry and exit points to avoid collisions or obstruction of emergency routes.

Use caution when moving large items in confined spaces or near fragile fittings.

Maintain courteous communication with customers and others on site regarding safety considerations.

Training, Information and Supervision

Man with Van Notting Hill recognises that competent staff are essential to safe operations. We will:

Provide induction training for all new starters covering health and safety rules, emergency procedures and safe working methods.

Offer ongoing training on manual handling, use of equipment and vehicle safety.

Ensure that less experienced staff are supervised by competent colleagues or managers.

Communicate updates on safety procedures and lessons learned from incidents or near misses.

Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, injuries, property damage and near misses must be reported to management as soon as practicable. We will:

Record all incidents accurately and confidentially.

Investigate the causes to identify corrective and preventive actions.

Implement changes to working methods, equipment or training where required.

Review incident trends periodically to inform continual improvement.

Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed at regular intervals and whenever there are significant changes in our operations, legislation or industry guidance. Feedback from employees, customers and other stakeholders will be taken into account in improving our health and safety arrangements.

By working together and following this policy, Man with Van Notting Hill aims to provide a safe, reliable and professional removal and transport service for all our customers.