Health and Safety policy

Man With a Van Notting Hill Health and Safety Policy

Man With a Van Notting Hill 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 delivery activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks and promoting safe working practices across all moving, transport and handling services.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, property damage and unsafe situations arising from our work. We aim to:

Identify and control hazards associated with lifting, carrying, loading, driving and operating within residential, commercial and roadside environments.

Comply with applicable health and safety legislation, recognised industry standards and good practice guidance relevant to removal and transport operations.

Provide information, instruction, supervision and training to support safe systems of work.

Continuously improve our health and safety performance through monitoring, review and feedback from workers and customers.

Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety within Man With a Van Notting Hill rests with the company management. Management will ensure that adequate resources, time and support are provided to implement this policy. This includes maintaining safe vehicles, appropriate equipment and effective procedures.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day to day implementation of this policy. They must plan work safely, brief workers on potential hazards and ensure that agreed safety procedures are followed at all times. They are expected to challenge unsafe behaviour and stop work where a serious risk is identified.

All workers, including drivers and porters, have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Workers must cooperate with the company in implementing this policy, follow training and instruction, use equipment correctly and report hazards, near misses and incidents without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We conduct risk assessments for typical removal and man and van activities, including manual handling, loading and unloading, working in stairwells, operating in shared access areas and driving on public roads. These assessments inform our safe systems of work, which are communicated to staff through training and on the job briefings.

Before each job, our team will consider site specific risks, such as restricted access, uneven ground, poor lighting, traffic, parking arrangements and the presence of vulnerable persons. Where necessary, the team will adapt the working method, request adjustments to parking or access, or split loads to reduce risk. If safe working cannot be achieved, the job will be postponed or alternative arrangements will be discussed with the customer.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling risks are a key focus in removal work. We aim to minimise heavy lifting and awkward carrying by careful planning, the use of handling aids and team lifting where appropriate. Workers receive instruction on safe lifting techniques, posture, load assessment and the importance of not exceeding personal limits.

Where appropriate, we use trolleys, dollies, straps, blankets and other equipment designed to assist with the safe movement of furniture, appliances and boxes. All equipment is maintained in good condition and inspected regularly. Workers must not use damaged or defective equipment and must report any issues as soon as they are identified.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition and are subject to regular checks, servicing and cleaning. Drivers are responsible for carrying out daily pre use inspections, reporting any defects immediately and ensuring that loads are secured safely before moving the vehicle.

Drivers must comply with road traffic law, speed limits, parking regulations and company driving standards. They must not drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that may impair performance. Adequate rest breaks must be taken to prevent fatigue, particularly on longer journeys or busy schedules.

Preventing Slips, Trips, Falls and Property Damage

Our teams take care to maintain clear walkways, avoid trailing straps or wrapping materials and keep floors free of loose items during loading and unloading. Where possible, protective coverings are used on floors, staircases and doors to minimise damage and reduce slip risks.

We take particular care in communal areas, shared hallways and external paths used by residents and visitors. Where work is taking place in narrow or busy areas, we will set down items carefully, keep doors secure where safe to do so and communicate clearly with other users of the space.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our responsibility to protect customers, neighbours and the general public from risks arising from our operations. Our workers are instructed to act courteously, maintain awareness of people nearby and avoid blocking exits, fire routes or emergency access while working.

Where work is taking place on or near public pavements, we position vehicles and items to minimise obstruction and visibility hazards. We take extra care when moving large items through doorways or across shared areas and will pause work when necessary to allow safe passage.

Training, Information and Consultation

All workers receive an induction covering the key elements of this Health and Safety Policy, along with role specific training on manual handling, vehicle safety and safe working procedures. Refresher training and toolbox talks are provided as needed, particularly when new risks, equipment or methods are introduced.

We encourage open discussion of health and safety matters. Workers are invited to raise concerns, suggest improvements and report hazards. Management will review reported issues promptly and communicate any changes to procedures or controls.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Arrangements

All accidents, near misses, vehicle incidents and cases of damage to customer property are to be reported to management as soon as possible. Reports are reviewed to identify root causes and any necessary corrective actions or additional controls.

Our teams are briefed on basic emergency procedures relevant to their work, including what to do in case of fire, injury, vehicle breakdown or road traffic collision. Where work is carried out in larger premises, workers will cooperate with the site specific emergency arrangements in place.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated when required, for example following changes in legislation, work practices, vehicles, equipment or as a result of incident investigations. The latest version of the policy is made available to workers and customers on request.

By implementing this policy and maintaining a strong safety culture, Man With a Van Notting Hill aims to deliver efficient and reliable removal services while protecting the wellbeing of everyone involved.