Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Kensington

Man with Van Kensington is committed to conducting all removal and transport activities in a way that protects the health, safety and welfare of our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public. Safe working practices are central to how we plan and deliver every move, from small domestic collections to larger relocation projects.

Policy Aims and Objectives

The purpose of this Health and Safety Policy is to set out our responsibilities and arrangements for managing risks associated with moving, lifting, loading, transport and on-site work. Our key objectives are to prevent injury, protect property, minimise disruption to customers and promote continuous improvement in safety standards across all our services.

We recognise that removals and van services involve specific hazards, including manual handling, working in confined spaces, navigating stairs and tight access, operating in busy streets and loading and unloading vehicles. Our aim is to anticipate these risks and reduce them as far as reasonably practicable.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Man with Van Kensington has overall responsibility for health and safety within the business. This includes ensuring suitable procedures are in place, that equipment is maintained, that employees receive appropriate training and that adequate resources are made available to support safe working practices.

Managers will regularly review this policy, monitor compliance and update procedures as required by changes in working methods, legislation, industry standards or operational experience. We maintain clear lines of responsibility and expect supervisors and team leaders to actively promote safe behaviour on every job.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and regular subcontractors are required to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. They must follow company procedures, use equipment as instructed, and co operate with management on all health and safety matters.

Staff are expected to report hazards, near misses, incidents, defective equipment and any concerns about safety immediately to their supervisor or manager. No employee should undertake any task for which they are not trained or which they believe cannot be carried out safely.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our typical activities, including home and office removals, packing, loading and unloading vans, transporting goods and operating at customer premises. Where a job presents unusual or higher risk features, such as heavy or awkward items, restricted access, fragile structures or shared access with other contractors, additional assessment and planning are undertaken.

Safe working procedures are developed from these risk assessments and are communicated to staff through induction, training and on-the-job briefings. We review these procedures regularly to ensure they remain relevant and effective for our service area and the types of properties we attend.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a key part of our operations. We train staff in safe lifting techniques, team lifts, use of handling aids and the importance of planning each move before any item is lifted. Where possible, heavy or bulky items are moved using appropriate equipment such as trolleys, dollies, straps or ramps.

We provide suitable equipment for handling, securing and protecting goods in transit. All equipment is inspected and maintained to ensure it remains fit for purpose. Staff must not use damaged or defective equipment and must report any faults immediately so that they can be taken out of service and repaired or replaced.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vans and associated vehicles are essential to our removals service, and their safe operation is a priority. We maintain all vehicles in a roadworthy condition in line with manufacturer recommendations and legal requirements. Regular checks are carried out on tyres, brakes, lights, restraints and loading equipment.

Drivers are expected to adhere to traffic laws, drive considerately and adjust their driving style to weather, traffic and local road conditions. Loads are secured properly to prevent movement during transit, and vehicles are loaded within safe weight limits. We encourage all drivers to plan routes carefully, especially in busy or restricted streets, to reduce the risk of incidents.

Customer and Public Safety

Our teams work in and around customer homes, business premises, communal spaces, car parks and public roads. We take care to minimise disruption and protect those who may be affected by our activities. This includes managing access routes, keeping walkways clear, using safe lifting zones, and avoiding obstruction of entrances or emergency exits wherever reasonably practicable.

Where work takes place in shared areas or public spaces, our staff will act with particular caution, communicate clearly with customers and other users, and take measures to prevent trips, falls and accidental contact with moving loads or vehicles.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide training and information appropriate to each role within the company. This includes induction training on health and safety expectations, manual handling, safe use of equipment, vehicle safety and site specific hazards typically encountered during removal work.

Supervisors monitor adherence to procedures and provide on-the-job guidance, particularly for new or less experienced staff. Where new equipment or methods are introduced, additional training is provided before they are used operationally.

Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents and near misses are recorded and investigated to identify root causes and opportunities for improvement. We encourage open reporting and a no blame culture, focusing on learning rather than assigning fault, except where there is deliberate disregard for safety.

Findings from investigations may lead to changes in procedures, additional training or the introduction of new control measures designed to prevent recurrence.

Welfare, Health and Fitness for Work

We recognise that removal work is physically demanding and requires employees to be fit for duty. Staff are encouraged to report health issues that may affect their ability to carry out their tasks safely. We will, where possible, adjust work or provide support to help employees perform their role safely.

We do not tolerate working under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Anyone suspected of being unfit for work for these reasons will be removed from duty and may be subject to disciplinary action.

Continuous Improvement and Policy Review

Man with Van Kensington is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. We regularly review this policy, our risk assessments and procedures to reflect changes in our operations, feedback from employees and customers and developments in best practice in the removals industry.

This Health and Safety Policy is communicated to all employees and is available to customers who wish to understand how we manage safety during their move. By working together and maintaining high standards, we aim to provide a reliable, efficient and safe removal service throughout our operating area.