Health and Safety Policy for Man and Van Kentish Town

Man and Van Kentish Town is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving, lifting, loading, transport, and related services.

Our Health and Safety Commitments

We are dedicated to maintaining high health and safety standards across all removal jobs, from small local moves to larger property clearances. Our key commitments include:

Identifying and controlling risks associated with manual handling, driving, loading and unloading vehicles, and working in a variety of domestic and commercial premises.

Complying with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice for removal and transportation services.

Providing appropriate training, information and supervision so that our staff can work safely and protect customers and the public.

Ensuring our vehicles, equipment and tools are suitable for their purpose, maintained in safe condition and used correctly.

Reviewing and continually improving our health and safety practices and procedures.

Responsibilities for Health and Safety

Health and safety is a shared responsibility. Clear responsibilities are allocated within Man and Van Kentish Town to ensure effective implementation of this policy.

Company management is responsible for setting health and safety standards, providing appropriate resources, and ensuring that risk assessments, safe working procedures and training are in place and kept up to date.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for communicating safe work procedures to staff, monitoring compliance on site and in vehicles, and addressing unsafe practices when observed.

All employees and contractors are required 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 training and instructions provided, use equipment properly, and report hazards, near misses and incidents promptly.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before undertaking any removal or transport task, we assess the risks associated with the job and the working environment. This may include the layout of the property, access routes, stairways, parking arrangements, heavy or awkward items, weather conditions and time constraints.

Findings from risk assessments are used to develop and apply safe systems of work, including appropriate staffing levels, use of handling equipment such as trolleys or straps, and planning safe routes for carrying items. Staff are instructed not to carry out tasks that are unsafe or beyond their capability and training.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of removal work and is a major focus of our safety arrangements. Our approach includes:

Training all removal staff in safe lifting techniques, team lifting, and the correct use of handling equipment.

Avoiding or minimising manual lifting where reasonably practicable by using mechanical aids and careful planning.

Assessing individual items for weight, shape, stability and potential hazards such as sharp edges or fragile materials before moving them.

Ensuring staff do not attempt to lift or carry items that are too heavy, unstable or awkward without assistance or suitable equipment.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are a key part of our removal service and their safe operation is essential. We are committed to:

Ensuring that vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced and maintained to a safe and roadworthy standard.

Requiring drivers to hold the appropriate licence and training for the vehicles they operate and to follow road traffic laws at all times.

Loading vehicles safely, ensuring that items are secured to prevent movement during transit and that weight is distributed correctly.

Planning routes to minimise risk where possible and allowing sufficient time so that drivers are not pressured to take unnecessary risks.

Customer and Public Safety

Our removal operations are often carried out in shared spaces such as residential streets, communal areas and business premises. To protect customers and the public, we:

Take care when positioning vehicles to reduce obstruction and maintain safe access routes.

Use safe lifting routes within properties, keeping pathways as clear as possible and avoiding trip hazards from tools, boxes and packing materials.

Communicate clearly with customers about any temporary hazards, such as partially blocked access or the movement of large items.

Act responsibly and respectfully in all locations, minimising noise, disruption and risk to neighbours and passers-by.

Training, Information and Supervision

We recognise that competent staff are essential to safe operations. Man and Van Kentish Town provides relevant training and information tailored to the roles and tasks of our team members. This includes induction training, manual handling, use of equipment, safe driving practices, and emergency procedures.

Supervision is provided to ensure that safe practices are followed, especially for new or less experienced staff. Additional instructions or refresher training are given when new risks or procedures are identified.

Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported as soon as practicable to the responsible person within the company. We investigate these events to identify root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Records of incidents and any associated remedial measures are maintained and reviewed to support ongoing improvement of our health and safety management.

Emergency Preparedness

We maintain procedures for dealing with foreseeable emergencies that may arise during removal activities, such as injuries, vehicle breakdowns, property damage, or fire. Staff are made aware of these procedures and are expected to act promptly and responsibly to protect people and property in the event of an emergency.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to our activities, relevant legislation or industry guidance. Feedback from staff, customers and other stakeholders is welcomed and considered as part of our commitment to continuous improvement.

By implementing this policy, Man and Van Kentish Town aims to deliver removal and transport services that are not only efficient and reliable, but also carried out with a consistent focus on the health, safety and welfare of everyone involved.