Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man and Van Notting Hill

Man and Van Notting Hill 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 policy sets out our approach to preventing accidents, injuries and work-related ill health during collection, loading, transportation and delivery of goods.

Policy Aims and Objectives

Our aims are to:

Identify, assess and control health and safety risks arising from our removal operations.

Provide and maintain safe vehicles, equipment and systems of work for all moving and handling activities.

Ensure that staff are competent to carry out their duties through appropriate training, supervision and information.

Prevent accidents, near misses and work-related ill health wherever reasonably practicable.

Protect customers, neighbours, visitors and other road users from risks arising from our work.

Review and improve our health and safety performance on a regular basis.

Management Responsibilities

The leadership of Man and Van Notting Hill has overall responsibility for health and safety within the company. Management will:

Implement and maintain this health and safety policy and associated procedures.

Carry out regular risk assessments for removal, packing, loading and driving activities.

Provide suitable work equipment and ensure it is inspected, maintained and fit for purpose.

Ensure that work is properly planned, organised and supervised, including complex or heavy moves.

Allocate sufficient resources for health and safety measures, training and protective equipment.

Investigate all reported incidents, accidents and near misses, and take corrective action where required.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees, drivers, porters and contractors working with Man and Van Notting Hill share responsibility for safeguarding themselves and others. They are required to:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of other people who may be affected by their actions.

Follow all safety instructions, training, risk assessments and safe systems of work.

Use vehicles, tools, lifting equipment and protective gear correctly and report any defects immediately.

Report accidents, injuries, near misses, hazards or unsafe conditions as soon as they occur.

Refrain from horseplay, dangerous behaviour or taking shortcuts that may compromise safety.

Never work under the influence of alcohol, illegal substances or misused prescription drugs.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our activities, including house and flat moves, office relocations, loading and unloading, and transport. From these assessments we develop practical control measures such as:

Planning access routes, parking positions and loading areas to minimise reversing and vehicle movements.

Assessing the weight, size and fragility of items before lifting or moving them.

Using correct manual handling techniques and team lifts for heavy or bulky items.

Utilising mechanical aids such as trolleys and skates where appropriate and safe to do so.

Scheduling sufficient time for each job to avoid rushing and fatigue.

Reviewing risks on site and adapting methods if conditions change.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core element of removal work and is treated as a key safety priority. To reduce the risk of strain and injury we:

Provide guidance and instruction in safe lifting and carrying techniques.

Encourage team lifting for heavy or awkward loads and forbid unsafe single-person lifts.

Avoid unnecessary carrying by planning the sequence of moves and using equipment.

Rotate tasks when possible to limit repetitive strain and fatigue.

Refuse to move items that cannot be handled safely with the available equipment and manpower.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are central to our operations and are managed with safety as the priority. We are committed to:

Maintaining all vehicles in a roadworthy condition through regular checks and servicing.

Ensuring loads are properly distributed, secured and covered where necessary.

Requiring drivers to follow road traffic laws, speed limits and parking regulations.

Planning routes to reduce unnecessary mileage, congestion exposure and time pressure.

Ensuring drivers take appropriate breaks and are not required to drive while tired.

Prohibiting the use of handheld mobile devices while driving.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our duty to protect customers, neighbours, visitors and the general public during our work. We will:

Take care to avoid damage to property, fixtures, stairwells, communal areas and access routes.

Keep walkways and doorways as clear as reasonably possible during loading and unloading.

Use warning signs or verbal communication where trip or slip hazards cannot be eliminated immediately.

Park considerately to reduce obstruction and maintain safe sight lines for other road users.

Cease work and reassess if conditions become unsafe, such as severe weather or blocked access.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide our team with the level of training and information needed to work safely in a removal environment. This includes:

Induction training covering the company health and safety policy and expectations.

Instruction in manual handling, use of equipment, safe driving and loading techniques.

Job-specific briefings for unusual, high-risk or complex moves.

Ongoing supervision, especially for new or less experienced staff, to ensure procedures are followed.

Updates when work methods, regulations or identified risks change.

Customer Cooperation

Customers also have an important role in ensuring a safe move. We may ask customers to:

Provide clear information about access restrictions, staircases, lifts and parking options.

Ensure children and pets are kept away from loading and unloading areas.

Inform us of any particularly heavy, fragile or high-value items before the move begins.

Maintain reasonable lighting, where possible, in all areas where we will be working.

Refrain from requesting actions that conflict with our safety procedures or legal duties.

Monitoring, Review and Policy Availability

This health and safety policy is monitored for its effectiveness and is reviewed periodically, or sooner if there are significant changes in our operations, legislation or best practice. Lessons from incidents, feedback from staff and customers, and changes in our service area are used to improve our approach.

The policy is available to all employees and customers on request and may be updated to reflect improvements in our systems of work. By following this policy, Man and Van Notting Hill aims to deliver a reliable, efficient and safe removal service for every move we undertake.