Health and Safety policy

Man With a Van Kensington Health and Safety Policy

Man With a Van Kensington is committed to conducting all removal, delivery and transportation activities in a manner that protects the health, safety and welfare of our customers, employees, contractors and members of the public. We recognise that professional moving and handling work presents specific risks, and we actively work to identify, control and minimise these risks at every stage of our service.

This policy applies to all members of our team and to all operations undertaken on behalf of Man With a Van Kensington, whether in residential properties, commercial premises, storage facilities or on the road.

Health and Safety Objectives

Our main objectives are to:

Prevent injury and ill health arising from our work activities.

Provide and maintain safe vehicles, equipment and systems of work.

Ensure all lifting, loading and unloading tasks are carried out safely and efficiently.

Protect customers and the public from risks associated with our services.

Continuously improve our health and safety performance through training, monitoring and review.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management at Man With a Van Kensington is responsible for implementing and maintaining this policy. Management will:

Ensure that health and safety considerations are integrated into planning and decision-making for all removal and delivery work.

Provide suitable information, instruction, supervision and training so employees are competent to carry out their duties safely.

Assess risks associated with our services, update procedures where necessary and communicate changes clearly to staff.

Provide and maintain appropriate equipment, including vehicles, trolleys, lifting aids, protective gear and securing devices for loads.

Investigate accidents, near misses and incidents and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and contractors engaged by Man With a Van Kensington share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Every team member must:

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

Follow all safe working procedures, instructions and training provided by the company.

Use vehicles, tools, lifting equipment and personal protective equipment in the correct and safe manner.

Immediately report hazards, defects in equipment, near misses and accidents to their supervisor.

Refrain from horseplay, misuse of equipment or any behaviour that could increase the risk of injury.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments relevant to our work as a removal and transportation company. These assessments help us identify hazards and implement control measures for activities such as manual handling, working in confined spaces like stairwells, loading vehicles and securing goods in transit.

Safe working practices include:

Planning each job to minimise manual handling risks, including assessing access routes, identifying heavy or awkward items, and using lifting aids where possible.

Utilising correct lifting techniques and team lifting for bulky, heavy or fragile items.

Ensuring clear walkways and safe access and egress at premises we are working in.

Using appropriate securing methods and protective materials when loading items into vehicles to prevent movement and damage during transit.

Observing site-specific safety rules when working in commercial properties, shared buildings or managed sites.

Manual Handling and Ergonomics

Manual handling is a core part of our business, and we treat it as a priority risk area. To reduce the likelihood of strains, sprains and other musculoskeletal injuries, Man With a Van Kensington:

Provides guidance on safe lifting techniques, posture and team coordination.

Encourages assessment of each lift before carrying it out, including weight, shape, stability and route.

Promotes the use of trolleys, dollies, straps and other handling equipment where practical.

Discourages employees from attempting lifts that are beyond their capabilities and supports the use of additional manpower when required.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are central to our services and are operated with safety as a priority. We are committed to:

Maintaining vehicles in roadworthy condition through regular inspections and servicing.

Ensuring all drivers hold the appropriate licences and are familiar with the vehicles they operate.

Loading vehicles within manufacturer weight limits and distributing loads safely and securely.

Promoting responsible driving behaviour, including adherence to speed limits and safe driving practices in residential and commercial areas.

Managing driver fatigue by planning workloads reasonably and encouraging rest breaks when needed.

Customer and Public Safety

We recognise our duty to protect customers, visitors and members of the public while we carry out our services. To support this, we:

Position vehicles, ramps and equipment to avoid unnecessary obstruction and reduce risk to pedestrians.

Keep work areas as tidy as possible and remove trip hazards such as straps, tools and packing materials.

Take extra care when moving items through shared access ways, corridors, lifts and staircases.

Handle customers property respectfully to prevent damage that could lead to secondary hazards, such as broken glass or sharp edges.

Training, Supervision and Communication

Man With a Van Kensington provides appropriate induction and ongoing training so that all employees understand their health and safety responsibilities and the specific procedures relevant to removals and transportation.

We ensure new or less experienced staff are supervised by competent team members until they can safely work independently. Regular communication, briefings and updates are used to share lessons learned from incidents and to highlight any changes in procedure or equipment.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported immediately to a supervisor or manager. Records are kept and reviewed so we can identify trends and improve our safety measures.

Our staff are instructed on what to do in the event of an emergency, including fire, injury or road traffic incident. This includes raising the alarm, contacting the appropriate emergency services and cooperating fully with any subsequent investigation.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, equipment or legal requirements. We consult with employees when making updates and welcome feedback from customers and partners on any health and safety concerns.

By following this policy and working together, Man With a Van Kensington aims to deliver reliable, efficient removal and transportation services while maintaining a safe and healthy environment for everyone involved.