Health and Safety policy

Kentish Town Man and Van Health and Safety Policy

Kentish Town Man and Van is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all 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 risk in all aspects of our man and van and removals operations, including domestic moves, commercial relocations, loading, unloading and on-road transport.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

We aim to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment arising from our work. Our core objectives are to identify and control hazards associated with lifting and carrying, vehicle movements, working in and around client premises, and handling customers belongings. We strive for continual improvement in health and safety performance across all services and service areas.

Management Responsibilities

Management has overall responsibility for implementing this Health and Safety Policy and for ensuring that appropriate resources, information and supervision are provided. Managers will:

Assess risks for all key activities, including packing, lifting, loading, unloading and driving. Provide suitable equipment, such as trolleys, straps and protective materials, and ensure vehicles are maintained in a safe condition. Arrange appropriate training and instruction so that staff understand safe working procedures. Monitor working practices and investigate incidents, near misses and reported hazards. Review this policy regularly and update it to reflect changes in legislation, best practice and company operations.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and regular contractors share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Every worker must:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Follow all safety instructions, risk assessments and method statements issued by the company. Use vehicles, tools, lifting aids and protective equipment correctly and report defects immediately. Avoid taking shortcuts that could compromise safety during removals, loading or driving. Report hazards, accidents, near misses and unsafe conditions to management without delay. Cooperate with any investigation, training or monitoring that supports safer working practices.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for our core man and van activities, including site access, manual handling, loading and unloading, working at height within vehicles or on ramps, traffic management, and road safety. These assessments are used to develop safe systems of work tailored to removal tasks in homes, offices and other premises.

Before starting a job, staff are expected to review any relevant instructions, consider site-specific risks and, where needed, agree additional precautions with the customer. Where a task cannot be carried out safely with the available equipment or manpower, employees are authorised to stop work and seek guidance from management.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a core aspect of our removal services, so we place particular emphasis on safe lifting techniques and equipment use. We will:

Provide training on correct lifting, carrying and team handling methods. Plan lifts in advance, considering the size, shape, weight and route for each item. Use trolleys, dollies, ramps, straps and other mechanical aids wherever reasonably practicable. Avoid single-person lifting of heavy or awkward items where a team lift is safer. Ensure that vehicles are loaded in a way that maintains stability and reduces risk of items shifting in transit. Employees must not attempt to lift items beyond their capability and must always ask for assistance or additional equipment where necessary.

Vehicle Safety and On-Road Conduct

Our vehicles are central to delivering removal services across our operating area, and their safe use is critical. Kentish Town Man and Van will:

Maintain vehicles in roadworthy condition with regular checks and servicing. Ensure that drivers hold the appropriate licence and are competent for the vehicle they operate. Require drivers to comply with road traffic laws and drive responsibly at all times. Ensure safe loading, securing of loads, and use of access equipment such as ramps. Plan routes to minimise unnecessary risks and allow adequate time for safe travel. Drivers are responsible for carrying out daily vehicle checks, reporting defects, and refusing to drive a vehicle that is unsafe.

Working at Customer Premises

During removals, our teams work in and around customers properties, shared access areas, driveways and public spaces. To protect all parties, we will:

Assess access routes, stairways, lifts and loading areas before moving items. Take reasonable steps to avoid damage to fixtures, fittings and surfaces. Manage trip hazards by keeping walkways as clear as reasonably practicable. Place warning signs or verbally warn occupants where work may present a temporary hazard. Be mindful of noise and disruption, especially in residential areas. Staff must follow any site rules provided by building management, provided these do not conflict with safety requirements.

Training, Information and Supervision

We ensure that employees receive appropriate initial and refresher training for their roles, including manual handling, use of equipment, vehicle safety, and emergency procedures. Supervisors monitor new and less experienced workers to confirm they are following safe practices. Health and safety information is communicated through briefings, instructions and periodic updates as working methods or legal requirements change.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported as soon as possible. This enables us to provide any necessary support, identify root causes and prevent recurrence. We keep records of incidents and use them to improve risk assessments and procedures. Staff are briefed on emergency actions, including what to do in the event of fire, serious injury, road traffic collisions or sudden illness while at work or in transit.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

Kentish Town Man and Van believes that effective health and safety management depends on open communication. We encourage employees to raise concerns, suggest improvements and participate in discussions about safe working. Feedback from customers, staff and other stakeholders is considered when reviewing our policy and procedures. We are committed to monitoring our performance and making ongoing improvements to protect everyone involved in our removal and transport services.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains relevant to our man and van operations and the areas in which we work. It may also be updated following significant changes in legislation, working practices, fleet composition or the nature and scale of our removal services. The latest version of this policy is made available to employees and is provided to customers on request.