Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Kingston upon Thames Man and Van

Kingston upon Thames Man and Van is committed to providing removal and transportation services in a manner that safeguards the health, safety and welfare of our workers, customers, visitors and members of the public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with man and van, removals, loading, unloading and transport activities across our service areas.

Our Health and Safety Commitments

We aim to operate to high safety standards on every job, whether a small local move or a larger property relocation. We will, as far as is reasonably practicable:

Identify and manage risks associated with removal and transportation tasks. Provide and maintain safe vehicles, tools, handling equipment and work systems. Ensure our workers are properly trained, supervised and competent for the tasks they undertake. Minimise the risk of injury or ill health resulting from manual handling, slips, trips, falls and other foreseeable hazards. Communicate clearly with customers about access, parking and property conditions that may affect safety. Review and improve our health and safety arrangements regularly.

Roles and Responsibilities

Management is responsible for implementing this policy, ensuring suitable risk assessments are carried out, and providing the instruction, information, and resources needed to work safely. Managers will monitor health and safety performance and take corrective action where necessary.

Employees and contractors must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They are required to follow all instructions, training, procedures and safe systems of work provided by Kingston upon Thames Man and Van, report any hazards or incidents they observe, and use equipment only for its intended purpose.

Customers also play a role in promoting safe working. We expect clients to provide accurate information about access, parking restrictions, staircases, lifts, and any unusual risks at the collection and delivery locations. Customers must ensure that access routes within their premises are reasonably clear and safe for our teams to work.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for typical man and van and removal activities, including manual handling, vehicle movement, working in confined or cluttered spaces, and working at height when loading or unloading. Where appropriate, job-specific assessments are made prior to or on arrival at the site.

Control measures may include using lifting aids, planning safe routes for carrying items, ensuring appropriate team sizes for heavy or awkward loads, and arranging safe vehicle positioning to reduce reversing and manoeuvring risks. If a job cannot be completed safely under the conditions found on site, we reserve the right to stop work until suitable adjustments can be made.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a core part of man and van work, so our teams are trained in safe lifting and carrying techniques. We take reasonable steps to avoid hazardous manual handling by using suitable equipment such as trolleys, dollies, straps and blankets, and by planning the move to minimise unnecessary lifting.

Heavy or bulky items are only moved when there are sufficient team members or mechanical aids to do so safely. Staff must not attempt to lift items beyond their capabilities, and they are instructed to speak up if they consider a lift unsafe. Equipment is inspected regularly, and defective items are taken out of service until repaired or replaced.

Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety

All vehicles used for our services are maintained in safe working order in accordance with legal requirements and industry good practice. Drivers must hold the appropriate licence, comply with road traffic laws and follow company procedures for loading, securing and unloading goods.

Loads are distributed and secured to prevent shifting during transit, reducing the risk of damage and accidents. Drivers are expected to plan routes with safety in mind, allow adequate time for journeys, and avoid unsafe parking or unloading positions. Use of mobile phones while driving must comply with legal requirements and company rules.

Customer Premises and Access Safety

For safe working, clear and safe access is required to and from the property, including driveways, entrances, internal corridors, stairways and lifts. Our team will assess access on arrival and may request that obstacles be removed or that adjustments be made to enable safe movement of items.

If conditions present an unacceptable risk, such as unsafe structures, extreme clutter, blocked exits or hazardous materials, we may postpone or adapt the work until a safer arrangement is possible. We will always seek to discuss options with the customer to agree a practical and safe solution.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences are to be reported to management as soon as possible. This allows us to investigate causes, implement corrective actions and prevent recurrence. Where appropriate, incidents will be recorded in an accident log.

Our workers are briefed on emergency procedures, including how to respond to fire alarms, serious injuries, vehicle incidents and other urgent situations. When working at customer premises, staff will follow any site-specific emergency arrangements where they are made known.

Training, Communication and Continuous Improvement

Kingston upon Thames Man and Van provides appropriate induction and ongoing training for employees and contractors on safe working practices, including manual handling, safe driving, use of equipment and hazard awareness. Additional training is provided where new risks or equipment are introduced.

We actively encourage feedback from staff and customers on health and safety matters and will consider reasonable suggestions for improvement. This policy and our procedures are reviewed periodically and whenever significant changes in operations, legislation or best practice occur, to ensure they remain effective and relevant to our removal and man and van services.

Policy Review and Availability

This Health and Safety Policy is approved by the management of Kingston upon Thames Man and Van and will be reviewed at regular intervals or after any significant incident or operational change. A current version of this policy is available to employees, contractors and customers on request.