Health and Safety policy
Kennington Man and Van Health and Safety Policy
Kennington Man and Van is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers, visitors, 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, loading, transporting, and unloading goods for domestic and commercial clients.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Our primary objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property arising from our removal and man and van services. We will continuously improve our safety performance by identifying hazards, reducing risks, and promoting a positive safety culture throughout the business.
We aim to:
Identify and control health and safety risks related to lifting, carrying, loading, vehicle use, and work at customers premises.
Comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards.
Provide clear information, instruction, training, and supervision to ensure work is carried out safely and efficiently.
Consult with employees on health and safety matters and encourage active participation in improving safety practices.
Review this policy regularly and revise it as necessary to reflect changes in operations, legal requirements, and best practice.
Management Responsibilities
Management at Kennington Man and Van has overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety policy. This includes:
Ensuring that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for all key activities, including manual handling, loading and unloading vehicles, securing loads, driving, and working at customer locations.
Providing the resources necessary to implement safety measures, including equipment, training, and protective clothing where appropriate.
Ensuring employees are fully aware of their responsibilities and are competent to carry out their work safely.
Monitoring health and safety performance, investigating any accidents, incidents, or near misses, and taking action to prevent recurrence.
Regularly reviewing safe systems of work and adapting them to new circumstances, equipment, or services.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees and contractors working for Kennington Man and Van have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. This includes:
Following all safety instructions, procedures, and training provided by the company.
Using vehicles, lifting equipment, trolleys, and other tools correctly and safely.
Wearing and using any personal protective equipment provided when required.
Reporting hazards, unsafe conditions, near misses, accidents, or injuries to management as soon as possible.
Cooperating with managers and colleagues to ensure safe working practices are followed at all times.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Kennington Man and Van conducts risk assessments to identify hazards associated with removal operations and determine appropriate control measures. Key areas include:
Manual handling of furniture, boxes, appliances, and other heavy or bulky items.
Use of lifting aids such as trolleys, straps, and ramps.
Access to and from properties, including stairs, narrow corridors, doorways, and outdoor areas.
Loading and unloading vehicles, securing loads, and ensuring weight is distributed safely.
Driving and parking vehicles in residential and commercial locations.
Working around members of the public, customers, and other contractors.
From these assessments, we develop safe systems of work that are communicated to all staff. Employees are expected to plan each job carefully, assessing local conditions on arrival and adapting methods where necessary to maintain safety.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Lifting and moving items is a core aspect of our removal services. To minimise the risk of injury, we:
Provide manual handling training to staff, covering safe lifting techniques, team lifts, and the use of mechanical aids.
Encourage staff to assess the weight and shape of items before moving them and to ask for assistance when needed.
Use appropriate equipment such as dollies, trolleys, straps, blankets, and ramps to move and protect items safely.
Plan routes in and out of properties to avoid unnecessary lifting, twisting, and carrying over long distances.
Instruct staff never to exceed their own physical capabilities and to prioritise safety over speed.
Vehicle Safety and Load Security
Our vehicles are essential to our removal services and are managed with safety as a priority. We:
Ensure vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition and inspected regularly.
Require drivers to hold appropriate licences and follow all road traffic laws.
Provide guidance on safe driving, including speed, parking, and manoeuvring in residential streets, commercial premises, and busy areas.
Train staff to load vehicles safely, ensuring items are secured, weight is evenly distributed, and goods are protected from movement during transport.
Do not permit overloading of vehicles under any circumstances.
Working at Customer Premises
Our staff often work inside customer homes, offices, and business premises. We take care to:
Respect the property and ensure walkways and access routes are kept clear of obstructions.
Identify and manage site-specific risks such as uneven surfaces, slippery floors, low ceilings, or restricted access.
Use protective coverings where appropriate to reduce the risk of slips, trips, and damage.
Coordinate with customers to agree on safe access, parking, and timing for loading and unloading.
Accidents, Incidents, and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, near misses, and dangerous occurrences involving our staff, customers, or property will be recorded, investigated, and reviewed. We aim to:
Take immediate action to deal with injuries and make the area safe.
Identify the root causes of any incidents and implement measures to prevent a recurrence.
Review relevant procedures, training, or risk assessments following an incident.
Encourage open reporting of near misses to improve our understanding of potential hazards.
Training, Information, and Consultation
Kennington Man and Van recognises that effective training and communication are essential to maintaining a safe operation. We will:
Provide induction training for new staff, covering company procedures, manual handling, vehicle safety, and working at customer premises.
Offer refresher training when necessary and when tasks, equipment, or procedures change.
Share information on risks, control measures, and safe systems of work in a clear and accessible way.
Consult staff on health and safety matters and listen to suggestions for improving safety performance.
Policy Review
This Health and Safety policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when required to reflect changes in legislation, industry guidance, or the nature of our removal and man and van services. The latest version will be made available to employees and customers on request.
Kennington Man and Van expects all staff and contractors to support the implementation of this policy and to contribute actively to maintaining a safe, professional, and reliable removal service.
