Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Westminster Man and Van

Westminster Man and Van is committed to providing removal and transport services in a way that protects the health, safety and welfare of our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving, handling, loading, driving and working in and around vehicles and properties.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our main objectives are to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property during removal and man and van operations. We aim to identify hazards in advance, assess the associated risks and implement sensible, proportionate control measures. We review our practices regularly to ensure they remain effective and reflect current guidance for removal and transport activities.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Westminster Man and Van has overall responsibility for health and safety performance. Management will provide appropriate resources, equipment, instruction and supervision to support safe working. We ensure that risk assessments are carried out for typical removal tasks, including lifting and carrying, use of moving equipment, loading and unloading vehicles, working on or near roads and accessing properties with stairs or restricted entry.

Managers are responsible for communicating safe systems of work, monitoring compliance and taking corrective action where necessary. They will review this Health and Safety policy periodically and following any significant incident or change in operations.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees 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 colleagues, customers, neighbours and the general public in the vicinity of our work. Staff must follow training and instructions, use equipment correctly, and cooperate with management to implement this policy.

Employees are expected to:

Report hazards, near misses, accidents or unsafe conditions immediately to a supervisor. Use manual handling techniques and lifting aids as instructed. Wear appropriate clothing and personal protective equipment as required. Keep vehicles and work areas tidy, avoiding trip and slip hazards. Never misuse safety equipment or work under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before starting any removal or man and van job, risks are assessed with consideration for the property layout, access routes, parking, staircases, lifts, heavy or awkward items, weather conditions and traffic. Where necessary, we will adapt our plans, allocate additional staff, or adjust timings to ensure safe working.

Safe systems of work are developed for common tasks such as dismantling and reassembling furniture, moving appliances, securing loads in vehicles, and operating trolleys or other moving equipment. Staff receive clear guidance on the maximum safe loads they may handle and the need to ask for assistance with heavy or bulky items.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a core part of removal work and is a significant source of potential injury. Westminster Man and Van emphasises correct lifting techniques, team lifting for heavy objects and the use of suitable handling aids such as sack trucks, dollies and straps where appropriate.

Only trained staff are permitted to use specialist equipment. All handling aids and tools are inspected regularly, and defective equipment is taken out of service immediately. We encourage staff to plan each move carefully, ensuring clear routes and communicating effectively with colleagues before lifting or shifting loads.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition and are inspected regularly. Drivers are responsible for carrying out basic checks before use and reporting any defects. Loads must be secured properly so that items cannot move or fall during transit.

All driving must comply with traffic laws and our internal standards for safe driving. Drivers must allow adequate time for journeys, avoid distractions and drive at speeds suitable for the conditions. Fatigue is managed by scheduling appropriate breaks and reasonable working hours.

Working at Customer Properties

When working at customer homes or business premises, safeguarding people and property is central to our approach. We aim to minimise disruption, protect surfaces and structures and keep entry and exit routes safe and unobstructed at all times.

Where there are specific site rules, fire procedures or access requirements, our team will follow them. We will highlight any conditions that could increase risk, such as poor lighting, damaged steps, low ceilings or limited vehicle access, and agree appropriate solutions with the customer before work proceeds.

Protection of Customers, Public and Property

Our crews take steps to reduce risks to customers and the public by managing parking and vehicle movements carefully, using warning where appropriate and keeping work areas controlled. We position equipment and items to maintain safe walkways and reduce the risk of trips or collisions.

To prevent property damage, we take care when moving large or fragile items, use suitable protective coverings where appropriate and monitor weather conditions that might increase risk, such as rain making floors slippery. Any accidental damage or incident is recorded and reviewed.

Training, Information and Supervision

All staff receive an induction that covers core health and safety expectations, followed by job-specific training on manual handling, use of equipment, vehicle safety and customer care in the context of removal services. Refresher training is provided as needed, and additional instruction is given when new equipment or methods are introduced.

Supervisors monitor work on site to ensure that safe practices are followed and provide guidance where improvements are needed. Lessons from incidents, feedback and observations are incorporated into ongoing training.

Accident Reporting and Continuous Improvement

All accidents, injuries, near misses and significant property damage incidents are recorded and investigated so we can identify root causes and improve controls. We encourage open reporting without blame so that issues can be addressed promptly.

Westminster Man and Van is committed to continually improving health and safety performance in all aspects of our man and van and removal services. This policy is communicated to all employees and is available to customers and other interested parties on request. It will be reviewed regularly to ensure it remains relevant, effective and aligned with the nature and scale of our operations.