Holland Park Man and Van Health and Safety Policy

Holland Park Man and Van is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety across all moving, packing and transportation activities carried out by our removal teams.

We recognise that professional removals, man and van services and furniture transportation involve specific risks, including manual handling, vehicle use, loading and unloading and working in a variety of domestic and commercial premises. Our objective is to control these risks so far as is reasonably practicable and to promote a strong safety culture throughout the business.

Health and Safety Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who ensure that suitable arrangements, resources and training are in place. Management is responsible for:

Setting clear safety standards for all removal and delivery work.
Ensuring that risk assessments and safe systems of work are prepared, implemented and reviewed.
Providing appropriate information, instruction, supervision and training to staff.
Ensuring vehicles and equipment used for moving and lifting are properly maintained.
Reviewing incidents, near misses and feedback to improve our safety performance.

Employees and contractors of Holland Park Man and Van are responsible for:

Taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Following the company’s safety procedures, instructions and training at all times.
Using the correct equipment and personal protective equipment provided.
Reporting hazards, defects, near misses and incidents immediately to management.
Cooperating fully with any investigation, audit or health and safety initiative.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Before undertaking removal work, loading, unloading or transportation, we assess foreseeable risks and put in place safe systems of work. This includes considering:

Access routes, stairs, lifts, corridors and parking arrangements at both collection and delivery locations.
The nature, weight, size and fragility of items to be moved, including furniture, appliances and boxes.
Potential hazards such as uneven ground, poor lighting, obstructions and weather conditions.
The number of team members required to carry out the task safely.
The need for specialist equipment, such as trolleys, dollies or straps.

Where conditions change on the day, our teams are required to pause work, reassess the risks and adjust the method or staffing levels as needed to preserve safety.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a key part of removal work and is a primary focus of our health and safety arrangements. To reduce the risk of injury:

Staff receive training in safe lifting techniques, team lifts and the use of handling aids.
We seek to avoid unnecessary lifting and carrying by planning vehicle positioning and load sequences.
Heavy or awkward items are moved using appropriate equipment or by multiple team members.
Staff are instructed not to attempt any lift that they believe is unsafe or beyond their capability.
We encourage regular breaks during physically demanding tasks to reduce fatigue.

Customers may be asked not to assist with heavy lifting so that we can control manual handling risks and ensure safe, coordinated movements.

Vehicle Safety and Driving

Our vehicles are essential to our man and van and removal operations. We manage road and vehicle risks by:

Ensuring that drivers hold the correct licences and are authorised to operate the specific vehicles in use.
Maintaining vehicles in a roadworthy condition with regular checks and servicing.
Inspecting tyres, lights, securing points and loading areas before use.
Requiring drivers to comply with road traffic laws, speed limits and parking regulations.
Planning routes to minimise unnecessary mileage, delays and high-risk manoeuvres where possible.

Loads are secured appropriately to prevent movement during transit, protecting both the driver and other road users as well as the customer’s property.

Household and Commercial Premises Safety

Our teams work in a wide range of homes and commercial spaces. To keep everyone safe when carrying out removal services:

We maintain clear walkways free from trip hazards such as loose items and trailing leads.
Where possible, we agree with the customer a safe working area and access route in advance.
Our staff take particular care on stairs, landings and tight corners when carrying large items.
We take reasonable steps to prevent damage to fixtures, fittings and surfaces that could create new hazards.
We monitor noise, dust and other disturbances and seek to minimise them, especially in shared buildings.

Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

Holland Park Man and Van provides suitable equipment to support safe removal operations. This may include moving trolleys, blankets, straps, ramps and other handling aids. Staff are expected to use equipment properly and report any damage or defects without delay.

Where necessary, personal protective equipment such as gloves or safety footwear is provided and must be worn in accordance with training and instructions. PPE is regarded as a last line of defence and does not replace the need for safe planning and working methods.

Training, Information and Supervision

We believe that effective training is essential for safe removal services. Our approach includes:

Induction training for new staff, including basic health and safety awareness and manual handling.
Task-specific training, such as loading techniques, use of equipment and safe driving practices.
Toolbox talks, briefings and refresher sessions covering lessons learned and seasonal risks.
On-the-job supervision, particularly for less experienced team members.

Information about hazards and procedures is communicated clearly so that staff understand what is expected of them and how to work safely.

Accidents, Incidents and Near Misses

All accidents, injuries, property damage and near misses that occur during our man and van or removal operations must be reported promptly. We record these events, investigate where appropriate and identify any actions needed to prevent recurrence.

We encourage an open reporting culture with no blame for honest mistakes, so that we can learn from events and continuously improve our safety performance.

Customer and Public Safety

We are committed to protecting customers, visitors, neighbours and members of the public while we work. Measures include:

Maintaining safe access and egress where possible at properties we are servicing.
Using safe lifting and moving techniques to prevent items being dropped or mishandled.
Keeping doors, gates and communal areas secure and tidy while work is carried out.
Positioning vehicles and equipment so as to minimise disruption and obstruction.

Customers are encouraged to follow reasonable safety advice given by our team members during the move.

Review of Policy

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, legislation or best practice. Holland Park Man and Van aims to continuously improve its health and safety management to ensure that all removal and man and van services are carried out as safely and responsibly as possible.