Safe decision-making
Operational convenience must not override a genuine concern about passenger safety, vehicle suitability or lawful service delivery.
Corporate Policy
Health and Safety Policy.
Black Fleet London is committed to managing its operations in a manner that protects passengers, chauffeurs, employees, operating partners, suppliers and members of the public.
This public policy summarises our health and safety principles. Detailed operational risk assessments, internal reporting routes and security-sensitive procedures are maintained separately where appropriate.
Purpose
Protecting people through practical operational controls.
The purpose of this policy is to establish Black Fleet London’s commitment to identifying health and safety risks, applying proportionate controls and promoting responsible behaviour throughout its operations.
Health and safety considerations form part of booking review, allocation, vehicle suitability, chauffeur conduct, passenger assistance, incident response and service recovery.
Scope of this policy
- Passenger journeys and chauffeur-driven transportation
- Employees, contractors and other individuals working for the business
- Licensed private hire operators supporting service delivery
- Chauffeurs and vehicles allocated to managed assignments
- Business premises, remote working and operational activities
- Incidents, near misses, emergencies and service disruption
Policy Statement
Safety before commercial convenience.
Black Fleet London seeks to conduct its operations so far as reasonably practicable without exposing passengers, workers, service providers or members of the public to avoidable health and safety risks.
Risk awareness
Credible risks should be identified, assessed and controlled according to the activity and the people who may be affected.
Suitable resources
Chauffeurs, vehicles, information and operating arrangements should be suitable for the confirmed assignment.
Prompt reporting
Accidents, hazards, near misses and significant concerns should be reported through the appropriate operational route.
Cooperation
Everyone supporting service delivery is expected to cooperate with reasonable health, safety and incident-management requirements.
Continuous improvement
Incidents, complaints and operational experience should inform corrective action and future improvements.
Safety Priorities
Four principles guiding operational safety decisions.
Where health and safety concerns arise, decisions should protect people, preserve lawful operation, communicate clearly and maintain appropriate operational accountability.
Protect people
Passenger, chauffeur, worker and public safety takes priority.
Prevent avoidable harm
Reasonable action should be taken before a known risk develops.
Report concerns
Safety concerns must not be concealed or ignored.
Learn and improve
Material incidents should lead to review and corrective action.
Operational Risk Areas
Safety controls aligned with chauffeur and passenger operations.
Health and safety risk varies according to the journey, passenger, environment, vehicle and operational circumstances. The following areas receive particular attention.
Vehicle condition
Vehicles should be roadworthy, suitable for the assignment and free from known defects that could compromise safe operation.
Driver fitness
Chauffeurs should not undertake assignments where fatigue, illness, impairment or another condition makes driving unsafe.
Safe driving
Chauffeurs are expected to drive responsibly, follow road rules and adapt to weather, traffic and passenger circumstances.
Passenger boarding
Pick-up and drop-off should be managed with reasonable regard for traffic, pedestrian safety, luggage and passenger mobility.
Luggage handling
Manual handling risks should be reduced through appropriate lifting, loading, assistance and communication.
Passenger needs
Known mobility, accessibility, medical or safeguarding requirements should be considered before allocation.
Lone working
Employees and chauffeurs working alone or outside normal hours should retain suitable communication and escalation routes.
Violence and aggression
Threatening conduct should be reported and managed without requiring individuals to remain in an unsafe situation.
Risk Management
A practical process for identifying and controlling risk.
Risk controls should be proportionate to the likelihood and potential consequence of harm, taking account of the individuals, journey and operational circumstances involved.
01
Identify
Recognise credible hazards associated with the activity or assignment.
02
Assess
Consider who may be affected and the possible severity of harm.
03
Control
Apply reasonable measures to remove or reduce the identified risk.
04
Communicate
Provide relevant instructions to those involved in the activity.
05
Review
Reconsider controls following change, incident or new information.
Chauffeur and Vehicle Safety
Suitability must be maintained throughout the assignment.
Black Fleet London expects chauffeurs and operating partners to report any concern that may make a chauffeur, vehicle or journey unsafe, unsuitable or unlawful.
An assignment should be delayed, reassessed or reallocated where a material safety concern cannot be resolved satisfactorily.
Core operating expectations
- Current and appropriate licensing for the assigned service
- Suitable insurance and vehicle documentation
- Safe, clean and roadworthy vehicle condition
- Seatbelts available and used as required
- No driving while impaired, unwell or dangerously fatigued
- Prompt reporting of defects, collisions and material concerns
- Compliance with lawful operational and safety instructions
Passenger Safety
Passenger care from allocation to safe completion.
Passenger safety includes more than driving. It also includes appropriate vehicle selection, communication, meeting arrangements, luggage handling, safeguarding awareness and a safe conclusion to the journey.
Appropriate allocation
Passenger numbers, luggage, accessibility needs and journey purpose should be considered before vehicle allocation.
Safe meeting points
Chauffeurs should use lawful and reasonably safe collection and drop-off locations, taking account of local restrictions.
Passenger verification
Reasonable steps should be taken to connect the correct passenger with the allocated chauffeur and vehicle.
Mobility assistance
Assistance should remain within the chauffeur’s competence and should not create additional risk to the passenger or chauffeur.
Child passengers
Relevant journey information and any agreed child-seat requirements should be confirmed before allocation where possible.
Safe completion
Chauffeurs should avoid leaving passengers in an immediately unsafe location where a reasonable alternative is available.
Fitness to Work and Drive
No assignment should continue where fitness is materially compromised.
Chauffeurs and workers are expected to assess whether fatigue, illness, medication, alcohol, drugs, stress or another condition may affect their ability to work or drive safely.
Concerns should be raised promptly so that the assignment can be reviewed, delayed, replaced or otherwise managed appropriately.
Fitness expectations
- Do not undertake an assignment while impaired
- Report illness or medication affecting safe driving
- Take reasonable rest and breaks
- Avoid accepting work that cannot be completed safely
- Stop in a safe place where fatigue becomes dangerous
- Request operational support before passenger safety is compromised
Accidents, Incidents and Near Misses
Immediate protection followed by structured reporting and review.
The first priority following an accident or serious safety concern is to protect people and contact the appropriate emergency services where required. Operational reporting and investigation should follow when it is safe to do so.
01
Make safe
Stop the activity and take reasonable immediate action to prevent further harm.
02
Seek assistance
Contact emergency services or other appropriate assistance where needed.
03
Report
Notify Black Fleet London through the agreed operational route promptly.
04
Record
Preserve accurate and proportionate information about what occurred.
05
Review
Consider causes, corrective action and whether controls require improvement.
Emergency situations
Where there is an immediate danger to life, serious injury, fire, collision or another emergency, the appropriate emergency service should be contacted before routine operational reporting.
Violence and Aggression
Individuals are not expected to remain in an unsafe situation.
Threats, abuse, harassment or violent behaviour should be treated seriously. A chauffeur or worker may withdraw to a safe location where continuing the service would create an immediate and material risk.
Serious incidents should be reported to Black Fleet London and, where appropriate, to the police or other relevant authorities.
Safeguarding Awareness
Concerns involving vulnerable passengers require appropriate escalation.
Chauffeurs and workers should not attempt to investigate safeguarding concerns themselves. Immediate danger should be reported to the emergency services, while other concerns should be escalated through the agreed route.
Information should be recorded factually and shared only with those who have a legitimate reason to receive it.
Roles and Responsibilities
Safety responsibilities shared across the operating structure.
01
Director
Provides leadership oversight, approves the policy and reviews significant safety incidents, risks and corrective actions.
02
Operations team
Considers safety during booking review, allocation, communication, escalation, incident management and service recovery.
03
Operating partners
Maintain appropriate operating controls, provide suitable capacity and report material safety or compliance concerns.
04
Chauffeurs and workers
Take reasonable care, follow lawful instructions, use equipment safely and report hazards, defects and incidents promptly.
Information, Instruction and Awareness
Safety expectations must be understood, not merely published.
Relevant employees, contractors and operating partners should receive health and safety information appropriate to their role and the services they perform.
Communication may include operational instructions, briefings, policy acknowledgement, incident feedback, system prompts and targeted guidance.
Awareness topics may include
- Incident and near-miss reporting
- Fatigue and fitness to drive
- Vehicle-defect reporting
- Passenger assistance and manual handling
- Lone working and out-of-hours escalation
- Violence, aggression and safeguarding awareness
- Emergency and business-continuity procedures
Monitoring
Reviewing safety performance and emerging risks
Black Fleet London may monitor accidents, incidents, near misses, complaints, vehicle concerns, driver reports and operational failures relevant to health and safety.
Monitoring should be proportionate and focused on identifying trends, recurring risks and reasonable opportunities for improvement.
Policy Review
Keeping the policy aligned with the operation
This policy should be reviewed at least annually and following a material incident, operational change, regulatory development or identified weakness in existing controls.
Updated requirements should be communicated to the individuals and organisations affected by the change.
Shared responsibility
Health and safety depends on cooperation. Employees, contractors, operating partners and chauffeurs must take reasonable care of themselves and others, follow applicable instructions and report material risks promptly.
Related Governance
Health and safety supported by connected controls.
Business Continuity Policy
Continuity, replacement, communication and operational-recovery principles.
Supplier Code of Conduct
Safety, compliance and conduct expectations for operating partners and suppliers.
Complaints and Service Recovery
Complaint handling, incident escalation, service recovery and corrective action.
Corporate Due Diligence
Need further health and safety information?
Corporate clients and prospective partners may contact Black Fleet London to discuss health and safety expectations, supplier onboarding, risk controls or proportionate supporting evidence.