Health and Safety Policy

Last updated: 21 October 2026

1. Policy statement and scope

NordPath Ltd is committed to protecting, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of people affected by our work. This includes employees, drivers, subcontractors, customers, site personnel, recipients and members of the public.

This policy applies to activities undertaken through NordPath Logistics and NordPath Critical. Safety takes priority over a delivery target, urgent collection or commercial deadline.

Company number: 16607833, registered in England and Wales.

Registered office: Grafton House, 81 Chorley Old Road, Bolton, BL1 3AJ.

Email: info@nordpath.co.uk

This public policy sets out our approach and expectations. It is supported by the risk assessments, operational instructions and site-specific arrangements relevant to the work. It does not replace them.

2. Management responsibilities

The directors have overall responsibility for health and safety. Management is responsible for arranging and reviewing proportionate controls, communicating requirements and making sure work is planned with regard to the people, vehicles, equipment and time available.

Management responsibilities include:

• Assessing significant risks and reviewing controls when work or circumstances change.

• Allocating responsibilities and making sure drivers know who to contact for operational and safety concerns.

• Providing relevant information, instruction, induction and supervision appropriate to the work and engagement.

• Taking account of driver competence, fitness, fatigue, loading requirements and site conditions.

• Consulting people undertaking the work and responding to reported hazards.

• Reviewing incidents and ensuring any legally required reporting is completed.

Contracting work to another person or organisation does not remove NordPath’s own applicable duties. We cooperate with customers, carrier partners, site operators and subcontractors to manage shared risks.

3. Driver and subcontractor responsibilities

Everyone undertaking work for NordPath must:

• Work safely, follow relevant instructions and cooperate with reasonable safety controls.

• Hold the driving entitlement and other credentials needed for the work.

• Use a vehicle that is roadworthy, appropriately insured and suitable for the load and journey.

• Complete the checks relevant to their vehicle and report defects promptly.

• Follow the Highway Code, road traffic law and applicable working-time, driving and rest requirements.

• Report accidents, near misses, hazards and changes affecting their fitness or ability to work safely.

• Protect other road users, pedestrians and people at collection and delivery locations.

• Stop and seek guidance where a task cannot be completed safely.

Subcontractors also retain their own legal duties. Safety requirements apply regardless of the label used for an engagement.

4. Safe planning and driving

Routes and timings must allow for lawful speeds, foreseeable traffic, reasonable breaks, access arrangements and the conditions of the journey. Urgent work must not be planned on the assumption that a driver will speed, skip a required break or continue when unfit.

Drivers must not drive while impaired by alcohol, drugs, illness, fatigue or medication that affects safe driving. Changes in fitness, driving entitlement or relevant restrictions must be reported before continuing work.

Drivers must not use a hand-held mobile phone while driving. Operational messages, route changes and delivery records must be handled when safely parked or through a lawful method that does not distract from driving. No person should be expected to respond to a message while driving.

Weather, darkness, unfamiliar locations, reversing, parking and interaction with pedestrians must be considered. Drivers must stop or postpone an activity if conditions make it unsafe and contact the operational team when safe to do so.

5. Vehicles, defects and equipment

Vehicles and equipment used for work must be suitable, maintained and operated within their limits. Checks must cover relevant matters such as tyres, lights, visibility, mirrors, brakes, warning indicators, doors and load security.

A safety-critical defect must be addressed before the vehicle or equipment is used again. Defects must be reported through the relevant operational arrangements. A vehicle must not be driven merely to meet a delivery target when it is unsafe to do so.

Where a driver supplies a vehicle, the driver or responsible provider must maintain its roadworthiness and ensure the insurance covers the actual work. Cover for ordinary business use must not be assumed to include carriage of goods for hire and reward.

6. Loads and manual handling

Before collection, the goods, weight, dimensions, packaging, restraint needs and loading arrangements must be considered. Vehicle payload, axle limits and usable space must not be exceeded.

NordPath’s Renault Master and Vauxhall Movano panel vans are fully boarded and equipped with restraint straps and securing anchor points. Drivers must check that the available restraints are suitable for the particular load and use them appropriately. Boarding and fittings affect usable clearance; published manufacturer dimensions are not a guarantee that an item will fit.

Our panel vans have side and rear doors and no tail lifts. Mechanical assistance, loading equipment or additional people must be arranged where needed. A driver must not attempt an unsafe lift because assistance was not arranged.

Avoid unnecessary manual handling where reasonably practicable. Consider the load, the task, the environment and the person’s capability. Use appropriate assistance or equipment rather than relying on a particular lifting technique to make an unsuitable task safe.

7. Customer sites, loading areas and lone working

Drivers must follow relevant site induction, traffic routes, speed limits, parking arrangements and personal protective equipment requirements. Loading and unloading arrangements should establish who is responsible and keep people clear of moving vehicles and unstable loads.

Site access, restricted areas, reversing assistance and safe waiting locations must be considered before proceeding. If a site instruction appears unsafe, the driver must stop and raise the issue rather than follow it without question.

For lone or out-of-hours work, arrangements must take account of communication, access, lighting, personal security and how assistance can be obtained. An unclear or unsafe handover must be escalated through the relevant operational contact.

8. Vetting, competence and instructions

Drivers undertaking work for NordPath are required to be DBS checked and vetted. Vetting supports the engagement process but does not replace competence checks, safe working arrangements or customer-specific permissions. A DBS check does not guarantee future conduct or confer security clearance.

Drivers must receive and understand the instructions relevant to their work, including vehicle checks, load security, manual handling, incident reporting and site or customer requirements. Where specialist competence, equipment or authorisation is required, the work must not proceed until suitable arrangements are confirmed.

We do not assume that experience alone removes the need for information, instruction or review.

9. Incidents, near misses and emergencies

In an emergency, prioritise immediate safety and contact the emergency services where needed. Do not place yourself or others at further risk to protect a vehicle, goods or delivery time.

Accidents, injuries, near misses, load shifts, threats and unsafe conditions must be reported to the relevant NordPath operational contact as soon as it is safe to do so. Preserve relevant information and evidence without compromising safety or privacy.

Reports must be reviewed proportionately to identify causes and corrective action. Where an incident is legally reportable, the responsible person must ensure the appropriate report is made. We cooperate with customers, site operators, insurers and authorities where necessary.

10. Insurance and assurance

Insurance supports risk management but does not replace safe working. NordPath holds Goods in Transit insurance; current cover details can be requested through our supplier onboarding pack.

The scope of any company, motor, liability or subcontractor cover must be checked against the relevant policy and arrangement. No driver or subcontractor should assume that a company policy automatically covers their vehicle, activity or liability. Relevant evidence must be available before work is allocated where required.

11. Review and improvement

Management will review this policy at least annually and sooner following significant operational changes, incidents, new information or changes in applicable requirements. Relevant risk assessments and working arrangements must also be reviewed when needed.

People undertaking our work are encouraged to report hazards and suggest improvements. Concerns must be considered on their merits, and safety must not be compromised by pressure to complete a job.

12. Contact

For general health and safety enquiries, email info@nordpath.co.uk or write to NordPath Ltd, Grafton House, 81 Chorley Old Road, Bolton, BL1 3AJ.

Urgent operational hazards must be reported promptly through the operational contact provided for the work. Email is not an emergency response service.