Health, Safety & Compliance

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HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY

1. Statement of Intent

Crownul is committed to protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of passengers, drivers, Passenger Assistants/escorts where used, employees, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our operations.

We are committed to managing health and safety risks in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, applicable health and safety legislation, Transport for London (TfL) licensing requirements and relevant contractual requirements.

Our objective is to provide safe, professional and appropriately managed passenger transport services, including private hire, airport transfers, school transport, SEND transport, vulnerable passenger transport and local authority contract services.

Passenger safety and welfare take priority over operational convenience.

2. Responsibilities

The Directors of Crownul Ltd have overall responsibility for health and safety governance and for ensuring appropriate health and safety arrangements are maintained.

Operational management is responsible for implementing relevant procedures, monitoring compliance, communicating safety requirements, reviewing incidents and escalating health and safety concerns.

Drivers, Passenger Assistants/escorts, employees, contractors and other personnel working on behalf of Crownul are responsible for following applicable safety procedures, taking reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of passengers and others who may be affected by their activities, and promptly reporting hazards, vehicle defects, accidents, incidents, near misses and other safety concerns.

Personnel are expected to cooperate with Crownul's health and safety arrangements and any applicable requirements of contracting authorities.

3. Risk Management & Risk Assessment

Crownul takes a risk-based approach to its passenger transport operations. Hazards and risks are identified and proportionate measures are implemented to eliminate or control risks so far as reasonably practicable.

Risk considerations may include vehicle and journey safety, route conditions, passenger requirements, collection and handover arrangements, driver and Passenger Assistant requirements, operational disruption and other circumstances relevant to safe service delivery.

For school transport, SEND, vulnerable passenger and local authority services, Crownul will additionally consider passenger-specific, route-specific, mobility, sensory, behavioural, communication, safeguarding and other relevant risks where applicable.

Where a specific risk assessment is required by a contracting authority, service specification or passenger circumstances, Crownul will complete or review the appropriate assessment before service commencement.

Risk assessments and control measures will be reviewed where circumstances materially change, following an incident or near miss, or when new information indicates that existing controls may no longer be sufficient.

4. Vehicle Safety & Compliance

Vehicles used for Crownul services must be appropriately licensed, insured, maintained and suitable for the journey and passenger requirements.

Private hire vehicles used for Crownul services are required to comply with applicable Transport for London private hire vehicle licensing and inspection requirements, together with statutory MOT requirements where applicable.

Drivers are responsible for carrying out appropriate operational vehicle safety checks and reporting defects or safety concerns promptly.

A vehicle must not be used for a Crownul service where a known defect or condition makes its continued use unsafe or otherwise unsuitable for the journey.

Vehicle licensing, insurance, maintenance and compliance records will be maintained or verified as appropriate to Crownul's responsibilities.

5. Driver & Personnel Safety

Crownul recognises that private hire operations can expose drivers and other personnel to risks including road traffic incidents, fatigue, lone working, difficult passenger situations and personal safety concerns.

Personnel should remain alert to their surroundings, communicate appropriately with Crownul operations and report incidents or concerns.

Drivers must not continue a journey or activity where doing so would create an unacceptable immediate safety risk.

Crownul will take account of relevant official safety guidance applicable to private hire operations.

6. Passenger Safety & Welfare

Crownul aims to provide safe and appropriate transport for all passengers.

Drivers and Passenger Assistants/escorts, where used, must act professionally, follow applicable journey and passenger instructions and take reasonable steps to protect passenger welfare during the service.

For children, SEND passengers and vulnerable passengers, relevant collection, supervision, handover, communication, mobility and other passenger-specific arrangements will be followed where applicable.

Passenger-specific information will only be shared with personnel where necessary and authorised for safe and appropriate service delivery.

Safeguarding concerns will be handled in accordance with Crownul's Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Passengers and Safer Recruitment Policy.

7. Training, Information & Competency

Personnel receive health and safety information, induction, guidance and briefings appropriate to their duties.

For school transport, SEND, vulnerable passenger and local authority services, additional safeguarding, passenger-specific, route-specific or service-specific training and competency requirements may apply.

Where specialist or accredited training is required by legislation, a contracting authority, service specification or passenger need, Crownul may use an appropriate external training provider.

Personnel will not be assigned to duties requiring a specific competency until the applicable requirement has been satisfied.

Training and competency requirements will be reviewed following relevant changes, incidents, complaints, operational observations or identified performance concerns.

8. Accidents, Incidents, Near Misses & Safety Concerns

Accidents, incidents, near misses, vehicle safety concerns and other significant health and safety matters arising during Crownul operations must be reported promptly to management.

Crownul will record and review relevant incidents and take proportionate corrective or preventive action where necessary.

Where an incident is legally reportable, Crownul will comply with applicable statutory reporting requirements.

Incidents involving passenger welfare, safeguarding, vehicle safety or significant operational risk will be escalated to the relevant authority, organisation or emergency service where required.

9. Emergency Arrangements

Passenger and personnel safety takes priority during an emergency.

Crownul maintains proportionate arrangements for responding to emergencies and operational disruption, including vehicle breakdowns, road traffic incidents, driver unavailability, passenger welfare concerns and other circumstances affecting safe service delivery.

Where there is immediate danger, serious injury or an urgent medical emergency, the appropriate emergency service should be contacted without delay.

Where an incident cannot be safely managed within normal operating arrangements, it will be escalated to Crownul management and, where applicable, the relevant contracting authority, school, responsible person or other authorised contact.

10. First Aid

Crownul will maintain first-aid arrangements appropriate to its workforce and operational risks and will review those arrangements where working practices or service requirements materially change.

Where a particular Council service or passenger requirement specifies additional first-aid competency or equipment, Crownul will assess and satisfy the applicable requirement before allocating personnel to duties requiring that competency.

11. School, SEND & Local Authority Transport

Before commencing a new Council, school, SEND or vulnerable passenger service, Crownul will review relevant journey and service requirements.

This may include passenger needs, route and timing, pickup and destination arrangements, authorised collection and handover, vehicle requirements, driver and Passenger Assistant requirements, known risks, communication and escalation procedures and any additional training or briefing requirements.

Personnel will only be allocated after the licensing, DBS, safeguarding, training and competency requirements applicable to the particular service have been identified and satisfied.

Where passenger circumstances materially change, the service arrangements will be reviewed before continuing where necessary.

12. Contractors & Third Parties

Where contractors or third-party service providers undertake activities relevant to Crownul's operations, Crownul will apply proportionate checks appropriate to the activity concerned.

Where subcontracting of Council transport services is proposed, it will only be undertaken where permitted by the applicable contract and licensing requirements and following appropriate due diligence concerning competence, licensing, insurance, safeguarding and compliance.

13. Monitoring & Continuous Improvement

Crownul monitors health and safety through operational oversight, vehicle and licensing compliance checks, communication with personnel, review of incidents and complaints, passenger or customer feedback where available, and periodic review of policies and procedures.

Where a health and safety deficiency is identified, Crownul will take proportionate corrective action.

Lessons identified through incidents, complaints, regulatory changes, operational experience and contracting-authority feedback will be used to improve procedures, training and service delivery.

14. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner where there is a material change in legislation, regulatory guidance, TfL requirements, contractual requirements, Crownul's operations or identified health and safety risks.

The current controlled version of this policy is maintained by Crownul Ltd.

Official Health, Safety & Regulatory Resources

Crownul's Health & Safety Policy should be read alongside applicable legislation, Transport for London requirements and official government guidance. The following official resources provide additional information relevant to private hire operations:

· HSE – Health & Safety Policy Guidance

· TfL – Health and Safety Advice for Taxi and Private Hire Drivers

· TfL – London Taxi and PHV Driver Policy

· TfL – Safety, Health & Environment

· TfL – Private Hire Operator Licensing & Operator Handbook

· GOV.UK – Staying Safe: Guidance for the Private Hire Vehicle Trade

· GOV.UK – Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards

Document Control

Policy Owner Crownul Ltd

Applies to Private Hire, School Transport, SEND Transport & Council Contract Services

Version 1.0

Effective Date 30 August 2026

Review Date 30 August 2027

TfL Private Hire Operator Licence 11724

Approved by Adam A. Sezer, Director