Storage Stamford Hill Health and Safety Policy
This Health and Safety Policy sets out how Storage Stamford Hill manages health, safety and welfare for employees, contractors, visitors and customers, including those using our storage and removal-related services. Our aim is to provide a safe and healthy working and visiting environment and to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Storage Stamford Hill is committed to conducting all activities in a manner that protects people, property and the environment. Health and safety are integral to our day-to-day operations, including storage, loading, unloading and handling of goods associated with removal services.
Our objectives are to:
Identify and control significant risks arising from our activities.
Provide and maintain safe premises, equipment and working systems.
Ensure employees are competent through information, instruction, supervision and training.
Promote a positive safety culture where hazards are reported and addressed promptly.
Comply with all applicable health and safety laws and standards.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management has overall responsibility for implementing and reviewing this policy. Management will:
Lead by example in health and safety practices.
Ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out and kept up to date.
Provide resources for safe equipment, maintenance, training and protective measures.
Review incidents, near misses and customer feedback to improve safety performance.
Regularly review this policy to ensure it remains effective and relevant to our services.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Employees must:
Follow all safety procedures, signage and instructions.
Use equipment, vehicles, trolleys and lifting aids correctly and safely.
Wear any required personal protective equipment where specified.
Report hazards, defects, near misses, accidents and unsafe practices without delay.
Refrain from engaging in horseplay or unsafe behaviour on site or while handling goods related to removals.
Customer and Visitor Responsibilities
Customers and visitors, including those accessing storage units or supervising removal activities, share responsibility for maintaining a safe environment. They are expected to:
Observe safety notices, instructions from staff and designated access routes.
Use lifts, stairs, loading bays and equipment only as instructed.
Ensure children and vulnerable persons are supervised at all times on site.
Refrain from bringing prohibited or unsafe items onto the premises, including flammable, explosive or otherwise hazardous substances not agreed in advance.
Pack and load items in a way that minimises risk of collapse, obstruction or injury.
Risk Assessment and Hazard Control
We identify and assess risks connected with storage and removal-related tasks, including manual handling, vehicle movements, loading activities, working at height on access platforms and general site safety. Control measures may include:
Clear traffic routes for vehicles and pedestrians.
Use of safe loading and unloading practices at bays and access points.
Provision of handling equipment such as trolleys and sack trucks where appropriate.
Regular inspection of access ways, lighting and fire exits.
Restrictions on the type and quantity of hazardous goods stored on site.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Many storage and removal tasks involve lifting and moving goods. To reduce the risk of injury, Storage Stamford Hill will:
Provide guidance to staff on safe lifting techniques and team lifting where needed.
Encourage use of mechanical aids and trolleys instead of manual carrying where possible.
Maintain equipment in a safe and serviceable condition and remove defective items from use.
Discourage customers from overloading boxes, containers or vehicles in a way that creates instability or undue strain.
Vehicles, Loading Bays and External Areas
The movement of vehicles and people in and around our premises requires particular care. We will:
Provide designated loading and unloading zones where practicable.
Use clear markings and signage to separate pedestrian and vehicle routes where possible.
Take reasonable measures to ensure external areas are kept as clear as practicable from slip, trip and fall hazards.
Encourage drivers and customers to follow staff instructions when manoeuvring or parking near entrances, ramps and doors.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
We take fire safety and emergency preparedness seriously. Storage Stamford Hill will:
Maintain appropriate fire detection and alarm systems and test them regularly.
Provide clearly marked emergency exit routes and ensure they are kept unobstructed.
Install suitable fire fighting equipment and arrange routine inspections.
Display evacuation information and brief employees in emergency procedures.
Restrict storage of flammable or combustible materials in line with our terms and applicable regulations.
Incident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences on site or relating to our services must be reported to a member of staff as soon as possible. Storage Stamford Hill will:
Record incidents in an appropriate incident log.
Investigate the circumstances to determine root causes.
Take corrective actions to prevent recurrence where reasonably practicable.
Use incident data to update risk assessments and improve procedures.
Training, Information and Consultation
We recognise that competent and informed staff are essential to maintaining a safe operation. We will:
Provide induction training for new employees covering key health and safety topics.
Offer role-specific instruction for activities such as handling goods, assisting with removals and operating equipment.
Update staff on changes to procedures, risks or regulatory requirements.
Encourage staff to raise safety concerns and suggestions for improvement.
Policy Review
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes in our operations, services or legal requirements. The latest version is available to employees, customers and visitors upon request. Continued use of our storage and removal-related services signifies acceptance of the safety rules, responsibilities and expectations described in this policy.
