Storage Elmers End Health and Safety Policy
Storage Elmers End is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees, contractors, customers and visitors. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with storage facilities and removal services, including loading, unloading, transportation, and handling of goods.
We aim to prevent injury and ill health, comply with all applicable health and safety legislation, and promote a positive safety culture across all aspects of our operations.
Policy Objectives
Our main health and safety objectives are to
Identify, assess and control risks associated with storage units, access areas, vehicles and handling equipment.
Ensure that employees and contractors are competent, trained and supervised in safe working practices, particularly in relation to removals and manual handling.
Provide and maintain safe premises, plant, equipment and systems of work.
Prevent accidents, near misses and work-related ill health through proactive planning and continuous improvement.
Consult with employees on matters affecting their health, safety and welfare.
Ensure that customers using our storage and removal services are given clear guidance on safe access, loading and unloading procedures.
Management Responsibilities
The management of Storage Elmers End holds overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy. Management will
Ensure that health and safety is given equal priority with other business objectives.
Provide adequate resources for health and safety, including training, equipment and maintenance.
Carry out regular risk assessments covering storage areas, office spaces, vehicles and removal activities.
Implement and review safe systems of work for packing, lifting, loading, transport and storage.
Monitor health and safety performance and review this policy periodically to ensure it remains effective and compliant.
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 acts or omissions. Employees must
Follow all health and safety instructions, training and procedures issued by the company.
Use equipment, vehicles and personal protective equipment correctly and only for their intended purpose.
Report hazards, defects, accidents, near misses and unsafe practices to management as soon as possible.
Cooperate fully with risk assessments, safety inspections and health and safety initiatives.
Refrain from horseplay, misuse of equipment or any behaviour that could endanger themselves or others.
Customer and Visitor Safety
Storage Elmers End takes reasonable steps to protect the safety of customers and visitors while on our premises or when interacting with our removal services. We will
Provide clear signage to direct traffic flow, indicate loading areas, highlight fire exits and identify restricted zones.
Maintain floors, access routes, stairways, loading bays and parking areas in a condition that is, so far as reasonably practicable, free from slip, trip and fall hazards.
Provide guidance on safe loading and unloading of items, including the importance of proper lifting techniques and secure stacking within storage units.
Advise customers on weight limits, safe access to upper levels and appropriate use of trolleys or handling aids.
Reserve the right to restrict access where unsafe behaviour or conditions are identified.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We will conduct regular and systematic risk assessments for all significant activities, including storage operations and removal services such as packing, loading, securing loads in vehicles and transporting goods. These assessments will
Identify hazards such as manual handling risks, vehicle movements, working at height, fire, slips and trips, and handling of fragile or bulky items.
Evaluate the likelihood and potential severity of harm.
Determine appropriate control measures, including engineering controls, safe procedures and training.
Be reviewed periodically or following an incident, significant change in operations or introduction of new equipment.
Safe systems of work will be documented and communicated to relevant personnel to ensure that tasks are carried out consistently and safely.
Manual Handling and Removal Operations
Manual handling is a key element of storage and removal services, and presents significant risk if not managed correctly. To reduce manual handling injuries, Storage Elmers End will
Provide training on safe lifting techniques, team lifting, use of trolleys and other mechanical aids.
Plan removal and loading jobs with sufficient time, manpower and equipment to avoid rushed or unsafe practices.
Encourage the use of smaller, manageable containers rather than large, heavy loads wherever practicable.
Instruct staff and customers to keep walkways and loading areas clear of obstructions.
Avoid unnecessary lifting by using appropriate equipment, such as sack trucks, pallet trucks and ramps where available.
Vehicles and Transport Safety
Where company vehicles are used for removals and transport, we will
Ensure vehicles are maintained, serviced and inspected at appropriate intervals.
Require drivers to hold the appropriate licence and be trained in safe driving and load securing techniques.
Implement safe procedures for reversing, parking and operating in shared areas with pedestrians.
Require loads to be evenly distributed, adequately secured and within vehicle weight limits.
Discourage the use of mobile phones and other distractions while driving.
Emergency Preparedness and Fire Safety
Storage Elmers End will maintain arrangements for dealing with emergencies, including fire, medical incidents and accidents. We will
Provide clearly marked emergency exits, fire extinguishers and, where appropriate, alarms.
Keep escape routes unobstructed and ensure lighting is adequate.
Display instructions for emergency evacuation and ensure staff are familiar with these procedures.
Conduct periodic checks of fire safety equipment and emergency systems.
Record and investigate incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
Training, Information and Supervision
We recognise that competent people are essential to a safe working environment. Storage Elmers End will
Provide induction training for new employees, covering general health and safety, site rules and emergency procedures.
Deliver role-specific training for staff involved in removals, driving, operating handling equipment and managing customer interactions.
Refresh training at suitable intervals or when procedures, equipment or legislation changes.
Provide relevant information and instruction to contractors, temporary staff and visiting drivers.
Ensure adequate supervision, particularly for new or inexperienced staff.
Monitoring, Review and Policy Communication
This Health and Safety Policy will be monitored and reviewed regularly to ensure it remains relevant and effective. Storage Elmers End will
Carry out safety inspections and audits of storage facilities, vehicles and working practices.
Review accident and incident reports to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
Update procedures and control measures as necessary and communicate any changes to employees and, where appropriate, customers.
Make this policy available to employees, customers, contractors and other interested parties upon request.
By working together and following this policy, Storage Elmers End aims to provide safe, reliable storage and removal services while protecting the wellbeing of everyone connected with our operations.
