Storage Selsdon Health and Safety Policy
Storage Selsdon is committed to providing a safe and healthy working and visiting environment for our employees, contractors, customers and all other visitors. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks within our storage facilities and during any associated removal and transportation activities.
Policy Statement
Our policy is to conduct all operations in a manner that prevents injury and ill health, protects property, and safeguards the environment. Health and safety considerations form an integral part of our planning and decision making for storage and removal services. We seek continuous improvement in our performance and compliance with all applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards.
Scope of the Policy
This policy applies to all employees of Storage Selsdon, contractors working on our behalf, and any customers or visitors who enter our premises or engage our removal and storage services. It covers activities including but not limited to warehouse operations, customer access to units, loading and unloading of goods, use of vehicles for removals, handling of equipment and materials, and office-based work carried out in support of these services.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Selsdon has overall responsibility for ensuring that effective health and safety management systems are in place. Management will:
Provide adequate resources to implement and maintain this policy, including equipment, training and supervision. Ensure that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for storage operations and removal activities. Establish safe systems of work and ensure they are communicated and enforced. Monitor health and safety performance and take corrective action where required. Review this policy regularly to ensure that it remains effective and up to date.
Employee Responsibilities
Employees have an essential role in maintaining a safe workplace. All employees must:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Follow all safety procedures, instructions and training provided by Storage Selsdon. Use equipment, including lifting aids, trolleys, personal protective equipment and vehicles, in accordance with training and guidance. Report hazards, near misses, accidents, incidents, defective equipment or unsafe practices to management as soon as possible. Cooperate with management in the implementation of this policy and any related procedures.
Customer and Visitor Responsibilities
To help ensure a safe environment for everyone using our facilities and any associated removals services, customers and visitors are expected to:
Follow all safety signs, notices and instructions provided by Storage Selsdon staff. Use designated walkways, loading areas and access points only. Take care when loading and unloading items, and seek assistance for heavy or awkward items. Supervise any children or dependants at all times while on the premises. Refrain from storing or presenting hazardous, illegal or perishable items that are not permitted under our terms of service.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Storage Selsdon carries out regular risk assessments for key activities including handling and moving goods, vehicle and traffic management, use of mechanical handling equipment, work at height, manual handling in removal services, and fire safety and evacuation arrangements. The findings of these assessments are used to develop safe systems of work that are communicated to employees and, where relevant, to customers and contractors. Control measures may include physical safeguards, signage, training, procedural controls and emergency plans.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a significant aspect of storage and removal operations. To reduce the risk of injury, Storage Selsdon:
Provides manual handling training for relevant staff. Encourages the use of trolleys, sack trucks and other mechanical aids wherever practical. Promotes safe lifting techniques, including assessing load weight, avoiding twisting and seeking assistance for heavy or bulky items. Actively discourages lone lifting of heavy or awkward objects.
Vehicles, Traffic and Removal Operations
For any activity involving vehicles, either on site or during removals, Storage Selsdon will:
Implement safe traffic routes and loading zones where possible. Require that only authorised and competent employees operate company vehicles. Ensure vehicles and associated equipment are maintained in good working order. Encourage careful planning of removal jobs to minimise risks associated with access, loading, unloading and travel.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Selsdon maintains fire safety arrangements appropriate to the layout and use of the premises. These include suitable fire detection and alarm systems where required, clearly marked emergency exits and escape routes, fire extinguishers and relevant equipment, and emergency procedures for evacuation of staff, customers and visitors.
All employees are briefed on emergency procedures. Customers and visitors must familiarise themselves with escape routes and follow staff instructions in the event of an alarm or emergency situation.
Training, Information and Supervision
Storage Selsdon recognises that competent and informed people are essential to safe operations. We will:
Provide health and safety induction for new employees. Deliver role-specific training, including for warehouse, storage and removals activities. Offer refresher training when procedures or legal requirements change. Provide clear written procedures and guidance where necessary. Ensure adequate supervision is in place, particularly for higher-risk activities.
Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting
All accidents, incidents and near misses on our premises or in connection with our services must be reported as soon as possible to a member of staff or a manager. Storage Selsdon will record and investigate these events in order to identify root causes, implement corrective actions and prevent recurrence. Where required, statutory reporting obligations will be met.
Monitoring and Review
Storage Selsdon monitors the effectiveness of this Health and Safety Policy through regular inspections of the premises and working practices, review of accident and incident data, consultation with employees and, where relevant, feedback from customers and contractors.
This policy is reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes in operations, legislation or recognised best practice. Updated versions will be communicated to employees and made available to customers and visitors upon request.
By implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy, Storage Selsdon aims to provide safe, reliable and professional storage and removal services while protecting the wellbeing of everyone who works with or uses our facilities.
