Storage Herne Hill Health and Safety Policy
Storage Herne Hill 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 operations, handling of goods and associated removal activities conducted on or from our premises.
We aim to prevent accidents and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing effective control measures. Health and safety considerations are integral to the planning and delivery of all services, including handling, loading, unloading and storage of items for domestic and commercial customers.
Policy Objectives
The objectives of this policy are to:
Protect the health, safety and welfare of all persons who may be affected by our activities. Comply with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards. Provide safe systems of work for storage and removal-related tasks. Maintain the workplace, equipment and facilities in a safe condition. Provide information, instruction, training and supervision appropriate to roles and responsibilities. Promote a positive health and safety culture with clear communication and consultation.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Herne Hill has overall responsibility for implementing this policy and ensuring that adequate resources are available to maintain high health and safety standards. Management will:
Set clear health and safety objectives and review performance. Ensure risk assessments are carried out, recorded, and periodically reviewed. Provide and maintain safe plant, equipment and vehicles used in storage and removal work. Ensure appropriate personal protective equipment is available and used where required. Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses and implement corrective actions. Review this policy regularly and update it as necessary to reflect changes in law, operations or best practice.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Employees are required to:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. Follow all safety procedures, instructions and training provided by Storage Herne Hill. Use equipment, vehicles, tools and protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately. Co-operate with management in the implementation of this policy and related procedures. Report accidents, incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions without delay. Refrain from any acts or omissions that could endanger themselves or others, including unsafe manual handling or misuse of equipment.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We undertake risk assessments for key activities related to storage and removal services, including but not limited to manual handling, lifting and carrying of goods, vehicle movements on site, loading and unloading of vehicles, operation of mechanical handling equipment, working at height where applicable, and fire and emergency risks.
From these assessments we develop safe systems of work that set out step-by-step procedures, equipment requirements and supervision levels. These safe systems are communicated to employees through induction, task-specific training and ongoing refresher sessions.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Storage and removal activities involve frequent handling of items of varying size and weight. To minimise the risk of injury, we:
Encourage the use of mechanical aids where reasonably practicable. Train staff in correct lifting and carrying techniques. Assess heavy or awkward items in advance and plan handling methods. Avoid single-person lifts for loads that are too heavy or unstable. Organise work to reduce repetitive or sustained manual handling where possible.
Vehicles, Traffic and Loading Activities
Vehicle movements and loading operations are a key aspect of removal and storage work. To manage these risks, Storage Herne Hill:
Implements site rules for vehicle movements, parking and loading areas. Ensures that loading and unloading zones are kept clear and organised. Requires drivers and loaders to follow safe loading practices to secure items and prevent shifting in transit. Maintains vehicles and relevant equipment in line with manufacturer guidance and legal requirements. Provides guidance on reversing, use of banksmen where appropriate, and restricted access areas.
Customer and Visitor Safety
We recognise our duty of care to customers and visitors accessing storage units or attending our premises in connection with removal services. We will:
Maintain clearly marked walkways and access points where reasonably practicable. Provide appropriate signage highlighting hazards such as vehicle movements, trip risks or restricted areas. Keep floors, stairs and access routes as clear and dry as reasonably possible. Provide safety information to customers regarding safe access to units and the correct stacking and storage of their goods.
Welfare, First Aid and Emergencies
Storage Herne Hill maintains appropriate welfare facilities for employees, including access to rest areas and sanitary facilities. We ensure that suitable first aid arrangements are in place, including trained first aiders and stocked first aid kits.
Emergency procedures cover fire, serious accidents and other incidents. Employees receive guidance on evacuation routes, assembly points and the use of fire-fighting equipment where trained and safe to do so. Fire detection and alarm systems, extinguishers and escape routes are inspected and tested periodically, and any deficiencies are addressed promptly.
Information, Training and Supervision
We provide employees with information and training relevant to their roles, such as induction training covering general health and safety requirements, task-specific training for storage and removal activities, safe use of equipment and manual handling, and refresher training where necessary or following changes in procedures.
Supervisors monitor work practices to ensure procedures are followed and provide additional guidance or retraining where required. Employees are encouraged to raise any questions or concerns about health and safety at any time.
Consultation and Continuous Improvement
Storage Herne Hill is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. We consult with employees on health and safety matters, including changes to procedures, introduction of new equipment or revisions to this policy. Feedback from staff, customers and contractors is welcomed and used to improve our standards.
Accident and incident data, near miss reports and inspection findings are reviewed regularly to identify trends and opportunities for improvement. Actions may include updating risk assessments, revising procedures, enhancing training or improving communication.
Policy Review
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically and whenever significant changes occur in our operations, services or applicable legislation. The latest version is made available to employees and can be requested by customers or other interested parties.
By implementing this policy and working together, Storage Herne Hill aims to provide a safe, secure and well-managed environment for storage users and removal activities carried out in connection with our services.
