Storage Roehampton Health and Safety Policy
Storage Roehampton is committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for all employees, customers, contractors and visitors. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks across our storage facilities and removal operations, including collection, transport, handling and delivery of goods.
We recognise our duty to comply with applicable health and safety legislation and to work towards continual improvement in all aspects of our activities. Health and safety is an integral part of our service delivery and business planning.
Policy Aims and Objectives
The aims of this Health and Safety Policy are to prevent injury and ill health, protect property and maintain a safe working environment. Our objectives include identifying hazards, assessing risks, implementing effective controls, providing information and training, and monitoring performance.
We will review and update this policy on a regular basis, or following any significant changes in our operations, facilities or legal requirements.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Roehampton holds overall responsibility for health and safety. Management will ensure that resources are available to implement this policy and that health and safety considerations are integrated into decision making and planning for storage and removals services.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for day to day implementation of this policy, including carrying out and reviewing risk assessments, enforcing safe systems of work, investigating accidents and near misses, and encouraging a positive health and safety culture throughout the company.
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 safety procedures, use equipment correctly, attend required training and cooperate fully with management in the implementation of this policy.
Employees must promptly report hazards, defects, unsafe conditions, accidents, near misses, and any health concerns that may affect their ability to carry out tasks safely. No employee will be disadvantaged for raising genuine health and safety concerns.
Customer and Visitor Safety
Storage Roehampton is committed to providing a safe environment for customers and visitors to our storage facilities and during removal or delivery services. We will provide clear instructions regarding safe access, loading bays, parking areas and any restricted zones.
Customers and visitors are expected to follow all safety signage and any instructions given by staff, to take care when moving goods or vehicles, and to keep children and vulnerable persons under close supervision at all times while on our premises or in the vicinity of our vehicles.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We will carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments for all key activities, including storage operations, manual handling, working at height, vehicle movements, use of lifting equipment, and handling of customer goods. The findings of these assessments will be recorded and used to develop safe systems of work.
Safe systems of work will be communicated to employees through training, written procedures and supervision. Staff are required to comply with these systems at all times and to suggest improvements where they identify areas of risk.
Manual Handling and Lifting Operations
Manual handling tasks are central to storage and removal activities. To reduce the risk of injury, we will plan lifting operations carefully, use appropriate equipment where reasonably practicable, and avoid hazardous manual handling wherever possible.
Employees will receive instruction on correct lifting techniques, team handling, use of trolleys and similar aids, and recognition of loads that are too heavy or awkward to lift safely. No employee should attempt to lift or move items that exceed their capability or that have not been assessed as safe to handle.
Vehicles, Driving and Transport Safety
Our removal vehicles and any other work-related transport will be maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition. Drivers must hold the appropriate licence, be medically fit to drive, and comply with road traffic law and company driving rules at all times.
Loading and unloading will be planned to minimise risks from falling objects, slips, trips, manual handling and vehicle movements. Access to loading areas will be controlled and clearly marked, and reversing or manoeuvring will be conducted with particular care, using a banksman where necessary.
Workplace, Storage Units and Equipment
Storage Roehampton will maintain buildings, storage units, corridors, stairways, loading bays and external areas in a safe condition, with good housekeeping standards. Floors will be kept as clear as reasonably practicable, with attention to preventing slip and trip hazards.
All work equipment, including trolleys, cages, ramps, lifting aids and safety devices, will be selected, inspected and maintained to ensure that it is suitable and safe for use. Faulty equipment must be taken out of service immediately and reported to management.
Fire Safety and Emergency Arrangements
We will implement appropriate fire safety measures, including clear escape routes, fire detection where required, and provision of suitable firefighting equipment. Emergency procedures will cover evacuation, assembly points, accounting for persons and contacting emergency services.
Employees will receive training in fire and emergency procedures, and customers and visitors will be informed of relevant arrangements where necessary. Fire exits and emergency routes must be kept clear at all times and never blocked with goods or equipment.
Hazardous Substances and Restricted Items
To protect people and property, certain hazardous or prohibited goods must not be stored or transported as part of our services. This may include flammable, explosive, toxic, corrosive or otherwise dangerous substances that could create additional risks.
Customers are responsible for ensuring that stored or transported items comply with our terms and conditions and do not present an unacceptable risk. If such items are discovered, Storage Roehampton reserves the right to take appropriate action to protect health and safety.
Training, Information and Supervision
Storage Roehampton will provide employees with adequate health and safety training relevant to their roles, including induction training, refresher courses and training on specific equipment or tasks. We will also provide information on risks, control measures and emergency procedures.
Suitable supervision will be provided, particularly for new or inexperienced staff, and for higher risk activities such as heavy lifting, working at height and vehicle loading. Training records will be maintained and used to identify further development needs.
Accident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, incidents, near misses and cases of work-related ill health must be reported to management as soon as possible. We will keep appropriate records and investigate incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
Where required by law, Storage Roehampton will report specific incidents to the relevant enforcing authorities. Lessons learned from investigations will be shared across the organisation to prevent recurrence.
Consultation and Continuous Improvement
We encourage open communication on health and safety issues and will consult with employees on changes that may affect their safety. Suggestions for improvement are welcomed and will be considered by management.
Through regular review of this policy, analysis of performance data, inspections and audits, Storage Roehampton aims to continuously improve our health and safety standards and ensure that safe practice remains at the heart of our removals and storage services.
