Storage Stoke Newington Health and Safety Policy
This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Storage Stoke Newington to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions for all employees, contractors, visitors and customers. It applies to all activities connected with our storage, handling, packing, loading, transport and removal services.
Our objective is to prevent injury and ill health arising from our work and to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards for storage and removals operations.
Management Commitment and Responsibilities
The management of Storage Stoke Newington accepts overall responsibility for health and safety within the business. We will provide appropriate resources, information, instruction and supervision to ensure that risks are properly controlled.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing this policy within their areas of control, including:
Ensuring that risk assessments are completed and kept up to date.
Making sure employees follow safe systems of work, particularly for lifting, carrying, loading and operating equipment.
Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses, and ensuring corrective actions are taken.
Promoting a positive health and safety culture across storage facilities, vehicles and customer premises where removal work is being carried out.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. All staff working in storage units, warehouses, vehicles and on removal sites are required to:
Follow all safety instructions, procedures and training provided.
Use equipment, tools and vehicles properly and not interfere with or misuse anything provided for health, safety or welfare.
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment where required, such as safety footwear, gloves or high-visibility clothing.
Report hazards, defects, accidents, incidents and near misses to a manager or supervisor without delay.
Cooperate with management to enable compliance with health and safety obligations.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Storage Stoke Newington will identify, assess and control risks associated with all work activities, including but not limited to:
Manual handling of furniture, boxes and equipment during removals and storage.
Operation of handling equipment such as sack trucks, trolleys, pallet trucks and lifts.
Loading and unloading vehicles, including safe stacking and securing of loads.
Working in confined or busy storage areas, corridors and loading bays.
Vehicle movements in yards, car parks and at customer locations.
Risk assessments will be regularly reviewed and updated when there are significant changes in work activities, equipment or premises. Safe systems of work will be developed and communicated to ensure that identified risks are minimised.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Given the nature of storage and removals operations, manual handling is a key risk area. Storage Stoke Newington will:
Provide training in safe lifting techniques, team lifts and use of mechanical aids.
Plan removal jobs and storage moves to minimise repetitive or heavy lifting where reasonably practicable.
Encourage assessment of each lift, including weight, shape, stability and route, before moving any item.
Ensure staff use appropriate handling equipment whenever possible to reduce strain and risk of injury.
Vehicles, Driving and Transport Safety
For removal and collection services, transport safety is essential. We will:
Ensure company vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition through regular checks and servicing.
Require drivers to carry out pre-use checks and report defects immediately.
Provide guidance on safe loading, including weight limits, load distribution and securing items to prevent movement during transit.
Promote safe driving practices and compliance with traffic laws at all times.
Storage Facilities and Workplace Environment
Storage Stoke Newington will maintain storage units, common areas and workspaces in a safe condition. This includes:
Keeping walkways, stairs, corridors and fire exits clear of obstacles.
Managing stacking heights and stability of stored items to prevent falls and collapses.
Ensuring adequate lighting in all working and access areas.
Maintaining good housekeeping standards in offices, warehouses and loading areas.
Providing suitable welfare facilities for employees and visitors.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Fire safety is a core element of our health and safety arrangements. We will:
Provide and maintain appropriate fire detection and firefighting equipment.
Ensure clear fire evacuation routes and assembly points are identified and kept unobstructed.
Display emergency instructions and ensure staff are familiar with them.
Carry out periodic checks and drills appropriate to the type of premises.
Information, Instruction, Training and Supervision
Storage Stoke Newington recognises that competent and informed staff are essential for safe operations. We will:
Provide induction training for all new starters, including health and safety rules relevant to storage and removals work.
Deliver specific training on manual handling, equipment use, vehicle safety and emergency procedures where applicable.
Offer refresher training when there are changes in work processes, equipment or legislation, or where additional support is needed.
Ensure adequate supervision, particularly for new or inexperienced employees.
Accident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported promptly. Storage Stoke Newington will:
Record and investigate incidents to identify causes and take steps to prevent recurrence.
Comply with any statutory reporting requirements for serious incidents.
Review accident data periodically to identify trends and areas for improvement.
Consultation and Policy Review
Storage Stoke Newington is committed to consulting with employees on health and safety matters and encouraging feedback on how safety performance can be improved.
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated as required to reflect changes in legislation, operational practice and the nature of our storage and removal services. The latest version will be made available to employees and to customers on request.
