Storage Streatham Health and Safety Policy
Storage Streatham is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all employees, customers, visitors, contractors and others who may be affected by our activities. This policy applies to all storage operations, office activities and associated removal, collection and delivery work carried out on or from our premises.
Our aim is to prevent accidents, injuries and ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing sensible, proportionate control measures. Health and safety is an integral part of how we manage our storage facilities and support our customers, including those using our services in connection with moving and removals.
Management Responsibility and Commitment
Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management of Storage Streatham. Management will provide leadership, resources and systems to implement this policy and to ensure that health and safety standards are continually maintained and improved.
Management will ensure that:
Health and safety risks arising from our storage and removals-related activities are properly assessed and controlled; employees are given adequate information, instruction, training and supervision; work equipment is suitable, maintained and used safely; the workplace and storage facilities are kept in a safe condition; and this policy is reviewed regularly and updated when required by operational or legal changes.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee of Storage Streatham has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions at work. Employees must cooperate fully with management to enable the company to meet its health and safety responsibilities.
Employees are expected to:
Follow all safety procedures and safe systems of work; use equipment, tools and personal protective equipment correctly; report hazards, near misses, incidents and accidents promptly; avoid taking shortcuts that could compromise safety; and attend required training sessions and refreshers.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Storage Streatham will carry out and maintain suitable and sufficient risk assessments covering our storage operations, customer access, office areas and any removal and transport related activities conducted on site.
From these assessments we will develop safe systems of work, including procedures for:
Loading and unloading goods; manual handling and lifting; use of trolleys, pallet trucks and similar equipment; access to storage units and high racking; vehicle movements, parking and loading bays; and emergency evacuation.
Risk assessments will be reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes to operations, equipment or layout, or following an incident.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Many of our activities involve the movement and storage of items, including those handled during moves and removals. To reduce the risk of injury from manual handling, we will:
Provide training in safe lifting techniques and correct use of handling aids; plan work to minimise unnecessary lifting or carrying; encourage use of mechanical aids such as trolleys where appropriate; and assess higher risk tasks that involve heavy, bulky or awkward loads.
Employees must follow safe manual handling practices at all times and seek assistance when a load is too heavy or difficult to manage alone.
Storage Areas, Housekeeping and Access
Safe storage is central to our operations. Storage Streatham will maintain clear, well-organised storage areas to prevent slips, trips, falls and other incidents. This includes:
Keeping walkways, fire exits and access routes clear; making sure goods are stacked securely and within safe height limits; maintaining adequate lighting in corridors, units and access points; and ensuring doors, ramps and loading areas are kept in good condition.
Customers using our facilities will be asked to follow our safety rules, including safe stacking, sensible load sizes and respect for restricted areas.
Vehicles, Loading and Removals-Related Activity
Where vehicles are used for collection, delivery or associated removal work in connection with our storage services, we will take steps to manage the related risks. This includes:
Organising safe vehicle routes and designated loading bays; controlling reversing and manoeuvring areas where possible; ensuring that loads are secured safely before vehicles move; and providing guidance to staff and contractors involved in loading and unloading.
Drivers, porters and handlers must follow all relevant safety guidance and must not operate vehicles or handling equipment for which they are not trained or authorised.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Streatham will maintain appropriate fire safety arrangements to protect people and property. We will:
Carry out fire risk assessments and review them regularly; provide suitable fire detection and alarm systems; ensure that fire extinguishers and other fire equipment are provided and maintained; keep fire exits and escape routes unobstructed; and display clear instructions on what to do in the event of a fire or emergency.
Employees will receive training on evacuation procedures and the location of exits and assembly points. All users of the facility must follow staff instructions during any emergency.
Information, Instruction and Training
Storage Streatham will provide employees with appropriate information, instruction and training so they can carry out their duties safely. This may include:
Induction training covering general safety, emergency procedures and company rules; role-specific training for manual handling, use of handling aids and equipment; refresher training where required; and toolbox talks or briefings following incidents or changes to procedures.
Training records will be kept and reviewed to ensure that all staff remain competent for the tasks they perform.
Contractors, Visitors and Customers
Contractors working on site must comply with our health and safety standards and with all relevant legal requirements. Where contractors undertake maintenance, construction or other specialised work, they will be required to follow agreed method statements and risk controls.
Visitors and customers will be given clear instructions on safe access, including parking, unit access, use of trolleys and emergency routes. Anyone acting in a way that places themselves or others at risk may be asked to leave the premises.
Accident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, incidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences on our premises, or arising from our activities, must be reported without delay to the responsible person on site. Storage Streatham will record and, where necessary, investigate such events to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.
Corrective actions may include changes to procedures, additional training, equipment maintenance or layout changes within the storage or loading areas.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
Storage Streatham will monitor health and safety performance through inspections, audits, incident reviews and staff feedback. This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes in our operations or in applicable legal requirements.
We are committed to continuous improvement in health and safety, ensuring that our storage facilities and related removals support services remain safe, well managed and fit for purpose for everyone who uses or works within them.
