Storage Southfields Health and Safety Policy
Storage Southfields is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our employees, contractors, customers, and visitors. This Health and Safety Policy explains how we manage health and safety risks across our storage facilities and removal operations, and how we expect everyone on our premises to support these standards.
Our Commitment to Health and Safety
We aim to prevent accidents, injuries, and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and applying sensible, effective control measures. Health and safety considerations are integrated into the planning and delivery of our storage and removal services, including the handling, lifting, loading, transport, and unloading of goods.
Senior management is responsible for providing the resources, information, and leadership necessary to maintain high health and safety standards and for reviewing performance on a regular basis.
Legal Responsibilities and Scope
Storage Southfields complies with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice. This policy applies to all employees, agency staff, contractors, and visitors who enter our premises or take part in our removal and storage services.
Everyone has a duty to take reasonable care for their own safety and the safety of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. Individuals must follow safety instructions, use equipment correctly, and report any concerns or incidents without delay.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
We carry out regular risk assessments covering our storage facilities, vehicle operations, loading bays, and customer access areas. These assessments consider hazards such as manual handling, slips and trips, working at height, vehicle movements, and the storage of goods.
Based on these assessments, we implement safe systems of work, including safe stacking and racking of items, controlled access to storage areas, clear walkways, and safe loading and unloading procedures for our removal services. Control measures are monitored and updated whenever activities change or new risks are identified.
Manual Handling and Lifting Operations
Manual handling is a central part of storage and removal work. To reduce the risk of strain, sprain, and lifting injuries, we provide training on correct lifting techniques, appropriate use of handling aids, and safe team lifting.
Employees must always assess the weight, shape, and stability of items before moving them and must use trolleys, lifting equipment, or additional personnel where necessary. Items must be stacked securely, with heavier objects stored at lower levels where possible to reduce the risk of falling loads.
Vehicle Safety and Loading
Our removal vehicles are operated and maintained to high safety standards. Drivers are expected to conduct pre-use checks and report any defects promptly so that vehicles are kept in safe working order.
Loading and unloading operations are carried out in a controlled manner, using appropriate equipment and secure methods of restraint. Items are arranged to minimise movement during transit, and access to loading areas is managed to protect both workers and visitors from moving vehicles and equipment.
Workplace Environment and Housekeeping
We maintain our premises in a clean, orderly condition to reduce the risk of slips, trips, falls, and collisions. Aisles, stairways, loading bays, and fire exits must be kept clear of obstructions at all times.
Lighting, ventilation, and welfare facilities are maintained to ensure a safe and comfortable working environment. Any damaged fixtures, spillages, or other hazards must be reported and dealt with promptly.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Southfields has fire safety arrangements in place, including appropriate detection, alarm, and fire fighting equipment. Fire exits and escape routes are clearly marked and must remain unobstructed.
Staff are trained in emergency procedures, including evacuation routes, assembly points, and the safe use of fire extinguishers where appropriate. Fire drills and equipment checks are carried out at suitable intervals. Customers and visitors must follow staff instructions in the event of an alarm or emergency.
Hazardous and Prohibited Items
To protect the safety of everyone on site, certain goods may not be stored or transported through our services. These typically include flammable, explosive, corrosive, toxic, illegal, or otherwise hazardous items that could present a risk to people or property.
Customers are responsible for ensuring that their goods comply with our conditions of storage and carriage. Staff are authorised to refuse the storage or transport of items that present unacceptable risk.
Training, Information, and Supervision
All employees receive suitable induction and ongoing training relevant to their roles, including manual handling, vehicle and equipment use, emergency procedures, and safe working practices specific to storage and removal operations.
Supervisors monitor compliance with safety procedures, provide guidance where needed, and take corrective action if unsafe behaviour or conditions are observed. Safety information and instructions are communicated clearly and updated when necessary.
Accident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported as soon as possible to a manager or designated representative. This includes injuries, property damage, and situations that could have resulted in harm.
We investigate incidents to identify root causes and implement measures to prevent recurrence. Records are maintained to monitor trends, improve our practices, and meet legal obligations.
Responsibilities of Customers and Visitors
Customers and visitors must cooperate with our health and safety arrangements. This includes following any instructions given by staff, using designated access routes, taking care when loading or unloading personal items, and not entering restricted areas.
Children and other dependants must be supervised at all times when on our premises. Any hazards, damage, or unsafe behaviour observed should be reported to a member of staff immediately.
Continuous Improvement and Policy Review
Storage Southfields is committed to the continual improvement of its health and safety performance. We review this policy regularly to ensure that it remains effective, relevant to our storage and removal operations, and aligned with current legal and industry requirements.
Suggestions for improving health and safety are welcomed from employees, contractors, and customers, and will be considered as part of our ongoing review and improvement process.
This Health and Safety Policy is endorsed by senior management and applies across all Storage Southfields activities, including our storage facilities and associated removal services.
