Health and Safety Policy for Storage Chadwell Heath
This Health and Safety Policy explains how Storage Chadwell Heath manages health, safety and welfare for employees, contractors, visitors and customers using our storage and removals services. We are committed to providing a working and visiting environment that is safe, well maintained and continually improved.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Storage Chadwell Heath aims to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property arising from our activities, including storage operations, removal services, transportation and administration. We seek to identify hazards, assess risks and implement practical controls that protect people, goods and the environment.
We comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and codes of practice applicable to our storage facilities and moving services. We review our policy regularly to reflect changes in law, best practice and our own operations.
Responsibilities and Accountability
Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management. Management ensures that appropriate resources, training and supervision are in place to maintain safe working practices throughout our storage locations and when operating off site as part of our removals service.
Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day to day implementation of this policy, including safety briefings, monitoring of working methods and reporting of any concerns or incidents. They must ensure that staff follow agreed procedures and use equipment correctly.
All employees, whether working in storage areas, offices, vehicles or at customer premises, must:
Follow health and safety instructions and training at all times.
Use equipment, tools, vehicles and protective gear as instructed.
Report hazards, near misses, accidents and unsafe conditions immediately.
Cooperate with management and colleagues to maintain a safe environment.
Customers, visitors and contractors are expected to comply with any safety information, guidance and site rules provided by Storage Chadwell Heath staff.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We carry out risk assessments covering storage operations, loading and unloading, vehicle movements, handling of customer goods, office activities and any other work that could present significant risk. These assessments are used to develop safe systems of work, which are communicated to relevant staff and reviewed regularly.
Where risks cannot be eliminated, we reduce them so far as reasonably practicable through a combination of training, planning, supervision, equipment, safe routes and emergency arrangements.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a key part of storage and removal work. To minimise the risk of injury, we:
Provide manual handling training to staff to ensure correct lifting and carrying techniques.
Encourage planning of lifts, use of team lifting and use of mechanical aids such as trolleys where appropriate.
Assess loads before lifting, taking account of weight, shape, stability and access routes.
Prohibit unsafe lifting practices, including lifting beyond individual capability or in awkward or unstable positions.
Our staff are instructed to stop work and seek support whenever a lift or movement of goods cannot be carried out safely.
Vehicles, Driving and Site Traffic
Vehicles used for removals, collections and deliveries must be operated safely at all times. We ensure that:
Drivers are competent, appropriately licensed and briefed on route planning and safe loading.
Vehicles are maintained, inspected and kept roadworthy, with defects reported and addressed promptly.
Loads are secured properly to prevent movement, damage or risk to drivers and other road users.
Safe driving practices are followed, taking account of weather, road conditions, site restrictions and time pressures.
On and around our storage facilities, we manage traffic flow, parking and loading areas to reduce the risk of collision between vehicles, staff and visitors.
Workplace and Storage Safety
We maintain our storage areas, offices and external spaces in a clean and orderly condition. This includes:
Keeping walkways, stairways and fire exits clear of obstruction.
Managing housekeeping to reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls.
Ensuring racking, shelving and storage units are suitable, stable and correctly loaded.
Monitoring lighting, ventilation and temperature so that staff and visitors can work and move around safely.
Any defects or hazardous conditions are reported immediately and, where necessary, areas may be isolated until they are made safe.
Equipment, Tools and Personal Protective Equipment
All tools, equipment and lifting aids used for storage and removals are maintained in good condition and used only for their intended purpose. Staff receive training in the correct use of equipment, and regular checks are undertaken to identify wear, damage or malfunction.
Where risk assessments indicate that personal protective equipment is required, such as safety footwear, gloves or high visibility clothing, this is provided and staff are required to wear it as instructed.
Health, Welfare and Training
We recognise the importance of physical and mental wellbeing in delivering safe storage and removal services. We provide appropriate welfare facilities for staff and encourage early reporting of any health concerns that might affect their ability to work safely.
Training is provided on induction and refreshed as necessary. Topics include general health and safety, manual handling, safe driving, emergency procedures and any task specific risks. Records of training are kept and reviewed to ensure competence is maintained.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Fire safety arrangements are in place for all premises used by Storage Chadwell Heath. These include fire detection and alarm systems, fire fighting equipment, clearly signed escape routes and assembly points.
Staff are briefed on emergency procedures, including evacuation, raising the alarm and assisting visitors. Regular checks and drills are carried out to ensure that systems are effective and understood.
Incident Reporting and Continuous Improvement
All accidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported as soon as possible to a manager or supervisor. Incidents are recorded and investigated to identify causes and implement corrective actions.
We review incident data, risk assessments and staff feedback to improve our arrangements over time. Lessons learned are communicated to relevant staff and, where appropriate, to contractors and partners involved in our storage and removals operations.
Policy Review and Communication
This Health and Safety Policy is made available to employees, contractors, customers and visitors on request and is communicated during staff induction and refresher training. It is reviewed at regular intervals and updated to reflect any significant changes to our business activities or legal requirements.
By following this policy, Storage Chadwell Heath aims to provide a safe, reliable and professional storage and removals service for all who work with us and use our facilities.
