Health and Safety Policy for Storage Feltham
This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Storage Feltham to providing a safe and healthy working environment for employees, contractors, visitors and customers using our storage and removal services. Our aim is to prevent accidents, protect property and ensure that all activities are carried out in a responsible and controlled manner.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Storage Feltham recognises its duty to comply with relevant health and safety legislation and accepted industry standards for storage and removals. We are committed to the continual improvement of our health and safety performance and to the prevention of injury, ill health and damage to property.
Our principal objectives are to identify and control risks associated with storage units, handling and moving goods, vehicle operations and customer access, and to ensure that all staff understand and carry out their responsibilities safely.
Responsibilities and Management
Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who will ensure that adequate resources are made available to implement this policy. Managers are responsible for promoting a positive safety culture, enforcing safe working practices, monitoring performance and reviewing procedures.
Supervisors are responsible for day-to-day implementation, including carrying out checks on storage areas, equipment and vehicles, verifying that staff follow safe systems of work and ensuring that any defects or incidents are reported and addressed promptly.
Employees have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. All staff must follow company procedures, use equipment correctly, report hazards and cooperate fully with training and safety initiatives.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Storage Feltham will undertake regular and systematic risk assessments covering storage facilities, removal operations, loading and unloading, manual handling, use of mechanical aids, traffic movements and customer access. Significant findings will be recorded and used to develop safe systems of work.
Control measures may include segregation of vehicles and pedestrians, clear walkways, appropriate lighting, safe stacking heights, secure racking, the use of trolleys and lifting equipment, and clearly signposted emergency exits. Risk assessments will be reviewed periodically and after any incident or significant change in operations.
Training, Instruction and Supervision
All employees will receive appropriate health and safety induction when they start work, including information on emergency procedures, accident reporting, safe use of equipment and site rules. Additional role-specific training will be provided for tasks such as driving vehicles, operating lifting aids, handling heavy or bulky items and working in storage areas.
Refresher training will be provided at suitable intervals or when procedures or equipment change. Supervisors will monitor working practices to ensure that training is applied, and corrective guidance will be given where unsafe behaviour or conditions are identified.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
As a storage and removal operation, manual handling is a key area of risk. We will avoid hazardous manual handling as far as reasonably practicable by using trolleys, dollies and other mechanical aids, planning loads carefully and encouraging team lifting where appropriate.
Staff are trained in safe lifting techniques, including assessing the weight and shape of items, keeping loads close to the body and avoiding twisting while lifting or carrying. Equipment used for moving goods and accessing storage units will be maintained and inspected to ensure it remains safe and suitable for use.
Vehicle and Traffic Safety
Vehicle movements, whether for removals or customer access, will be managed to minimise the risk of collision and injury. Where practicable, there will be designated routes for vehicles and separate routes for pedestrians. Speed limits, signage and clear markings will be used to improve visibility and reduce risk.
Drivers are expected to follow safe driving practices, secure loads properly and observe safe loading and unloading procedures. Vehicles and trailers used for removal services will be subject to routine checks and maintenance to ensure roadworthiness and safety.
Customer and Visitor Safety
Storage Feltham is committed to providing a safe environment for customers accessing their storage units and for visitors attending our premises. Information on site rules, restricted areas, safe use of trolleys and emergency procedures will be clearly displayed and explained where necessary.
Customers and visitors are expected to follow all safety instructions, keep children under supervision, and avoid interfering with any equipment or safety devices. Any observed hazard should be brought to staff attention without delay.
Emergency Procedures and First Aid
Emergency arrangements are in place to deal with fire, accidents, spills and other incidents. Fire exits will be kept clear at all times, alarm points and extinguishers will be accessible and maintained, and evacuation routes will be clearly indicated.
Designated staff are trained in basic first aid and incident response. All incidents, including near misses, will be recorded and investigated to identify root causes and prevent recurrence. Lessons learned will be shared with relevant staff and reflected in updated procedures.
Housekeeping and Environment
Good housekeeping is essential for safety in storage and removal operations. Aisles, stairways and access routes will be kept clear, floors will be kept as clean and dry as practicable, and waste materials will be removed regularly and stored safely prior to disposal.
Items stored in units and communal areas must be stacked safely and not obstruct access or fire safety equipment. We will also seek to minimise environmental impact by promoting responsible waste management and the safe handling of any potentially hazardous materials associated with storage activities.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
Storage Feltham will monitor health and safety performance through inspections, incident reporting, staff feedback and periodic audits. This policy and associated procedures will be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to operations, legislation or industry best practice.
All employees are encouraged to contribute ideas for improving safety and to raise any concerns without hesitation. By working together, we aim to maintain a safe, healthy and efficient environment for everyone involved in our storage and removal services.
