Storage Hither Green Health and Safety Policy
Storage Hither Green is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees, customers, contractors, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety across our storage facilities and removal operations.
Our aim is to prevent injury and ill health, protect property, and promote a culture where safety is an integral part of everyday work. We comply with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards for storage, handling and removal activities.
Scope of the Policy
This policy applies to all staff, agency workers, temporary workers, contractors and visitors who are on our premises or engaged in work on behalf of Storage Hither Green. It covers storage operations, goods handling, loading and unloading, driving and removal services, and associated office activities.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management has overall responsibility for health and safety performance. Management will:
Provide adequate resources to implement and maintain this policy, including equipment, training, supervision and welfare facilities.
Ensure that risk assessments are completed, documented, reviewed and, where necessary, updated to reflect changes in operations, equipment or work methods.
Implement safe systems of work for storage and removal activities, including safe lifting, loading, driving and working at height where relevant.
Consult with employees on health and safety matters and encourage participation in improving safety standards.
Investigate all accidents, incidents and near misses, and ensure that appropriate corrective actions are implemented.
Monitor and review performance regularly to seek continual improvement in our safety management.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees and workers share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Everyone must:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.
Follow all safety instructions, procedures and training provided by Storage Hither Green.
Use machinery, vehicles, personal protective equipment and any other equipment correctly and only for its intended purpose.
Report any hazards, defects, unsafe practices, accidents or near misses to a manager or supervisor without delay.
Cooperate fully with any accident investigations, risk assessments or safety initiatives.
Refrain from horseplay, misuse of equipment or any behaviour that could compromise safety, particularly around vehicles, stored goods and handling equipment.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We regularly assess the risks associated with our operations, including storage, manual handling, use of trolleys, lifting equipment, loading ramps and removal vehicles. Based on these assessments, we establish and maintain safe systems of work that take into account the nature, size and weight of items being stored or moved.
Control measures may include the use of handling aids, team lifting, load limits, designated walkways, vehicle movement controls, and restricted access to high-risk areas. Risk assessments are reviewed periodically and following any significant change in equipment, processes or layout.
Manual Handling and Goods Handling
Manual handling is a core part of storage and removal activities, so particular care is taken to minimise the risk of injury when lifting and moving items. We:
Provide training on correct lifting techniques, posture and team lifting.
Encourage the use of trolleys, dollies and other mechanical aids for heavy or awkward loads.
Set clear guidelines on maximum loads for individual handling and vehicle loading.
Plan handling routes to avoid unnecessary carrying, twisting or working on uneven surfaces.
Where goods are especially heavy, fragile or high in value, we adopt additional precautions and may require specialist handling methods.
Vehicle Safety and Removal Operations
For our removal services and transport of goods, we implement specific safety measures to protect drivers, loaders and the public. These include:
Ensuring vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced and maintained in safe working condition.
Checking that drivers hold the appropriate licences and receive training in safe driving, loading, reversing and securing loads.
Using safe loading and unloading procedures to prevent falls, crush injuries and damage to property.
Implementing traffic management and parking controls at our premises, including designated loading bays and speed restrictions.
Planning routes and schedules so that drivers are not placed under undue time pressure that could compromise safety.
Customer and Visitor Safety
We are committed to providing a safe environment for customers and visitors using our storage facilities or meeting our teams during removal work. We:
Keep walkways, stairways and loading areas as clear as reasonably practicable.
Signpost any hazards and provide clear instructions to visitors regarding safe access and conduct on site.
Restrict access to operational areas where vehicles are manoeuvring or heavy lifting is taking place.
Assess and control risks when working at customers properties, taking care to protect household members, neighbours and passers-by during removal activities.
Training and Information
We recognise that competent, well-informed staff are essential to safe operations. Storage Hither Green:
Provides induction training for new employees covering core health and safety rules, emergency procedures and reporting lines.
Delivers task-specific training for storage and removal activities, including manual handling, use of equipment, vehicle operations and incident reporting.
Refreshes training periodically and when there are changes to equipment, processes or legislation.
Ensures that safety information, rules and signage are clear, accessible and understood by all relevant personnel.
Emergency Preparedness
We have emergency procedures in place to deal with situations such as fire, accidents and serious incidents. This includes:
Clearly marked emergency exits and escape routes.
Fire detection and firefighting equipment appropriate to the premises and stored materials.
Designated assembly points and a system for accounting for staff and visitors during evacuation.
First aid provisions and arrangements for contacting emergency services promptly.
Staff training in emergency response, including how to raise the alarm, assist with evacuation and respond to injuries within the limits of their competence.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
Storage Hither Green monitors health and safety performance through inspections, audits, incident reports and staff feedback. We use this information to identify trends, learn lessons and implement improvements.
This policy and its associated procedures are reviewed regularly, and whenever there are significant changes in our business activities or relevant legislation. Updates are communicated to employees and, where appropriate, to contractors and customers.
By working together and maintaining a strong safety culture, Storage Hither Green seeks to ensure that storage and removal operations are carried out responsibly, efficiently and with due care for everyone involved.
