Storage Southgate Health and Safety Policy
This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Storage Southgate to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions for our employees, contractors, visitors and customers. It applies to all areas of our operations, including storage facilities, offices, vehicles and any locations where we conduct removal and associated services.
Our Commitment to Health and Safety
Storage Southgate recognises its duty to manage health and safety as a core business responsibility. We aim to prevent injury, ill health, property damage and environmental harm through careful planning, risk assessment and continuous improvement. Health and safety considerations form an integral part of our decisions regarding premises, equipment, working methods and service delivery.
Objectives
Our primary health and safety objectives are to:
Promote a safe and healthy working environment for all employees and others who may be affected by our activities. Identify, assess and control risks arising from our storage and removal operations. Provide and maintain safe plant, equipment and vehicles. Ensure safe systems of work for manual handling, loading, unloading and storage of goods. Provide clear information, instruction, training and supervision to enable employees to work safely and competently. Encourage employee participation in health and safety matters and maintain open communication channels. Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management is responsible for ensuring that this policy is implemented, maintained and reviewed. Management will:
Provide adequate resources to meet health and safety commitments. Ensure that risk assessments are carried out, recorded, implemented and reviewed. Set realistic health and safety targets and monitor performance against them. Ensure that staff at all levels understand their health and safety responsibilities. Take prompt action to remedy any defects or non conformities identified through inspections, incident reports or employee feedback.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees share responsibility for achieving high standards of health and safety. Employees must:
Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. Follow all safety procedures, instructions and training provided by Storage Southgate. Use equipment, vehicles and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately. Report accidents, incidents, near misses, hazards and unsafe conditions as soon as possible. Cooperate with management in the implementation of this policy and any related procedures. Refrain from any behaviour that could compromise safety, including horseplay or misuse of equipment.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
We undertake risk assessments for our storage and removal activities, including handling, lifting, loading, unloading, use of vehicles, working in customers premises and the operation of storage facilities. These assessments are used to develop safe systems of work, including:
Safe manual handling techniques for lifting and carrying items. Procedures for loading and securing goods in vehicles. Guidelines for safe use of trolleys, lifting aids and other handling equipment. Measures to control slips, trips and falls in storage areas, corridors and access routes. Procedures for working in confined or restricted spaces within storage units where applicable. Controls for working at height, including the use of steps or platforms when necessary.
Training, Information and Supervision
Storage Southgate provides appropriate health and safety training to employees based on their roles and responsibilities. This may include induction training, manual handling training, vehicle safety, safe use of equipment, fire safety and first aid awareness. Refresher training is provided when necessary, and additional training is given when new processes, equipment or risks are introduced.
Clear information about hazards, safety procedures and emergency arrangements is communicated to employees and, where relevant, to customers and contractors. Adequate supervision is provided to ensure that employees, particularly new or inexperienced staff, follow safe working practices.
Equipment, Vehicles and Maintenance
All tools, equipment, storage systems, lifting aids and vehicles used by Storage Southgate are selected, operated and maintained with safety as a priority. We ensure that:
Equipment and vehicles are inspected and maintained at appropriate intervals. Defective equipment is taken out of use until repaired or replaced. Only trained and authorised personnel use specific items of equipment or drive company vehicles. Safety guards, restraints and other protective devices are kept in place and used correctly.
Safe Storage and Handling of Goods
We are committed to safe storage and handling of goods within our facilities and during removals. This includes:
Maintaining orderly and clearly marked storage areas. Ensuring that goods are stacked and stored in a stable and secure manner. Controlling access to storage areas to authorised persons. Taking care when handling bulky, fragile or heavy items and using team lifts or mechanical aids where required. Adhering to any specific handling requirements for customers goods where known and practicable.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Southgate maintains appropriate fire safety measures in accordance with fire risk assessments. These measures may include fire detection and alarm systems, fire extinguishers, clearly signed escape routes and emergency lighting where required. Emergency procedures are in place for evacuation and staff are instructed in their roles during an emergency.
All employees and visitors are expected to familiarise themselves with escape routes and follow instructions promptly during any emergency.
Welfare and Working Environment
We provide and maintain suitable welfare facilities and a working environment that supports the health and wellbeing of our employees. This includes access to rest areas, drinking water and sanitary facilities. We aim to manage workloads and working patterns so that employees are not exposed to undue stress or fatigue, particularly during intensive removal or peak operational periods.
Contractors, Visitors and Customers
Contractors working on our premises are required to comply with our health and safety standards and any site specific rules. Visitors and customers are expected to follow safety instructions, respect signage and avoid entering restricted areas. Where removal services take place at customers premises, our teams work with customers to ensure that access routes are clear, hazards are identified and safe working practices are followed.
Accidents, Incidents and Near Miss Reporting
All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported promptly so that they can be investigated and appropriate corrective actions taken. Records are maintained to help identify trends and areas for improvement. We encourage a positive reporting culture in which employees feel comfortable raising concerns without fear of blame, provided they have acted in good faith.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
Storage Southgate regularly reviews health and safety performance through inspections, audits, incident analysis and feedback from employees and customers. This policy and associated procedures are reviewed periodically and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance or our operations.
By working together and following the principles set out in this Health and Safety Policy, Storage Southgate aims to maintain a safe, healthy and secure environment for everyone involved in our storage and removal services.
