Storage Harlington Health and Safety Policy
Storage Harlington is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all employees, customers, contractors and visitors. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety across our storage facilities and removal services, ensuring that risks are identified, controlled and continually reviewed.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property by promoting a positive health and safety culture and integrating safety considerations into every aspect of our operations. We aim to comply with all applicable health and safety laws and recognised industry standards, and to strive for continuous improvement in our performance.
Health and safety is a core management responsibility and an integral part of the way we plan, organise and deliver storage and removal services for our customers.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Harlington has overall responsibility for implementing this policy and ensuring that adequate resources, information and supervision are provided. Managers and supervisors must lead by example, promote safe working practices and ensure that employees understand and follow all relevant procedures.
Management duties include carrying out and reviewing risk assessments, maintaining safe systems of work, ensuring equipment is properly maintained, and responding promptly to safety concerns or incidents. Managers are expected to consult with staff on health and safety matters and to encourage open communication about potential hazards.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. All staff must cooperate with Storage Harlington in implementing this policy and must not interfere with or misuse anything provided for health, safety or welfare.
Employees are required to follow training and instructions, use equipment correctly, wear appropriate personal protective equipment where required, and report accidents, incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions without delay. Safe behaviour is a condition of employment.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Storage Harlington undertakes systematic risk assessments for all significant activities, including storage operations, manual handling, the use of vehicles and equipment, and the movement and protection of customers belongings. These assessments identify hazards, evaluate risks and determine suitable control measures.
Safe systems of work are developed and implemented based on these assessments. Procedures are regularly reviewed and updated in response to operational changes, incident investigations and legal or best practice developments.
Manual Handling and Lifting Operations
Manual handling tasks are a key element of storage and removals activities. To reduce the risk of injury, we provide manual handling training that covers safe lifting techniques, use of handling aids and team lifting. Heavy or awkward items must only be moved using approved methods and equipment.
Where mechanical aids such as trolleys, sack trucks, lifting devices or vehicle tail lifts are provided, they must be used in accordance with instructions and only by trained employees. Loads must be assessed before lifting, and staff must avoid overreaching, twisting or carrying items that are beyond their capability.
Vehicles, Driving and Site Traffic
Safe vehicle movements are essential for the safe running of storage facilities and removal operations. Storage Harlington aims to ensure that vehicles used for work are properly maintained, suitable for their intended purpose and operated by competent, authorised drivers.
Drivers must follow all road traffic laws, adhere to speed limits, load and secure goods safely, and conduct basic pre use checks. On site, traffic routes, loading areas and parking bays must be kept clear and used correctly. Pedestrians and vehicles must be kept apart wherever reasonably practicable, and appropriate signage and markings will be used to promote safe traffic management.
Equipment, Maintenance and Housekeeping
All tools, plant and equipment used in connection with storage and removals must be suitable for the task and subject to regular inspection and maintenance. Faulty or damaged equipment must be taken out of use and reported immediately.
Good housekeeping is essential to prevent slips, trips, falls and other accidents. Aisles, stairways, loading areas and unit access routes must be kept clear of obstructions. Spillages must be cleaned promptly, and waste materials disposed of in designated containers.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Harlington maintains fire safety arrangements appropriate to its operations. This includes fire risk assessments, alarm systems where installed, suitable fire fighting equipment, and clearly marked escape routes and exits.
Employees receive information on emergency procedures, including evacuation routes, assembly points and the reporting of fire or other emergencies. Customers and visitors are expected to follow instructions given by staff in the event of an emergency and must not obstruct access routes, exits or fire fighting equipment.
Health, Welfare and First Aid
We aim to maintain working conditions that support the health and welfare of employees, including access to welfare facilities and appropriate rest breaks. Where required, Storage Harlington will arrange for qualified first aiders or appointed persons and will provide suitable first aid equipment.
All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported and recorded so that trends can be monitored and improvements implemented. Where necessary, incidents will be investigated to identify root causes and corrective actions.
Training, Information and Supervision
Storage Harlington provides employees with information, instruction and training relevant to their roles. This may include induction training, manual handling, safe vehicle and equipment operation, fire safety, hazard awareness and specific procedures for storage facilities and removal services.
Training needs are reviewed regularly and refreshed as required. Adequate supervision is provided, particularly for new or inexperienced staff, to ensure that procedures are followed correctly and safely.
Contractors, Customers and Visitors
Contractors working on our premises are expected to conduct their activities in a safe and responsible manner, to comply with this policy and any site specific rules, and to provide evidence of their own health and safety arrangements when requested.
Customers and visitors must cooperate with staff instructions, observe safety signage, use designated access routes and avoid restricted areas. Where customers are present during removal operations, staff will take reasonable steps to maintain safe distances and minimise risks.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
Storage Harlington monitors health and safety performance through inspections, audits, incident analysis and employee feedback. This policy and associated procedures are reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in operations, legal requirements or best practice.
We encourage all employees to contribute ideas for improving safety and to raise any concerns without hesitation. By working together, we aim to maintain a safe, healthy and secure environment for everyone who works with us or uses our storage and removal services.
