Health and Safety Policy for Storage Woodside Park
Storage Woodside Park is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees, customers, contractors and visitors. This policy explains our approach to managing health and safety risks across our storage facilities and removal services, and sets out the responsibilities of everyone who works with or visits us.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and disruption to services by applying effective health and safety management. We will identify and control risks associated with storage units, loading areas, handling of goods and operation of vehicles used for removals and transport.
We aim to:
Promote a positive safety culture where safe behaviour is expected and unsafe acts are challenged. Comply with all relevant health and safety laws and recognised industry standards. Assess risks and implement sensible control measures. Provide information, instruction, training and supervision so that work can be carried out safely. Continuously improve health and safety performance through monitoring and review.
Management Responsibilities
The management of Storage Woodside Park has overall responsibility for health and safety within our premises and for activities carried out in connection with our storage and removal services.
Management will:
Ensure that this policy is implemented, maintained and communicated. Provide adequate resources to manage health and safety effectively. Carry out and regularly review risk assessments covering storage operations, manual handling, vehicle movements and use of equipment. Maintain buildings, storage units, plant and equipment in a safe condition. Plan work activities to minimise risks, including loading, unloading and moving goods to and from vehicles. Investigate incidents, accidents and near misses, and implement corrective actions.
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 acts or omissions. Employees must cooperate with Storage Woodside Park in implementing this policy.
Employees are expected to:
Follow all safety procedures and safe systems of work. Use equipment, tools, vehicles and personal protective equipment correctly. Report hazards, defects, near misses and incidents immediately to a supervisor or manager. Attend relevant health and safety training and apply what they have learned. Refrain from horseplay, misuse of equipment or any behaviour that could endanger themselves or others.
Customer and Visitor Safety
Storage Woodside Park will take reasonable steps to ensure that customers and visitors are not exposed to unnecessary risks while on our premises.
We will:
Provide clear signage for entrances, exits, loading bays and pedestrian routes. Maintain clean, well lit and well marked access ways, corridors and staircases. Control visitor access to operational areas where vehicles, lifting equipment or loading activities are in use. Give customers appropriate guidance on safe loading and unloading of goods into storage units and vehicles.
Customers and visitors must follow site rules, use designated walkways and immediately report any hazards they notice.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Risk assessments will be carried out for all significant activities, including storage, handling, packaging, loading, unloading and removal services. These assessments will consider hazards such as manual handling, slips and trips, falls from height, collision with vehicles, fire, use of ladders and potential structural hazards in storage areas.
Findings from risk assessments will be used to develop safe working practices, which may include:
Use of appropriate handling aids and lifting equipment. Clear stacking and racking procedures to maintain stability. Limitations on load weights and heights. Controls over access to vehicle loading and unloading zones. Restriction or supervision of certain activities in high risk areas.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling tasks are common in storage and removal operations. Storage Woodside Park will minimise manual handling risks by planning tasks, using mechanical aids and training staff in safe techniques.
Where manual lifting is required, employees must:
Assess the weight, shape and stability of loads before lifting. Ask for help when loads are too heavy or awkward. Use correct lifting techniques, keeping loads close to the body and avoiding twisting. Use trolleys, dollies or other aids whenever available.
Only trained and authorised personnel may operate lifting equipment or vehicles such as pallet trucks or vans used in connection with removal services.
Vehicle Movements and Traffic Management
Vehicle movements present a significant risk in storage and removal operations. Storage Woodside Park will manage traffic to reduce the likelihood of collisions and injuries.
We will:
Define routes for vehicles and pedestrians wherever practicable. Use markings and signs to identify loading bays and no parking areas. Require safe reversing and parking practices. Ensure that vehicles are maintained in safe working condition.
Drivers, whether employees or contractors, must follow site rules, drive at safe speeds and remain alert to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Housekeeping and General Safety
Good housekeeping is essential for a safe storage environment. All work areas, aisles and access routes must be kept clear of obstructions, spillages and waste materials. Items stored in units or common areas must be stacked safely so they do not fall or cause obstruction.
Lighting, ventilation and temperature will be kept at levels appropriate to safe working and secure storage of goods. Any damage to floors, walls, doors, locks or equipment must be reported without delay.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Woodside Park will put in place measures to reduce the risk of fire and to protect people if a fire occurs. These measures include appropriate fire detection, alarms, extinguishers and clearly signed escape routes.
Employees, customers and visitors must:
Familiarise themselves with fire exits and assembly points. Keep fire doors and escape routes unobstructed. Comply immediately with evacuation instructions in the event of an alarm.
Hot works and the storage of flammable, explosive or otherwise hazardous substances are controlled or prohibited in accordance with our site rules and current legislation.
Training, Consultation and Monitoring
Storage Woodside Park will provide appropriate health and safety training to all employees, particularly those involved in storage management, vehicle operations and removal services. Induction training will cover site rules, emergency arrangements and safe working practices relevant to each role.
We encourage employees to raise health and safety concerns and suggestions for improvement. Regular inspections and audits will be carried out to monitor compliance with this policy and identify areas for improvement.
Review of this Policy
This health and safety policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary, for example following changes in operations, introduction of new equipment, changes in legislation or after any significant incident.
All employees will be informed of any changes, and the updated policy will be made available to customers, contractors and visitors on request.
