Health and Safety Policy for Storage Tottenham
Storage Tottenham is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees, customers, contractors, and visitors. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with storage facilities, handling of goods, and related removal and transport activities. Our objective is to prevent injury, protect property, and promote a culture of safety in all aspects of our operations.
Policy Aims
The main aims of this Health and Safety Policy are to prevent accidents and work-related ill health, provide safe and well-maintained premises, equipment, and vehicles, manage risks associated with manual handling and lifting, ensure safe systems of work for storage and removal operations, provide relevant information, instruction, and training, consult with employees on matters affecting their health and safety, and continually improve our health and safety performance.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management has overall responsibility for health and safety within Storage Tottenham. This includes implementing and reviewing this policy, ensuring that risk assessments are carried out and kept up to date, providing adequate resources to meet health and safety requirements, setting clear safety standards and monitoring performance, and taking prompt action to address hazards, incidents, and near misses.
Supervisors and managers are responsible for day-to-day health and safety management in their areas. They must ensure staff follow safe working procedures, use equipment correctly, report hazards and incidents, and cooperate with any investigation or corrective action.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees, including temporary and agency staff, share responsibility for maintaining a safe workplace. Employees must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions, follow all safety instructions, signage, and training requirements, use equipment and vehicles only as trained and authorised, report hazards, defects, accidents, and near misses without delay, wear appropriate personal protective equipment when required, and cooperate fully with health and safety inspections, audits, and investigations.
Customer and Visitor Safety
Storage Tottenham aims to provide a safe environment for customers and visitors using storage units or visiting our premises for removal-related services. Customers and visitors are required to follow on-site safety signage, traffic routes, and instructions from staff, park only in designated areas and observe speed limits, refrain from climbing on racks, pallets, or stored goods, and use trolleys, lifts, and manual handling aids correctly where provided.
Children and pets must be supervised at all times and kept away from loading areas, vehicle routes, and equipment. Customers are responsible for packing their own items safely, avoiding overloading boxes, and ensuring that goods are safe to handle and move.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We carry out risk assessments for all significant hazards associated with our storage and removal operations. This covers manual handling and lifting, loading and unloading of vehicles, operation of trolleys, lifts, and handling equipment, fire and emergency response, vehicle movements within the site, working at height where required, and handling of potentially hazardous goods.
Controls from risk assessments are implemented through safe systems of work, staff training, clear signage, and supervision. Risk assessments are reviewed periodically and after any significant change in operations or a serious incident.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a key activity in storage and removal services. To minimise the risk of injury, employees receive training in safe lifting techniques, use of handling aids such as trolleys and dollies, and the importance of team lifts for heavy or awkward items. Staff must assess the weight, size, and stability of items before lifting or moving them, request assistance when a load is too heavy or awkward, keep walkways clear to reduce the risk of trips and falls, and avoid lifting above shoulder height where possible.
Customers are encouraged to pack items into manageable box sizes, clearly label fragile or heavy items, and avoid storing prohibited or dangerous substances.
Equipment, Vehicles, and Maintenance
All equipment and vehicles used in storage and removal activities must be suitable for their intended purpose and maintained in a safe condition. Regular checks are carried out on handling equipment such as trolleys and pallet equipment, access equipment such as steps or platforms where provided, and vehicles used for transport and removals.
Any defect or damage must be reported immediately and affected equipment taken out of service if safety is compromised. Only authorised and trained employees may operate specific equipment and vehicles.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Tottenham maintains fire safety arrangements appropriate to the premises and operations. These include clearly marked escape routes that are kept unobstructed, appropriate fire detection and alarm systems, suitable fire-fighting equipment, clear procedures for evacuation and assembly points, and regular drills and equipment checks.
Customers and visitors must familiarise themselves with fire exits and follow staff instructions during any alarm or emergency. The storage of flammable or prohibited items is not allowed. Any suspected fire risk or unsafe condition must be reported immediately.
Housekeeping and Site Rules
Good housekeeping is essential for safe storage and removal operations. All users of the site must keep aisles, access ways, and exits clear at all times, dispose of waste and packing materials in the facilities provided, avoid blocking fire exits, alarm call points, or equipment, and ensure doors and loading areas are used safely and closed where required.
Smoking and vaping are allowed only in designated areas if provided, and never near loading bays, vehicles, or storage units. Alcohol and illegal substances are strictly prohibited on site, and no person may work or drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Training, Information, and Supervision
Storage Tottenham provides appropriate health and safety training for all employees, with refresher training as necessary. This includes induction training for new starters, task-specific training for manual handling and equipment operation, and emergency and fire safety training.
Information on site rules, emergency procedures, and prohibited activities is provided to customers and visitors verbally and through signage. Supervisors are responsible for monitoring compliance and intervening where unsafe practice is observed.
Accident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, injuries, near misses, and dangerous occurrences must be reported promptly to management. Accurate records are maintained to help identify patterns and areas for improvement. Where necessary, incidents are investigated to determine root causes and implement corrective actions. Employees are expected to cooperate fully and honestly with any investigation.
Continuous Improvement and Policy Review
Storage Tottenham is committed to continuously improving its health and safety performance. We review this policy regularly and whenever there are significant changes in our activities, facilities, or applicable requirements. Feedback from employees and customers on health and safety matters is welcomed and will be considered in future improvements.
By using our storage and removal services, all parties agree to comply with this Health and Safety Policy and any related site rules, ensuring a safe and secure environment for everyone.
