Storage Harefield Health and Safety Policy
Storage Harefield is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all employees, customers, contractors and visitors. This policy sets out the principles, responsibilities and arrangements we apply to protect people, property and goods across our storage and removal operations.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Our aim is to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health by identifying and managing risks associated with storage, handling, loading, unloading and transportation of goods. We seek to maintain safe facilities and equipment, promote good housekeeping and manual handling practices, and foster a positive safety culture in which everyone plays a part.
We will comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and recognised good practice relevant to storage and removal services. We will review this policy regularly and update it when operations, regulations or significant risks change.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Harefield holds overall responsibility for health and safety performance. Management duties include:
Setting clear safety standards, ensuring appropriate resources are available to meet them, and leading by example in safe behaviour.
Ensuring that premises, vehicles, equipment and storage units are maintained in a safe condition and are suitable for their intended use.
Undertaking and reviewing risk assessments for storage, access, handling, lifting, loading and removal services, and implementing effective control measures.
Providing appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision so that employees can work safely and understand their responsibilities.
Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses to identify root causes and put corrective actions in place.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work. Employees are expected to:
Follow all safety instructions, procedures, signage and training provided by Storage Harefield.
Use equipment, vehicles, tools and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately.
Maintain good housekeeping in work areas, storage units, corridors, loading bays and vehicle access points.
Report hazards, unsafe practices, accidents and near misses to their manager without delay.
Cooperate with management on health and safety matters, including attending training and participating in risk assessments as required.
Customer and Visitor Safety
Storage Harefield is committed to providing a safe environment for customers and visitors using our storage facilities and related removal services. To support this, we will:
Provide clear signage for access routes, loading zones, emergency exits and restricted areas.
Maintain well lit, tidy and clearly marked walkways and vehicle movement areas.
Give customers appropriate information on safe loading and unloading practices, weight limits, and safe stacking of goods within storage units.
Request that customers and visitors follow staff instructions, observe safety notices and use designated parking and loading areas.
Risk Assessment and Hazard Control
We continually assess the risks associated with storage and removal activities, including manual handling, working at height for loading, movement of vehicles, use of lifting equipment and the condition of stored items. Where risks are identified, we will:
Remove the hazard where reasonably practicable, or reduce the risk through engineering controls, safe systems of work and staff training.
Implement controls such as weight limits, safe stacking heights, restricted access, protective barriers and one way traffic flows for vehicles where appropriate.
Ensure that goods which may present additional risks, such as fragile, heavy or awkward items, are handled in line with specific guidance and procedures.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Many tasks in storage and removal work involve lifting, carrying and moving items. To minimise the risk of injury, Storage Harefield will:
Provide manual handling training to relevant staff, focusing on safe lifting techniques, team lifting and the use of mechanical aids.
Supply suitable handling equipment such as trolleys and dollies where appropriate, and ensure such equipment is maintained in good condition.
Discourage lone lifting of heavy or awkward loads and promote planning of lifts before they are undertaken.
Assess higher risk operations, such as loading large items into vehicles or into elevated storage spaces, and put in place appropriate controls and supervision.
Workplace, Welfare and Housekeeping
We are committed to maintaining clean, safe and orderly premises. This includes:
Keeping floors, stairs, corridors and loading areas free from obstructions and slip or trip hazards.
Ensuring lighting, ventilation and welfare facilities are suitable and well maintained.
Managing waste, packaging materials and discarded items so they do not create fire, trip or hygiene hazards.
Conducting regular inspections of the premises, storage units and surrounding areas to identify and deal with hazards promptly.
Vehicles, Traffic and Parking
Safe movement of vehicles and people is essential to our operations. Storage Harefield will:
Designate safe routes for vehicles and pedestrians, with clear demarcation where practicable.
Ensure that loading and unloading areas are clearly signed and used in a controlled manner.
Encourage careful driving, adherence to site speed limits and safe parking practices by all drivers visiting our site, including removal vehicles.
Inspect and maintain company vehicles used for removal services in line with legal and manufacturer requirements.
Fire Safety and Emergency Arrangements
We take fire and emergency preparedness seriously. Our arrangements include:
Maintaining appropriate fire detection and firefighting equipment, and ensuring escape routes and exits are kept clear at all times.
Displaying emergency instructions and evacuation procedures prominently.
Providing staff with fire safety information and, where required, training in emergency response roles.
Regularly reviewing fire risk assessments and emergency procedures to reflect changes in layout, activities or occupancy.
Training, Consultation and Continuous Improvement
Storage Harefield recognises that ongoing training and communication are vital for effective health and safety management. We will:
Provide induction and role specific training to employees and refresh this at appropriate intervals.
Consult with employees on matters that may affect their health and safety and encourage suggestions for improvement.
Monitor performance through inspections, audits, incident reviews and feedback, and act on findings to improve our systems.
Policy Review
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it remains suitable, effective and aligned with our storage and removal operations. Updates will be communicated to employees and made available to customers and visitors on request.
All individuals using Storage Harefield facilities or services are expected to support this policy by acting responsibly and safely at all times.
