Storage West Drayton Health and Safety Policy
Storage West Drayton is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our employees, customers, contractors, and visitors. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety across our storage facilities and associated removal and handling activities, and demonstrates our intention to continually improve our performance in this area.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Our objective is to prevent accidents, injuries, and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing proportionate and effective control measures. Health and safety considerations are integral to how we operate our storage services, handle goods, and manage vehicle movements related to our removal activities.
We will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and guidelines applicable to our operations. We aim to create a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility and where concerns can be raised openly and addressed promptly.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management holds overall responsibility for the implementation of this policy and for ensuring that adequate resources, equipment, and training are provided. Management will:
Ensure that risk assessments are undertaken for key activities including manual handling, use of equipment, vehicle access, loading and unloading, and storage of customer goods.
Develop and maintain safe systems of work and clear procedures for storage operations, removals, and related activities.
Provide employees with appropriate information, instruction, training, and supervision so that tasks can be carried out safely and competently.
Monitor health and safety performance, review incidents and near misses, and implement corrective actions where required.
Review this policy on a regular basis and revise it when there are significant changes to operations, legislation, or best practice.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions at work. Employees must:
Follow all health and safety instructions, procedures, and training relevant to their roles, including those related to storage, lifting, and removal activities.
Use equipment, vehicles, and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately.
Report accidents, incidents, near misses, hazards, and unsafe conditions to their manager as soon as possible.
Cooperate with management in implementing and maintaining this policy and any related safety initiatives.
Not misuse or interfere with anything provided in the interests of health, safety, or welfare.
Customer and Visitor Safety
Storage West Drayton takes reasonable steps to ensure that customers and visitors are not exposed to unnecessary risks while on our premises. We will:
Maintain clear signage to indicate speed limits, pedestrian walkways, restricted areas, and emergency exits.
Keep common areas, loading bays, corridors, and access routes tidy, well lit, and free from obstructions as far as reasonably practicable.
Provide guidance to customers on safe access to storage units, safe stacking and storage of items, and appropriate use of trolleys and handling equipment.
Manage visitor and vehicle movements carefully to reduce the risk of collisions, slips, trips, and falls.
Risk Management and Safe Working Practices
We conduct risk assessments covering key aspects of our storage and removal operations. Where risks cannot be eliminated, we aim to reduce them to the lowest reasonably practicable level. This includes:
Implementing safe systems for manual handling, including the use of mechanical aids where appropriate and guidance on lifting techniques.
Ensuring storage areas are structurally sound and units are maintained to reduce risks associated with overloading, falling objects, and unsafe stacking.
Managing vehicle operations, loading and unloading activities, and movement of goods to minimise the risk of injury or damage.
Keeping equipment such as trolleys, pallet trucks, and any lifting devices in safe working order through regular inspection and maintenance.
Training, Information, and Supervision
We provide induction and ongoing training to employees relevant to their roles and responsibilities. This may include training in manual handling, safe use of equipment, emergency procedures, and incident reporting. Safety information and instructions are communicated clearly and reinforced through supervision, refresher training, and toolbox talks where appropriate.
Emergency Preparedness
Storage West Drayton maintains emergency procedures to deal with situations such as fire, serious accidents, or other significant incidents. We will:
Ensure that fire detection and alarm systems, extinguishers, and escape routes are maintained and tested in accordance with legal and best practice requirements.
Display clear emergency instructions and ensure that evacuation routes and assembly points are clearly marked.
Provide employees with training on emergency response and evacuation procedures.
Investigate emergency incidents and drills to identify learning points and further improve our arrangements.
Incident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported promptly so that appropriate action can be taken. We will:
Record and investigate incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
Monitor trends to identify recurring issues and areas requiring further control measures or training.
Comply with statutory reporting requirements where applicable.
Continuous Improvement
Health and safety management at Storage West Drayton is a process of continual improvement. We will:
Regularly review performance, procedures, and risk assessments in line with operational changes and feedback from employees and customers.
Encourage suggestions for improvement and foster an open culture in which safety concerns are taken seriously and acted upon.
Update this policy as necessary to reflect changes in law, guidance, or our own operational practices, ensuring that it remains relevant and effective.
By working together, we aim to ensure that Storage West Drayton remains a safe and secure environment for everyone who works with us, stores with us, or uses our removal and related services.
