Health and Safety Policy for Storage St Mary Cray
Storage St Mary Cray is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all employees, customers, contractors and visitors. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with storage facilities and removal activities, including manual handling, vehicle movements, access to units and the use of equipment on site.
Our aim is to prevent injury, protect health and promote safe working practices in all areas of our operations. Safety is a shared responsibility and everyone on site is expected to act with care, follow instructions and report concerns promptly.
Policy Objectives
The primary objectives of this Health and Safety Policy are to:
Identify and control hazards associated with storage and removal services, including lifting, carrying, loading, unloading and vehicle operations. Comply with all relevant health and safety laws and recognised industry standards. Provide information, instruction and training so that staff can work safely and customers understand how to use the site responsibly. Maintain safe systems of work, safe access and egress, and well maintained equipment and facilities. Review and improve our health and safety arrangements on a regular basis.
Management Responsibilities
The management of Storage St Mary Cray is responsible for leading by example and ensuring that health and safety is an integral part of all decisions and activities. Management will:
Assess significant risks and implement appropriate control measures. Ensure that the layout of storage areas and vehicle access routes promotes safe movement and clear visibility. Provide suitable equipment for lifting and moving goods, and ensure that equipment is serviced and maintained. Make sure staff receive suitable training in manual handling, safe loading practices, use of trolleys and other handling aids, and emergency procedures. Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses and take reasonable steps to prevent recurrence. Allocate sufficient resources to maintain and improve health and safety standards.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees of Storage St Mary Cray share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Employees are required to:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Follow all safety instructions, site rules and safe systems of work, particularly when handling heavy or bulky items. Use equipment such as trolleys, ramps, loading devices and protective gear in accordance with training and guidance. Report hazards, damage, faulty equipment, near misses and any unsafe conditions to management as soon as possible. Not misuse or interfere with anything provided for health and safety purposes. Cooperate with management during risk assessments, training sessions and incident investigations.
Customer and Visitor Responsibilities
Customers and visitors play an important part in maintaining a safe site. Everyone using our storage facilities or engaging our removal staff must:
Comply with site rules, signage and instructions from Storage St Mary Cray personnel. Take care when driving or walking in yard and loading areas, keeping to designated routes wherever possible. Avoid overloading vehicles or trolleys and ensure loads are stable and secure before moving. Not block fire exits, walkways, access doors or emergency equipment. Refrain from using equipment or machinery that has not been authorised or demonstrated as safe for customer use. Report any accident, incident or hazard to a member of staff without delay.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Storage St Mary Cray carries out risk assessments covering storage units, loading bays, access routes and removal operations. These risk assessments are used to develop safe working procedures for activities such as:
Lifting, carrying and stacking boxes, furniture and other items. Loading and unloading vehicles, including removal vans and customer vehicles. Using trolleys, pallet trucks or other handling aids where available. Working in confined spaces such as storage units and corridors. Managing slips, trips and falls through good housekeeping and clear walkways.
Control measures may include limiting load weights, encouraging team lifting for heavy or awkward items, using handling aids where appropriate and providing guidance on safe lifting techniques.
Vehicle and Traffic Safety
Vehicle movements are carefully managed on site to reduce the risk of collisions and injuries. Storage St Mary Cray will:
Maintain clear traffic routes and, where practicable, separate vehicles from pedestrians. Encourage safe driving speeds, cautious reversing and the use of hazard lights when manoeuvring in tight areas. Require drivers to follow staff instructions relating to loading bay use and parking locations. Keep loading and unloading areas as level and clear as possible.
Drivers, including removal teams and customers using their own vehicles, must take particular care in poor weather or low light conditions and always check for pedestrians before moving vehicles.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Fire safety and emergency preparedness are essential components of our health and safety arrangements. Storage St Mary Cray will:
Provide clearly marked fire exits, escape routes and assembly points. Install and maintain suitable fire detection and firefighting equipment where required. Display simple instructions on what to do in the event of fire or other emergency. Conduct regular checks to ensure escape routes are kept clear and that doors and equipment are in good working order.
Customers, staff and visitors must familiarise themselves with exit routes, avoid storing combustible or prohibited materials, and follow directions from staff during any evacuation.
Training, Information and Consultation
Storage St Mary Cray ensures that employees receive training appropriate to their role, including site induction, manual handling, safe use of equipment and emergency procedures. Safety information is communicated through signage, verbal briefings and written guidance. Where appropriate, employees are consulted on health and safety matters and encouraged to share suggestions for improvement.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
This Health and Safety Policy will be monitored and reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective and relevant to our storage and removal operations. Reviews will take account of changes in legislation, guidance, site layout, equipment and work practices, as well as lessons learned from incidents and feedback from staff and customers.
By working together and adhering to this policy, Storage St Mary Cray aims to maintain a safe, well managed environment for storing goods and supporting removal activities.
