Storage Carshalton Health and Safety Policy
Storage Carshalton is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees, contractors, customers and visitors. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing workplace risks associated with storage, removals, transportation, loading and unloading activities, as well as day-to-day operations on our premises.
Policy Statement
Our objective is to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing sensible control measures. We comply with relevant health and safety legislation and continually review our practices to maintain and improve safety standards across all storage and moving services.
Health and safety is a shared responsibility. Management, employees, contractors and customers are all expected to cooperate in maintaining a safe working environment and reporting any concerns promptly.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Carshalton will:
Provide clear leadership on health and safety and promote a positive safety culture throughout the business.
Ensure that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for storage operations, removals work, vehicle use, manual handling and any other significant activities.
Provide and maintain safe premises, equipment, vehicles and systems of work, including regular inspections and maintenance.
Ensure that employees receive appropriate information, instruction, supervision and training relevant to their role.
Allocate adequate resources to implement this policy and to manage health and safety effectively.
Review this policy regularly and whenever there are significant changes in legislation, organisation or working practices.
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 or omissions. Employees must:
Follow all health and safety procedures, safe systems of work and instructions given by supervisors and managers.
Use equipment, vehicles and personal protective equipment correctly and for their intended purpose.
Report accidents, incidents, near misses, hazards and defects immediately to management, so that appropriate action can be taken.
Cooperate with any health surveillance, training, briefings or emergency drills as required.
Refrain from any reckless behaviour, horseplay or actions that could endanger themselves or others.
Customer and Visitor Responsibilities
Customers and visitors to Storage Carshalton premises, including those present during removals or loading operations, are expected to:
Comply with safety instructions, signage and directions from staff.
Remain within designated safe areas and avoid entering restricted or operational zones without authorisation.
Ensure that items they present for storage or removal are safe to handle and correctly declared, especially where heavy, fragile or hazardous in nature.
Promptly inform staff of any hazards, spills or damage that they observe on site.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
We conduct and maintain risk assessments for all key activities, including storage operations, removal services, driving and vehicle movements, manual lifting and carrying, use of handling equipment, and working in and around customer premises. Control measures may include the use of appropriate equipment, restricted access, loading plans, traffic management and method statements.
Staff are briefed on safe working procedures, and these are reviewed regularly to reflect operational experience, changes in equipment and improvements in best practice within the storage and removals industry.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a core part of our work. Storage Carshalton is committed to reducing the risk of injury by:
Providing suitable trolleys, dollies and lifting aids where reasonable and practicable.
Training staff in safe lifting techniques, correct posture and the recognition of loads that require team lifting or mechanical assistance.
Planning removals and storage tasks to minimise unnecessary handling and awkward movements.
Maintaining handling equipment and ensuring it is inspected and used only by competent staff.
Vehicles, Driving and Traffic Management
To protect staff, customers and other road users, we implement safe systems for vehicle use and traffic movements. This includes:
Ensuring that drivers hold the correct licences and receive appropriate training for the vehicles they operate.
Carrying out regular checks and maintenance on vehicles and loading equipment.
Planning routes and access to minimise risks when loading, unloading or manoeuvring at our premises and at customer locations.
Implementing clear rules for reversing, parking, speed and pedestrian safety in and around our facilities.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Carshalton maintains appropriate fire safety and emergency arrangements to safeguard people and property. We:
Provide clearly marked escape routes, fire exits and assembly points.
Install and maintain fire detection and firefighting equipment as appropriate to the premises.
Conduct regular fire risk assessments and drills to test and improve our emergency response.
Ensure that staff are aware of evacuation procedures and their responsibilities in an emergency.
Hazardous Substances and Prohibited Items
Certain items present increased risks in a storage or removals environment. Customers and staff must follow company rules on hazardous substances and prohibited goods. These may include flammable, explosive, corrosive, toxic or otherwise dangerous materials, as well as items that are likely to cause contamination, infestation or damage.
Where substances are permitted but require special handling, appropriate risk assessments, control measures and training will be implemented. Material safety information will be used to support safe storage, handling and transport.
Training, Consultation and Communication
We recognise that effective health and safety management depends on competent people and clear communication. Storage Carshalton therefore:
Provides induction and refresher training on relevant health and safety topics, including safe manual handling, equipment use, vehicle safety and emergency procedures.
Consults with employees on health and safety matters and encourages suggestions for improvements.
Communicates policy updates, procedural changes and safety alerts in a timely and accessible way.
Monitoring, Reporting and Policy Review
We monitor our health and safety performance by recording accidents, incidents and near misses, conducting inspections and audits, and reviewing risk assessments. Lessons learned from investigations are used to improve systems of work and prevent recurrence.
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes in our operations, services or legal requirements. The latest version is made available to employees, customers and other interested parties on request.
By working together and following the principles described in this policy, Storage Carshalton aims to provide a safe, reliable and professional storage and removals service for all.
