Storage Highgate Health and Safety Policy
Storage Highgate is committed to maintaining the highest reasonably practicable standards of health, safety and welfare for all employees, customers, contractors and visitors. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks arising from our storage facilities and removal-related activities, including packing, loading, transportation and handling of goods.
Our aim is to prevent accidents, injuries and ill health, and to promote a positive safety culture in which every person understands their responsibilities and acts with care for themselves and others.
Policy Objectives
The core objectives of this Health and Safety Policy are to:
Identify, assess and control hazards associated with storage and removal operations, including manual handling, vehicle movements and use of equipment.
Comply with all applicable health and safety legislation, recognised industry standards and relevant guidance.
Provide safe and well maintained premises, vehicles, plant and equipment.
Ensure that employees receive appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision to perform their work safely.
Encourage active participation in health and safety matters from employees and contractors, and consult with them on any changes that may affect their wellbeing.
Continually review and improve our health and safety performance and management systems.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management has overall responsibility for implementing this policy and for ensuring that adequate resources are provided to manage health and safety effectively. Management will:
Set clear safety standards, procedures and safe systems of work for storage facilities and removal services.
Carry out and regularly review risk assessments for tasks such as lifting and carrying, loading and unloading vehicles, working in storage areas, and operating handling equipment.
Ensure that all storage areas, yards, access routes, stairways, loading bays and parking areas are adequately lit, clearly marked and kept in a safe condition.
Provide and maintain vehicles, lifting aids, trolleys, ramps and other equipment in safe working order, with appropriate inspections and maintenance records.
Respond promptly to reported hazards, incidents, near misses or concerns, and ensure that corrective actions are completed.
Review this policy at regular intervals and whenever there are significant changes in operations or relevant legislation.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees share a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees are required to:
Follow all safety procedures, safe systems of work and instructions provided by Storage Highgate.
Use equipment, vehicles and tools only when trained and authorised, and only for their intended purpose.
Wear any required personal protective equipment, such as gloves, safety footwear or high-visibility clothing, and look after it properly.
Report hazards, defects, near misses, accidents and health concerns to management without delay.
Cooperate with risk assessments, training, safety briefings and investigations into incidents.
Refrain from horseplay, dangerous behaviour or working under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Customer and Visitor Safety
Storage Highgate recognises its responsibility for the safety of customers and visitors on its premises and during any contact with our removal-related services. To support this, we will:
Provide clear signage, guidance and information about safe access, loading points, restricted areas and emergency procedures.
Designate specific areas for customers to park, load and unload to minimise interaction with moving vehicles and handling equipment.
Maintain floors, corridors and external areas as free as reasonably practicable from slip, trip and fall hazards.
Control customer access to operational areas, ensuring that only authorised persons enter working zones where loading, lifting or vehicle manoeuvring is taking place.
Provide assistance and advice on safe lifting and carrying techniques where customers are moving their own goods.
Contractors and Third Parties
Contractors, including external removal teams, maintenance providers and delivery drivers, must comply with Storage Highgate health and safety requirements while on site. We will:
Inform contractors of site-specific rules, hazards and emergency arrangements before work begins.
Check that contractors are competent for the work they undertake and hold suitable insurance and, where applicable, qualifications.
Coordinate activities to ensure that contractor operations do not put employees, customers or other contractors at risk.
Monitor contractor performance and address any unsafe behaviour or breaches of procedure immediately.
Risk Management and Safe Working Practices
Storage Highgate will implement and maintain safe working practices for all key activities, including:
Manual handling, by promoting correct lifting techniques, use of trolleys and mechanical aids, task planning and team lifting where required.
Loading and unloading vehicles, by ensuring vehicles are parked safely, brakes are applied, surfaces are stable and loads are stacked securely.
Stacking and storage of goods, by setting limits on stack heights, weight distribution and aisle widths, and by keeping fire exits and access routes clear.
Use of equipment, by restricting use of specialist equipment to trained operators and ensuring regular inspection and maintenance.
Housekeeping, by keeping storage units, corridors, stairways and communal areas tidy and free of obstructions.
Emergency Procedures
Appropriate arrangements will be in place to respond to emergencies, including fire, accidents or serious incidents. Storage Highgate will:
Provide clearly marked emergency exits, escape routes and assembly points.
Install and maintain suitable fire detection, alarm and firefighting equipment appropriate to the premises and stored materials.
Display emergency instructions and ensure staff are trained in evacuation procedures, use of fire equipment where appropriate, and basic first aid awareness.
Record and review all significant incidents and implement corrective and preventive actions.
Training, Communication and Monitoring
Training and communication are essential to our safety culture. Storage Highgate will:
Provide induction training to all new employees, covering site rules, safe working practices and emergency procedures.
Offer job-specific training, such as manual handling, vehicle safety and use of lifting equipment, and refresher training where necessary.
Keep records of training, risk assessments and maintenance activities for monitoring and review.
Encourage employees to raise suggestions for improving health and safety and to participate in regular safety discussions.
Monitor performance through inspections, audits and incident trend analysis to support continuous improvement.
Policy Review
This Health and Safety Policy is authorised by senior management and will be reviewed periodically, and whenever there are significant changes in our operations, facilities or legal requirements. Any revisions will be communicated to employees, contractors and, where appropriate, customers.
By working together and following this policy, Storage Highgate aims to provide a secure and healthy environment for storage users and for those using our associated removal and handling services.
