Health and Safety Policy for Storage Balham
Storage Balham is committed to providing a safe, healthy and secure environment for all employees, customers, contractors and visitors. This policy sets out the standards and procedures we follow to manage health and safety across our storage facilities and removal operations.
1. Policy Statement and Objectives
Our objective is to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing effective controls. Senior management accepts overall responsibility for health and safety performance and will provide appropriate resources, information and supervision to ensure this policy is implemented and maintained.
We expect all staff, contractors and customers to cooperate with our health and safety arrangements and to take reasonable care of their own safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
2. Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Storage Balham will comply with all applicable health and safety legislation, relevant regulations and industry best practice. We will review changes in legal requirements and update our procedures and training as necessary to maintain compliance in both storage and removal activities.
3. Roles, Responsibilities and Communication
Management is responsible for setting clear health and safety standards, allocating responsibilities and monitoring performance. Managers and supervisors must ensure safe systems of work are followed, staff are adequately trained and any identified risks or incidents are promptly addressed.
Employees must follow company procedures, use equipment correctly, report hazards or defects and inform management of any accidents, near misses or health concerns. Contractors working on our premises or assisting with removal services are required to comply with our safety rules and cooperate with site instructions.
We will communicate this policy to employees during induction and refresher training, and make it available to customers and visitors on request.
4. Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We conduct regular risk assessments for our storage facilities, handling of goods and removal operations. These assessments cover activities such as lifting and carrying, use of trolleys and handling equipment, vehicle movements, working at height, storage of heavy or bulky items and interaction with customers on site.
Findings from risk assessments are used to create safe systems of work. These may include procedures for loading and unloading removal vehicles, stacking items safely within units, controlling access to operational areas and using personal protective equipment where required.
5. Workplace and Storage Safety
We aim to keep all areas of our premises clean, tidy and free from unnecessary hazards. This includes maintaining clear walkways, controlling trip risks, ensuring good lighting and providing safe access to storage units and loading areas.
Storage units, corridors and common areas are subject to regular inspections to ensure that items are stored securely and that emergency escape routes and fire exits remain unobstructed. Customers are required to follow our guidance on safe storage, including weight distribution, stacking height and prohibition of unsafe materials.
6. Manual Handling and Removal Operations
Manual handling is an essential part of storage and removal services. Storage Balham provides training in safe lifting and carrying techniques, encourages the use of mechanical aids and ensures that tasks are planned to minimise the risk of musculoskeletal injury.
Removal activities are risk assessed to ensure safe loading, unloading and securing of goods in vehicles. Staff must not attempt to move items that are unsafe due to weight, size or condition without appropriate equipment, assistance or revised planning.
7. Use of Equipment and Vehicles
All equipment, including trolleys, lifting aids and any vehicles used in connection with our services, must be maintained in good working order and inspected regularly. Only trained and authorised personnel are permitted to operate equipment or vehicles.
Defective equipment must be reported immediately and taken out of use until repaired or replaced. Staff and contractors must follow manufacturer instructions and internal guidelines when using any work equipment.
8. Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Fire safety is a priority within all storage and operational areas. We maintain appropriate fire detection and alarm systems, provide suitable fire-fighting equipment and clearly signposted emergency exits.
Emergency procedures, including evacuation routes and assembly points, are communicated to staff and displayed where appropriate. Staff receive fire safety training and take part in periodic drills to ensure they can respond effectively in an emergency.
9. Hazardous Substances and Prohibited Items
For the safety of all, certain items and substances are not permitted in our storage facilities or removal operations. These may include flammable, explosive, toxic, corrosive or otherwise hazardous materials, as well as items that could compromise fire safety or structural integrity.
Where substances such as cleaning materials or fuels are used for business operations, they are stored, labelled and handled in accordance with relevant safety data, and controls are applied to protect staff and customers.
10. Training, Information and Supervision
We provide suitable and sufficient training so that employees understand the health and safety risks associated with their roles and know how to work safely. This includes induction training, task-specific instruction, refresher courses and toolbox talks where appropriate.
Supervisors are responsible for monitoring work practices, correcting unsafe behaviour and providing ongoing guidance. Information on safe working procedures is made available and reviewed regularly.
11. Accident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, incidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported promptly to management. We maintain records of such events and investigate them to identify underlying causes and implement corrective actions.
The purpose of investigation is to prevent recurrence, not to apportion blame. Findings may lead to changes in procedures, additional training, or improvements to equipment and facilities.
12. Health, Welfare and Wellbeing
Storage Balham recognises its duty to protect the health and welfare of employees and others who may be affected by our activities. We seek to provide suitable welfare facilities, encourage prompt reporting of health concerns and consider workload, ergonomics and working practices in our risk assessments.
13. Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
We monitor health and safety performance through inspections, audits, incident analysis and staff feedback. This health and safety policy will be reviewed regularly, and whenever there is a significant change in our operations, legislation or risk profile, to ensure that it remains effective and relevant.
Storage Balham is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety standards across all storage and removal services, and to fostering a positive safety culture for everyone who works with or uses our facilities.
