Storage Totteridge Health and Safety Policy
Storage Totteridge is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our customers, employees, contractors, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our activities. This policy applies to all storage facilities, offices, removal operations, vehicle movements and associated services.
Our aim is to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health, while promoting a culture where health and safety is an integral part of day-to-day decision making.
Policy Objectives
We seek to achieve high standards of health and safety performance by:
Identifying, assessing and controlling risks associated with storage, handling, lifting, removals and transportation of goods. Providing and maintaining safe premises, vehicles, equipment and systems of work. Ensuring safe access to and from all areas under our control. Providing information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to protect health and safety. Consulting with employees and, where appropriate, customers and contractors on matters affecting their safety. Monitoring and reviewing our performance to drive continual improvement.
Legal Responsibilities
Storage Totteridge will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation, regulations and recognised industry standards applicable to storage facilities and removal services. We will maintain appropriate risk assessments, records and safety arrangements, and ensure that our activities are planned, organised and carried out in a manner that minimises risk.
Every employee and contractor is required to cooperate fully with these legal obligations and with this policy as a condition of working with or on behalf of Storage Totteridge.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management is responsible for implementing this policy and providing adequate resources to maintain effective health and safety management. This includes:
Setting clear responsibilities and accountability for health and safety at all levels. Ensuring that risk assessments are completed, kept up to date and that the resulting control measures are implemented. Providing suitable training for staff involved in storage, removals, loading, unloading and manual handling activities. Ensuring that vehicles, lifting equipment, trolleys, ramps, loading bays and storage units are maintained in safe working condition. Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses and taking prompt corrective action.
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 safety procedures, instructions and training provided by Storage Totteridge. Use equipment, vehicles and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects without delay. Refrain from horseplay or unsafe behaviour that could create a risk. Report accidents, near misses and hazards immediately to a manager or supervisor. Cooperate with any health surveillance, training sessions and emergency drills as required.
Customer and Visitor Safety
Storage Totteridge is committed to providing safe access for customers and visitors using our storage facilities and associated removal services. We will:
Provide clear signage, instructions and guidance for safe use of storage areas, loading bays and access routes. Maintain walkways, stairs, ramps, lifts and loading areas in a safe condition, as far as reasonably practicable. Manage vehicle movements to reduce the risk of collisions between vehicles, pedestrians and handling equipment. Encourage customers to follow manual handling best practice and to request assistance where loads may pose a risk of injury. Restrict access to staff-only or high-risk areas to authorised personnel.
Contractors and Third Parties
Contractors, including removal teams and maintenance providers, working on Storage Totteridge premises or on our behalf must comply with this policy and any site rules provided. We will communicate relevant hazards, emergency procedures and safe working arrangements to contractors before work begins.
Contractors are responsible for the safety of their own employees and for ensuring that their activities do not endanger Storage Totteridge staff, customers or visitors.
Safe Operations and Manual Handling
Storage and removal activities can involve lifting, carrying, loading and unloading goods. To reduce the risk of injury, Storage Totteridge will:
Encourage mechanical handling aids, such as trolleys, sack trucks and pallet equipment, where appropriate. Provide training for employees on correct manual handling techniques, including team lifts for heavy or awkward items. Plan removal and storage operations to minimise unnecessary handling and to control the risk of falls, trips and strains. Take particular care with fragile, sharp, bulky or heavy items and ensure they are handled and stored securely.
Vehicle and Traffic Management
Where vehicles are used for removals, deliveries or collections, we will seek to manage traffic safely by:
Providing suitable loading and unloading areas, wherever reasonably practicable. Ensuring drivers are competent and aware of safe driving and reversing practices. Reducing reversing where possible and using banksmen when necessary. Keeping routes clear of obstructions and enforcing speed and parking rules on our sites. Maintaining vehicles in roadworthy and safe condition.
Emergency Procedures
Storage Totteridge will maintain and communicate clear emergency procedures for fire, evacuation and other foreseeable incidents. This includes:
Providing suitable fire detection and firefighting equipment and ensuring regular checks are completed. Displaying evacuation routes and assembly points where they can be easily seen. Conducting periodic evacuation drills for staff and, where practical, informing customers and visitors of procedures. Ensuring that emergency exits and routes remain clear and accessible at all times.
Welfare, Health and Wellbeing
We recognise our responsibility to support the wider health and wellbeing of our team. Storage Totteridge will provide appropriate welfare facilities and promote good working practices, including:
Clean and hygienic welfare areas. Reasonable working hours and rest breaks as required by law. Consideration of the physical and mental demands of storage and removal work, and adjustments where reasonably practicable.
Training, Information and Supervision
Storage Totteridge will ensure that all employees receive suitable induction and ongoing training relevant to their roles, especially those involved in removals, handling and facility operations. Training will cover, as appropriate, safe systems of work, manual handling, use of equipment, emergency procedures and risk awareness.
Supervisors will monitor working practices to ensure procedures are followed and provide guidance where needed.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
This health and safety policy will be monitored for effectiveness through inspections, incident reports, feedback and regular management review. Where necessary, it will be updated to reflect changes in legislation, best practice or the nature of our storage and removal operations.
Storage Totteridge is committed to continually improving health and safety performance and to fostering a positive safety culture across all aspects of our services.
