Storage Walthamstow Village Health and Safety Policy
Storage Walthamstow Village is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees, contractors, customers, visitors, and any third parties using our storage and removal services. We recognise our responsibilities under relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice, and we work to prevent accidents, injuries, and work-related ill health in all aspects of our operations.
Policy Objectives
The objectives of this Health and Safety policy are to:
Promote a positive safety culture across our storage and removal activities.
Identify, assess, and control risks associated with manual handling, vehicle movements, use of equipment, and access to storage units.
Provide appropriate information, instruction, training, and supervision to staff and contractors.
Ensure safe systems of work for loading, unloading, packing, transporting, and storing items.
Maintain our premises, vehicles, and equipment in a safe condition.
Continuously review and improve our health and safety performance.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Walthamstow Village has overall responsibility for implementing this policy and ensuring health and safety standards are maintained. Management will:
Set clear safety standards and communicate them to all employees and contractors.
Carry out and regularly review risk assessments for storage facilities, offices, loading areas, and removal operations.
Provide suitable resources for health and safety, including training, equipment, and maintenance.
Ensure incidents, near misses, and hazards are reported, investigated, and used to prevent recurrence.
Review this policy periodically and whenever there are significant changes in operations or legislation.
Employee and Contractor Responsibilities
All employees and contractors engaged by Storage Walthamstow Village must:
Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Follow all safe working procedures, instructions, and training provided.
Use equipment, vehicles, and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately.
Report hazards, unsafe conditions, accidents, and near misses without delay.
Cooperate with management in implementing this policy and participate in training and safety briefings.
Customer and Visitor Safety
Storage Walthamstow Village takes reasonable steps to ensure that customers and visitors are not exposed to unnecessary risks while on our premises or when interacting with our removal services. Customers and visitors are expected to:
Follow safety signs and instructions provided by staff.
Take care when moving goods, using trolleys, or accessing storage units.
Keep children and vulnerable persons under close supervision at all times.
Report any hazards or incidents to a member of staff immediately.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We conduct regular risk assessments covering storage facilities, handling equipment, vehicles, and removal activities. These assessments inform safe systems of work, including:
Safe loading and unloading procedures for vehicles and storage units.
Manual handling techniques to reduce the risk of strains and injuries when lifting, carrying, or stacking items.
Use of appropriate lifting aids, trolleys, and equipment to minimise physical effort.
Control of vehicle movements in and around the site, including designated loading areas and pedestrian routes.
Measures to control slip, trip, and fall risks, such as housekeeping, clear walkways, and appropriate flooring.
Manual Handling and Removal Operations
Removal activities and storage handling involve specific risks. To manage these, Storage Walthamstow Village will:
Provide manual handling training for staff and contractors, including correct lifting techniques and team lifting.
Plan removal jobs in advance to assess access, parking, potential obstacles, and any special handling requirements.
Ensure items are packed, secured, and stacked safely in vehicles and storage units to prevent shifting or collapse.
Use appropriate equipment for heavy or awkward loads, such as dollies, sack trucks, or lifting straps, where suitable.
Discourage unsafe customer handling practices and offer guidance on safer alternatives where appropriate.
Premises, Vehicles, and Equipment Safety
We will keep our premises and equipment in a condition that is safe and without risks to health, so far as is reasonably practicable. This includes:
Routine inspection and maintenance of storage units, corridors, stairways, loading bays, doors, and access points.
Regular servicing and inspection of vehicles used for removals and transport.
Inspection and testing of lifting and handling equipment in line with legal and manufacturer requirements.
Provision and maintenance of lighting, signage, fire safety equipment, and emergency exits.
Ensuring plant and equipment are used only by trained and authorised personnel.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Walthamstow Village maintains fire safety and emergency arrangements to protect all persons on site. We will:
Provide clearly marked and unobstructed fire exits and escape routes.
Install and maintain appropriate fire detection and firefighting equipment.
Display emergency instructions and ensure staff are familiar with evacuation procedures.
Conduct periodic checks and, where appropriate, drills to confirm the effectiveness of emergency arrangements.
Ensure that storage of items does not block escape routes, access to fire equipment, or emergency exits.
Hazardous and Prohibited Items
To protect the health and safety of all users of our facilities and services, certain items may be restricted or prohibited from storage or removal. Customers must comply with guidance given by Storage Walthamstow Village regarding hazardous, flammable, explosive, illegal, or otherwise unsafe items. Where such items are identified, we will act to remove or mitigate the risk in a safe and lawful manner.
Training, Information, and Consultation
We recognise that effective health and safety management relies on competent people. Storage Walthamstow Village will:
Provide induction training covering key health and safety rules, emergency procedures, and safe working practices.
Offer role-specific training, including manual handling and safe operation of any equipment used in removal activities.
Provide ongoing updates where procedures or legal requirements change.
Consult with employees on relevant health and safety matters and encourage feedback to improve safety performance.
Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement
Storage Walthamstow Village monitors health and safety performance through incident reporting, inspections, audits, and feedback. Findings are reviewed and used to improve our systems and procedures. This Health and Safety policy will be reviewed regularly and updated as needed to reflect changes in legislation, business operations, or best practice.
By applying this policy consistently, Storage Walthamstow Village aims to provide a safe, well-managed environment for storage customers, removal clients, staff, and all others who may be affected by our activities.
