Health and Safety Policy for Storage Hendon
Storage Hendon is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our employees, customers, contractors, and visitors. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with storage facilities, removals operations, handling of goods, and the use of vehicles and equipment. Our aim is to prevent accidents, injuries, and work-related ill health through effective planning, training, supervision, and continuous improvement.
Policy Objectives
The primary objectives of this Health and Safety Policy are to protect people, property, and the environment during all storage and removal activities. We seek to identify potential hazards, assess associated risks, and implement effective control measures. We promote safe systems of work, maintain our premises and equipment in a safe condition, and encourage a proactive safety culture across the organisation.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Hendon holds overall responsibility for health and safety performance. Management is responsible for ensuring that adequate resources, time, and support are provided to implement this policy. This includes establishing clear roles and responsibilities, approving safe working procedures, and reviewing health and safety performance on a regular basis.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for day-to-day implementation of this policy. They must ensure that staff are properly trained, that equipment is fit for purpose, that risk assessments are conducted and updated, and that incidents and near misses are reported and investigated promptly. They are expected to lead by example and to maintain high standards of health and safety at all times.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. Employees must follow all safety instructions, use equipment correctly, and cooperate with Storage Hendon in fulfilling its health and safety obligations. This includes reporting hazards, defects, accidents, near misses, or unsafe practices to a supervisor as soon as possible.
Employees involved in removals, loading, unloading, packing, and handling of goods must apply safe manual handling techniques, follow vehicle safety rules, and use personal protective equipment when required. No employee should carry out any task for which they have not been trained or authorised.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Storage Hendon conducts risk assessments to identify and control hazards arising from storage and removal activities. These assessments cover, as appropriate, manual handling, vehicle movements, use of lifting equipment, working at height, fire safety, slips and trips, security of stored items, and access control for visitors and customers.
Where significant risks are identified, safe systems of work are developed and communicated to all relevant staff. These systems are periodically reviewed and updated when there are changes in processes, equipment, or layout. Staff are required to follow these safe systems of work and to participate in any related training or briefings.
Safe Handling, Lifting, and Removals Operations
Handling and moving items is a key part of our service. Storage Hendon is committed to reducing the risk of injury from lifting and carrying. Wherever practical, mechanical aids such as trolleys, sack trucks, or lifting equipment are used to minimise manual effort. Loads are assessed for weight, shape, and stability before being moved, and items are stacked securely in vehicles and storage units.
Staff involved in removals services receive training in safe lifting techniques, team lifting, and the correct use of moving equipment. They are instructed not to attempt to lift items that are too heavy or awkward for them and to request assistance or additional equipment when needed. Vehicles used for removals are maintained in good condition, loaded safely, and operated by competent drivers.
Workplace and Storage Facility Safety
Storage Hendon strives to keep all areas of the premises safe, clean, and well maintained. Walkways, stairs, and access routes are kept clear of obstruction. Lighting is maintained at appropriate levels to ensure safe movement throughout the storage facility and loading areas. Floors are kept as dry and even as reasonably practicable to reduce the risk of slips, trips, and falls.
Storage units and common areas are subject to regular inspections to identify and rectify hazards. Customers are expected to store goods in a safe and stable manner, not to overload units or block access ways, and to follow safety instructions displayed on site or provided by staff. Dangerous or prohibited items must not be stored under any circumstances.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Fire safety is an essential component of our health and safety arrangements. Storage Hendon maintains appropriate fire detection and firefighting equipment and ensures that escape routes are clearly marked and kept accessible at all times. Staff are trained to recognise fire risks, raise the alarm, and follow evacuation procedures.
Emergency procedures cover fires, serious accidents, spills, and other incidents that could threaten safety. These procedures are communicated to employees and, where relevant, to customers and visitors. In the event of an emergency, individuals must follow the instructions of authorised personnel and proceed to designated assembly points.
Training, Information, and Supervision
Storage Hendon provides health and safety training appropriate to each role, including induction training for new employees and refresher training when needed. This may include manual handling, equipment use, vehicle safety, fire awareness, and specific procedures related to removals and storage operations.
Information about health and safety rules and procedures is communicated through briefings, signage, written instructions, and ongoing supervision. Supervisors monitor working practices to ensure that procedures are followed and that unsafe behaviour is corrected quickly and constructively.
Contractors, Visitors, and Customers
Contractors undertaking work on our premises must comply with Storage Hendon health and safety requirements and demonstrate their own competence and safe working practices. They may be required to provide method statements or risk assessments relating to their activities.
Visitors and customers are expected to observe all safety notices, follow directions from staff, and avoid entering restricted or staff-only areas. When customers attend during removals or when accessing storage units, they should remain alert to vehicle movements, loading operations, and handling activities.
Incident Reporting and Continuous Improvement
All accidents, injuries, near misses, and dangerous occurrences must be reported so that they can be recorded, investigated, and, where appropriate, acted upon to prevent recurrence. Storage Hendon uses this information to identify trends, improve control measures, and enhance overall safety performance.
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure that it remains current, effective, and appropriate to the nature and scale of our removals and storage operations. We are committed to continual improvement in health and safety standards and to fostering a culture where safety is understood, respected, and actively promoted by everyone involved with Storage Hendon.
