Storage Gants Hill Health and Safety Policy
Storage Gants Hill is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all employees, contractors, customers and visitors. This Health and Safety policy sets out the principles and practical steps we take to prevent accidents, protect property and support safe working practices throughout our storage and removals operations.
Policy Statement
Our objective is to conduct all activities in a way that minimises risk to people, goods and premises. We aim to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and accepted industry standards, and to embed a proactive safety culture in our day to day work.
Health and safety is a core management responsibility and a shared duty of everyone working for or with Storage Gants Hill. Safe working is a condition of employment and of using our storage and removal services.
Scope of the Policy
This policy applies to:
All permanent, temporary and agency staff working for Storage Gants Hill
All contractors and subcontractors attending our sites or completing removal services on our behalf
All customers and visitors using or accessing our storage facilities or interacting with our removal teams
All activities associated with storage, handling, packing, lifting, transport, loading, unloading and associated administration.
Management Responsibilities
Management at Storage Gants Hill has overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this policy. This includes:
Providing a safe workplace, safe equipment and safe systems of work
Assessing risks and implementing control measures to reduce them
Ensuring that staff are trained, competent and supervised for the tasks they undertake
Maintaining the premises, access routes, loading areas and storage spaces in a safe condition
Ensuring that vehicles used for removal and transport activities are roadworthy and safe
Reviewing performance, investigating incidents and improving safety measures where needed.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee of Storage Gants Hill has a duty to:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions
Follow all safety instructions, procedures and training provided
Use correctly any equipment, tools, vehicles and personal protective equipment supplied
Report hazards, near misses, defects, unsafe conditions or incidents promptly to a supervisor or manager
Cooperate with management in fulfilling legal and policy obligations.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
We undertake regular risk assessments covering storage areas, loading bays, car parks, access routes, offices and removal operations at customer locations. These assessments are used to define safe systems of work and to prioritise improvements.
Key areas of focus include:
Manual handling of boxes, furniture and other items
Use of trolleys, sack trucks and lifting equipment
Vehicle movements, loading and unloading at our sites and at customer premises
Housekeeping and fire safety in storage units, corridors and common areas
Security, access control and protection of lone workers where applicable.
Safe working procedures are communicated to staff and reviewed whenever there is a significant change to our operations or facilities.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is central to both storage and removal services. To reduce the risk of injury, we:
Train staff in safe lifting techniques and team lifting methods
Encourage the use of mechanical aids such as trolleys and skates wherever practicable
Plan removal and storage tasks to minimise unnecessary carrying and awkward lifting
Discourage customers from lifting items that are too heavy or bulky for them to handle safely
Monitor working practices to ensure that safe techniques are consistently followed.
Vehicles, Driving and Site Traffic
Where our operations involve vehicles used for collection, delivery and removal services, we aim to ensure:
Vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition
Drivers are competent, appropriately licensed and aware of site rules
Routes, parking and loading arrangements are planned to minimise risk to pedestrians and other road users
Loading and unloading procedures prevent overloading or insecure loads
Traffic flow on site is controlled and clearly indicated where necessary.
Premises Safety and Housekeeping
To maintain a safe environment in our storage facilities we:
Keep walkways, stairways, corridors and emergency exits clear and unobstructed
Ensure lighting is suitable for safe movement and working
Maintain floors, ramps and surfaces to reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls
Store goods safely, with heavy items placed at lower levels wherever possible
Discourage unsafe stacking and ensure racking and shelves are used within their rated capacity.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
We maintain and regularly review fire safety arrangements, including:
Appropriate fire detection and alarm systems
Clearly marked fire exits and assembly points
Accessible firefighting equipment suitable for the site
Emergency plans and evacuation procedures
Regular inspection of escape routes to ensure they remain free from obstruction.
Staff are briefed on emergency procedures and customers are expected to familiarise themselves with escape routes and instructions displayed on site.
Incident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, injuries, near misses, property damage and dangerous occurrences must be reported as soon as possible to a responsible person on site. Management will investigate incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Records of incidents and remedial measures are retained and reviewed to monitor performance and support continuous improvement.
Training, Information and Supervision
Storage Gants Hill provides staff with appropriate induction and ongoing training covering:
General health and safety responsibilities
Safe manual handling and lifting
Use of equipment and vehicles
Site rules, emergency procedures and incident reporting.
Supervisors monitor compliance with procedures and provide guidance to new or less experienced staff. Where contractors are engaged, they receive relevant safety information for the work they are undertaking.
Customer and Visitor Responsibilities
Customers and visitors share responsibility for maintaining a safe environment. They are expected to:
Follow instructions given by Storage Gants Hill staff
Observe safety signs and notices displayed on site
Use equipment and trolleys responsibly
Avoid blocking access routes and emergency exits
Report hazards or incidents to a member of staff without delay.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
This Health and Safety policy is monitored on an ongoing basis and formally reviewed at regular intervals or following significant changes to our operations. Feedback from staff, customers and contractors is welcomed and used to improve safety performance.
By working together and following the measures set out in this policy, Storage Gants Hill aims to provide safe and reliable storage and removal services for everyone who uses or works within our facilities.
