Storage Willesden Health and Safety Policy
Storage Willesden is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees, customers, contractors and visitors. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risk within our storage facilities and associated removal and transport activities. Our goal is to prevent injury, protect property and ensure that work is carried out in a responsible and compliant way.
Policy Statement and Objectives
We recognise our duty to manage health and safety risks that arise from our operations, including storage, handling of goods, loading and unloading, and related removal services. Our objectives are to:
Identify and assess hazards associated with our premises and activities.
Implement effective control measures to minimise risks.
Provide safe systems of work for staff and contractors.
Maintain a clean, well-organised and secure environment for customers and visitors.
Continually improve our health and safety performance through monitoring and review.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Willesden has overall responsibility for health and safety within the business. Management will:
Ensure that an appropriate health and safety management system is in place and regularly reviewed.
Allocate sufficient resources for maintenance, equipment, training and supervision.
Ensure that risk assessments are carried out for key activities, including manual handling, working at height, vehicle movements and the use of equipment such as trolleys, lifts and loading ramps.
Ensure that emergency procedures, including fire safety and evacuation plans, are developed, communicated and tested.
Promote a positive health and safety culture where all staff feel responsible for maintaining safe standards.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee has a responsibility to protect their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Employees must:
Follow all safety procedures, instructions and safe systems of work issued by Storage Willesden.
Use equipment, including lifting aids and vehicles, only if trained and authorised.
Report hazards, near misses, accidents and unsafe conditions without delay to their line manager or the designated responsible person.
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment where required, such as safety footwear or gloves during handling and removal tasks.
Refrain from horseplay, misuse of equipment or any behaviour that could compromise safety.
Customer and Visitor Safety
Storage Willesden is committed to ensuring that customers and visitors can access our storage units and related services safely. We will:
Provide clear signage to indicate pedestrian routes, vehicle routes, speed limits, loading areas and restricted zones.
Maintain good housekeeping throughout storage areas, corridors and loading bays to minimise slips, trips and falls.
Ensure that lighting is adequate in internal and external areas, including corridors, stairwells and access ways.
Provide guidance to customers on safe use of trolleys, lifts, loading bays and unit access doors.
Restrict access to operational areas, plant rooms and equipment that are not intended for public use.
Safe Handling, Storage and Removal Activities
Many of our activities involve moving and storing items of varying size and weight, along with loading and unloading for removal services. To control risks in these activities, Storage Willesden will:
Provide manual handling training for staff involved in lifting, carrying and stacking goods.
Encourage the use of mechanical aids such as trolleys, pallet trucks and lift systems whenever practicable.
Ensure that shelving, racking and storage units are installed, maintained and used in accordance with safe load limits.
Plan loading and unloading operations to minimise reversing, congestion and interaction between pedestrians and vehicles.
Ensure that vehicles used for removal-related activities are maintained in a safe condition and operated by competent drivers.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Willesden maintains fire safety measures and emergency plans appropriate to the size and use of our premises. We will:
Provide and maintain suitable fire detection and alarm systems, extinguishers and emergency lighting where required.
Keep emergency exits and escape routes clearly marked, unobstructed and well lit.
Display fire action notices and ensure that staff understand their roles in the event of an emergency.
Carry out regular checks and drills to ensure that evacuation procedures are effective.
Control the storage of flammable or hazardous materials in line with safety requirements and our own internal rules.
Training, Information and Supervision
Effective training and supervision are essential to maintaining safe standards. Storage Willesden will:
Provide induction training for new employees that covers health and safety rules, site layout, emergency procedures and reporting arrangements.
Offer role-specific training for tasks such as manual handling, use of access equipment, vehicle operation and operation of lifting equipment.
Ensure that staff receive refresher training where necessary to maintain competence.
Provide information to customers and contractors about any rules that apply while they are on our premises.
Contractors and Third Parties
Contractors and third parties who carry out work on our premises must comply with this policy and any site-specific rules. Storage Willesden will:
Assess contractors competence and safety arrangements before work begins.
Provide relevant information about known hazards, site access, emergency procedures and restricted areas.
Monitor contractor activities where appropriate to ensure that safe systems of work are followed.
Monitoring, Audit and Review
Storage Willesden is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. We will:
Monitor accidents, incidents and near misses to identify patterns and opportunities for improvement.
Inspect the premises and equipment at regular intervals to check that safety standards are maintained.
Review this Health and Safety Policy periodically and when changes occur in our operations, facilities or legal requirements.
Consult with employees on health and safety matters and take into account their feedback when reviewing procedures.
Policy Availability
This Health and Safety Policy is available to all employees, customers, visitors and other interested parties on request. All staff are required to familiarise themselves with the contents of this policy and to co operate in ensuring that Storage Willesden remains a safe place to work, store and manage removal-related activities.
