Storage Finsbury Health And Safety Policy
Storage Finsbury is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all employees, contractors, visitors, and customers using our storage and removal services. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks in our facilities, vehicles, and operational activities, including handling, lifting, transport, and storage of goods.
We recognise our responsibility to comply with applicable health and safety legislation and to promote a positive safety culture throughout the organisation. Health and safety performance is integral to the quality of our storage and removals services and to the protection of people, property, and the environment.
Policy Aims
The aims of this Health and Safety Policy are to:
Identify, assess, and manage risks arising from storage, handling, and removal operations.
Provide clear responsibilities and arrangements for health and safety management.
Prevent accidents, injuries, and work-related ill health.
Provide and maintain safe premises, vehicles, equipment, and working conditions.
Ensure employees are properly trained, informed, and supervised.
Encourage active participation in health and safety by employees and contractors.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Finsbury is responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that health and safety is given equal priority with operational and commercial objectives. Management will:
Set clear health and safety objectives and review performance regularly.
Ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for storage facilities, vehicle operations, and handling activities.
Provide appropriate resources, equipment, and training to manage health and safety risks.
Ensure that safe systems of work are developed, implemented, and monitored.
Investigate incidents, near misses, and complaints to prevent recurrence and promote continual improvement.
Consult with employees on health and safety matters and consider their feedback in decision making.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee has 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 health and safety procedures, instructions, and safe systems of work.
Use equipment, vehicles, and personal protective equipment correctly and report defects immediately.
Cooperate with management to enable compliance with health and safety requirements.
Report hazards, unsafe conditions, incidents, and near misses without delay.
Participate in health and safety training and apply the knowledge and skills gained.
Behave responsibly on site and during removals, avoiding horseplay or actions that could create risk.
Risk Assessment And Safe Working Practices
Storage Finsbury will identify and assess foreseeable hazards associated with storage units, warehouse areas, loading bays, parking areas, and removal operations. Risk assessments will cover, as appropriate:
Manual handling of furniture, boxes, and equipment.
Use of trolleys, sack trucks, and lifting aids.
Operation of vehicles during collections and deliveries.
Slips, trips, and falls in internal and external areas.
Stacking, racking, and storage of goods.
Fire safety and emergency evacuation arrangements.
Security of premises and controlled access to storage areas.
Where necessary, written procedures and method statements will be produced to guide safe storage and removal practices, including lifting techniques, loading and unloading vehicles, securing loads, and working in confined or restricted spaces within storage units.
Training And Competence
We will ensure that all employees and relevant contractors receive information, instruction, and training appropriate to their roles. This may include:
Health and safety induction for new starters.
Manual handling and safe lifting techniques.
Safe use of handling equipment and mechanical aids.
Vehicle safety, route planning, and loading procedures for removal operations.
Fire safety awareness, alarm systems, and evacuation drills.
Incident reporting and emergency response.
Training will be reviewed periodically and refreshed when work activities, equipment, or legislation change, or when an incident indicates further training is required.
Safe Premises, Vehicles, And Equipment
Storage Finsbury will provide and maintain premises, plant, vehicles, and equipment that are safe and suitable for use. This includes:
Regular inspection and maintenance of storage units, corridors, loading bays, and access routes.
Appropriate lighting, ventilation, and housekeeping standards to reduce slip and trip hazards.
Suitable fire detection, alarm, and extinguishing equipment with clearly indicated escape routes.
Regular inspection, servicing, and cleaning of vehicles used for removals and collections.
Safe selection, supply, and maintenance of trolleys, carts, lifting devices, and protective equipment.
Where necessary, employees will be provided with personal protective equipment such as gloves, high visibility clothing, and safety footwear appropriate to the task.
Customer And Visitor Safety
Customers and visitors using our storage facilities or interacting with our removals teams are expected to follow all safety signage and instructions from staff. We will:
Control access to operational areas to reduce the risk of collision or interference with lifting and loading activities.
Provide clear signage on speed limits, parking, and pedestrian walkways.
Keep public and customer areas tidy, well lit, and free from unnecessary obstructions.
Inform customers of any restrictions on items stored, weight limits, and safe loading of storage units.
Incident Reporting And Emergency Procedures
All accidents, injuries, dangerous occurrences, and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. This enables prompt investigation, corrective action, and compliance with reporting requirements.
Emergency procedures will be in place and communicated to staff and, where relevant, to customers and visitors. These include:
Fire alarm instructions and evacuation routes.
Assembly points and roll call procedures.
Guidance on responding to spills, leaks, or damaged goods that may present a hazard.
Procedures for summoning emergency services where required.
Monitoring, Review, And Continuous Improvement
Storage Finsbury will monitor health and safety performance through inspections, audits, incident data, and employee feedback. This Health and Safety Policy and the associated procedures will be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes in operations, facilities, equipment, or legislation.
Any updates will be communicated to employees and, where appropriate, to contractors and customers. We are committed to continuous improvement in health and safety standards to support reliable, efficient, and safe storage and removal services.
This Health and Safety Policy is endorsed by senior management and applies to all areas of Storage Finsbury operations.
