Storage East Ham Health and Safety Policy
Storage East Ham 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 identifying, managing and reducing risks associated with storage facilities and removal-related activities, including handling, moving and transporting goods.
We recognise our responsibilities under relevant health and safety legislation and aim to achieve continuous improvement in our safety performance. This policy applies to all locations operated under the Storage East Ham name and to all work undertaken on our behalf.
Health and Safety Objectives
Our main objectives are to prevent injury, protect property, and promote wellbeing for everyone who uses or works in our storage and removal environments. We will ensure that risks are assessed and controlled so far as is reasonably practicable, with particular attention to manual handling, vehicle movements, loading and unloading of goods, use of equipment and safe access throughout our facilities.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management is responsible for implementing and maintaining this policy. This includes allocating sufficient resources, ensuring competent supervision and setting clear expectations for safe working practices. Management will:
Regularly review health and safety performance and update procedures when necessary. Ensure risk assessments are carried out for storage units, loading bays, access routes and removal activities. Provide suitable training, information and instruction to employees and contractors. Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses to prevent recurrence. Promote a culture where safety concerns can be raised without fear of reprisal.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees, including those involved in removals, transport, packing and customer service, share responsibility for maintaining safe working conditions. Employees must:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Follow all safety procedures, training and instructions provided. Use equipment, vehicles and protective gear correctly and only for their intended purpose. Report hazards, defects, accidents and near misses promptly to management. Co operate with any investigation, training or review aimed at improving safety.
Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
We will systematically identify hazards associated with our operations, including storage facilities, removal and transport services, and office activities. Risk assessments will be completed, documented and reviewed regularly, especially when there are changes in operations, equipment, or layout.
Where risks are identified, we will implement appropriate control measures such as revised procedures, improved signage, protective equipment or engineering solutions. Particular attention will be given to risks associated with heavy or awkward loads, working at height when accessing higher storage areas, slips and trips, and vehicle movements in and around loading zones.
Safe Handling, Moving and Storage of Goods
The nature of our business involves frequent handling, lifting and moving of items for storage and removal. We will ensure that safe systems of work are in place to manage these activities. This includes:
Training staff in correct manual handling techniques to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Providing appropriate handling equipment such as trolleys and dollies, and ensuring they are maintained and used correctly. Planning the loading and unloading of vehicles to avoid overloading, unstable loads and unsafe lifting. Keeping access routes, corridors and loading bays clear of obstructions and well lit. Ensuring that goods are stored securely within units and common areas, with heavier items placed at lower levels where practicable.
Vehicles, Traffic and Parking
Our sites may involve the movement of cars, vans and larger removal vehicles. We will manage traffic to minimise the risk of collision, injury or damage. Measures may include designated vehicle routes, marked loading zones, speed restrictions, and clear signage.
Drivers and removal crews must follow site rules, drive carefully, and ensure vehicles are parked and loaded safely. Engines should be switched off when not in use during loading and unloading where practicable, to reduce emissions and noise.
Workplace Environment and Welfare
We will maintain our premises in a clean, orderly and safe condition. This includes regular inspections of floors, doors, access ramps, lifts, staircases, lighting and ventilation systems. Any defects or hazards identified will be rectified as soon as reasonably practicable.
Suitable welfare facilities, including toilets, wash areas and rest spaces where applicable, will be provided and maintained. Drinking water will be available for employees and, where reasonable, for customers and contractors while on site.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
We will implement and maintain procedures for fire safety and emergency response. This includes adequate fire detection and alarm systems, clearly marked escape routes, emergency lighting, and appropriate fire extinguishers located and maintained in accordance with manufacturer guidance and legal requirements.
Employees will receive training in emergency procedures, including how to raise the alarm, how to evacuate safely and where to assemble. Fire drills will be carried out periodically. Customers and visitors will be made aware of key safety information, such as exits and assembly areas, through signage and staff guidance.
Information, Instruction and Training
We will ensure that employees receive appropriate induction training when they join the company, covering health and safety rules, site layouts, emergency procedures, manual handling and any specific risks relating to their role, including removal and driving activities.
Refresher training will be delivered periodically and whenever there are changes to equipment, systems of work or relevant legislation. Records of training will be maintained. Contractors working on our behalf will be given suitable information about site rules and any risks that may affect their work.
Customer and Visitor Safety
Customers and visitors using our storage and removal services will be provided with clear information to help them stay safe on site. This may include guidance on loading and unloading, safe stacking of items within units, restricted areas, and the proper use of equipment that is made available to them.
Children and vulnerable persons must be supervised at all times while on site. Customers should not bring hazardous or prohibited items into storage, and must follow all safety instructions from our staff.
Monitoring, Review and Policy Availability
We will monitor our health and safety performance through inspections, audits, incident reporting and staff feedback. This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in our operations, legislation or best practice in the storage and removals sector.
The policy is made available to employees, customers and interested parties on request and may be displayed at our premises or on our official website. All staff are expected to be familiar with its contents and to support its implementation in their daily work.
By working together, we aim to ensure that Storage East Ham remains a safe, secure and well managed environment for storage, removals and associated services.
