Health and Safety Policy for Storage Northumberland Heath
Storage Northumberland Heath is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees, contractors, visitors and customers using our storage and removals related services. We aim to prevent accidents, protect health and promote safe working practices in all aspects of our operations, including the movement, loading, unloading and storage of goods.
This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks and applies to all areas of our business and any person who may be affected by our activities.
Our Health and Safety Commitments
We are committed to:
Identifying, assessing and controlling risks arising from our storage and removal-related activities. Providing and maintaining safe premises, equipment and systems of work. Ensuring that all employees receive appropriate training, supervision and information. Encouraging a strong health and safety culture where everyone takes responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others. Continually improving our health and safety performance through regular review and monitoring.
Legal Responsibilities
Storage Northumberland Heath will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and approved codes of practice applicable to our operations. Management accepts overall responsibility for implementing this policy and will provide the resources necessary to meet our health and safety objectives.
Employees have a duty to work safely, follow procedures, use equipment correctly and report hazards or incidents without delay. Contractors and visitors are expected to cooperate with our health and safety arrangements and follow site rules at all times.
Management Responsibilities
Management will:
Ensure that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for storage, handling and removal-related tasks. Provide and maintain safe access and egress to all areas of the premises, including loading bays, corridors, stairways and storage units. Ensure that lifting and handling equipment, such as trolleys and ramps, is properly maintained and inspected. Establish safe systems of work for tasks involving manual handling, loading and unloading of vehicles, stacking and accessing stored goods. Provide relevant information, training and instruction to staff, particularly for manual handling and safe driving of any vehicles used in connection with the business. Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees must:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Follow company procedures, safe systems of work and instructions given by management or supervisors. Use equipment, tools and protective devices properly and report defects immediately. Avoid taking unnecessary risks when lifting, carrying or moving items and ask for assistance or use mechanical aids where necessary. Report hazards, unsafe conditions, accidents and near misses to management as soon as possible. Cooperate with any health surveillance, training, emergency drills or safety inspections arranged by the company.
Safe Storage and Handling of Goods
To minimise risks associated with storage, removals and logistics activities, Storage Northumberland Heath will ensure that:
Goods are stored in a stable and secure manner, with heavier items kept low and lighter items stacked safely above. Aisles, fire exits and access routes are kept clear at all times to prevent slips, trips and falls. Maximum loading capacities for floors, shelving or units are not exceeded. Hazardous or restricted items are not accepted or, where permitted by law, are stored and handled strictly in accordance with relevant regulations and company procedures. Clear guidance is provided to customers and staff on correct packing, labelling and lifting techniques.
Manual Handling and Removals Safety
Handling personal and commercial goods for storage or removals presents specific risks. To control these:
Manual handling tasks will be assessed and, where possible, redesigned to reduce the need for heavy or awkward lifting. Staff involved in removals related tasks will be trained in safe lifting, carrying and team handling techniques. Mechanical aids such as trolleys and dollies will be provided and used wherever practicable. Particular care will be taken with bulky items, fragile goods and loads that may shift during movement. Where vehicles are loaded or unloaded, loads will be secured appropriately and access to loading areas will be controlled.
Workplace Environment and Welfare
We will maintain a working environment that supports the health, safety and welfare of employees, contractors and visitors by:
Ensuring adequate lighting, ventilation and temperature control in work and storage areas. Providing suitable welfare facilities including toilets and handwashing facilities. Implementing regular cleaning regimes to maintain a tidy and hygienic workplace. Controlling noise and dust levels, as far as reasonably practicable, to reduce any potential impact on health.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
To protect people and property, Storage Northumberland Heath will:
Carry out fire risk assessments and keep them under review. Provide and maintain suitable fire detection, alarm and firefighting equipment where required. Clearly mark fire exits, escape routes and assembly points. Train employees in fire safety, including the use of extinguishers where appropriate and the actions to take in an emergency. Display clear instructions on what to do in the event of fire or other emergencies, including evacuation procedures.
Information, Instruction and Training
We recognise that effective health and safety management depends on clear communication and competence. We will:
Provide induction training for all new employees, including site rules and emergency procedures. Offer task-specific training for lifting, handling, use of equipment and any driving or vehicle-related activities where applicable. Refresh training at appropriate intervals and when changes occur in work processes or equipment. Ensure that safety information is communicated in a clear and understandable way.
Monitoring and Review
Storage Northumberland Heath will monitor health and safety performance through regular inspections, audits and incident reporting. We will review this policy periodically and whenever there are significant changes in our operations, legislation or best practice.
Everyone working with or for Storage Northumberland Heath is encouraged to contribute ideas for improving safety. By working together, we can maintain a secure, efficient and healthy environment for storage, removals related handling and associated services.
