Storage Old Ford Health and Safety Policy
Storage Old Ford is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees, contractors, visitors, and customers using our storage and removal-related services. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks across our premises and operations, including storage facilities, handling areas, loading bays, and vehicle access points.
Policy Statement
Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property, and disruption to services by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing effective controls. We comply with applicable health and safety legislation and follow recognised industry best practice for storage, moving, and handling activities.
Health and safety is regarded as a core management responsibility and an integral part of our daily operations. We expect all employees, contractors, and customers to co-operate in maintaining a safe working and visiting environment.
Responsibilities and Management
Senior management has overall responsibility for health and safety within Storage Old Ford. They ensure that this policy is implemented, maintained, and reviewed periodically. Management will:
Provide and maintain facilities, equipment, and systems of work that are safe and without unacceptable risks to health.
Ensure that employees receive appropriate information, instruction, training, and supervision relevant to their roles, particularly where lifting, moving, and storage tasks are involved.
Allocate appropriate resources to manage health and safety effectively, including maintenance, cleaning, and inspection schedules.
Review health and safety performance, incidents, and feedback regularly to identify opportunities for improvement.
Employees are responsible for taking reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They must follow site rules, use equipment correctly, and report hazards or incidents promptly to management.
Risk Assessment and Prevention
We conduct risk assessments for key operations associated with our storage and removal-related activities. This includes risks related to manual handling, use of trolleys, access to units, vehicle movements, loading and unloading, housekeeping, and the storage of goods.
Control measures may include safe systems of work, physical safeguards, clear signage, restricted access areas, and personal protective equipment where appropriate. Risk assessments are reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes in our activities, layout, or equipment.
Safe Storage and Handling of Goods
To support safe storage and any related moving and removal activity, Storage Old Ford will:
Ensure that shelving, racking, and storage units are suitable for their intended loads and are installed, maintained, and inspected as necessary.
Promote safe stacking and loading practices, including instructions regarding maximum height, weight limits, and load distribution.
Discourage the storage of prohibited, dangerous, or illegal items and clearly communicate any restrictions to customers.
Provide guidance to customers on safe packing, lifting techniques, and use of equipment within the facility, particularly when moving heavier or bulkier items.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling and the use of handling equipment are central to storage and removal-related services. To reduce the risk of injury:
Employees receive basic manual handling training appropriate to their duties, including safe lifting, carrying, and team-handling methods.
Suitable handling aids such as trolleys and sack trucks are provided where necessary and are kept in good working order.
Heavy or awkward items should be lifted by more than one person or moved using appropriate equipment wherever reasonably practicable.
Employees and customers are encouraged to plan lifts in advance, clear paths of travel, and avoid rushing tasks that could lead to accidents.
Premises Safety and Housekeeping
We aim to maintain premises that are clean, orderly, and safe to navigate for both staff and customers. This includes:
Keeping walkways, stairways, loading bays, and vehicle access routes clear of obstruction.
Managing slip and trip risks through prompt cleaning of spillages, proper storage of materials, and good housekeeping standards.
Maintaining adequate lighting in storage corridors, entrances, loading areas, and external access routes.
Ensuring that doors, shutters, lifts, and other access equipment are maintained and used in accordance with safety instructions.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Old Ford takes fire safety and emergency preparedness seriously. We:
Provide clear information on fire evacuation routes, assembly points, and emergency procedures within the premises.
Install and maintain suitable fire detection and firefighting equipment where required.
Endeavour to keep emergency exits accessible and unobstructed at all times.
Encourage employees and customers to familiarise themselves with emergency instructions on arrival.
Incident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions that occur on our premises or in connection with our services should be reported to management at the earliest opportunity. This enables us to:
Take immediate steps to prevent further harm or damage.
Investigate the root causes and implement corrective actions.
Review and, where necessary, update relevant risk assessments, procedures, and training.
We encourage open reporting without blame, with the focus on learning and continuous improvement.
Contractors, Visitors, and Customers
Contractors working on site are expected to comply with our health and safety rules and to manage the safety of their own operations. They must co-operate with Storage Old Ford in planning and co-ordinating safe working arrangements.
Visitors and customers are required to follow signage, staff instructions, and any safety information provided when accessing storage units, loading areas, or shared spaces. Children and pets must be supervised at all times while on site.
Training, Communication, and Consultation
We provide information and training to employees appropriate to their roles, particularly in relation to manual handling, safe use of equipment, emergency procedures, and site rules.
Health and safety information will be communicated through induction, briefings, signage, and written procedures as appropriate. Employees are encouraged to raise health and safety concerns, suggestions, or queries with management so that they can be addressed promptly.
Monitoring and Review
This Health and Safety Policy will be monitored for effectiveness and reviewed regularly or following significant changes in operations, facilities, or legislation. We will update our arrangements where necessary and communicate any material changes to employees and, where relevant, to customers and contractors.
By working together and following the principles set out in this policy, Storage Old Ford aims to maintain safe, well-managed storage operations and to support the safe handling and moving of goods associated with our services.
