Storage Queens Park Health and Safety Policy
Storage Queens Park is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all employees, customers, contractors, visitors and any other persons who may be affected by our storage and removal activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and arrangements we follow to manage risk, prevent injury, and protect property during all day to day operations.
Policy Statement and Objectives
We aim to prevent accidents, work related ill health and damage to equipment or property by planning our work carefully, assessing risks in advance and applying effective control measures. Health and safety considerations form an integral part of our decision making in relation to storage, handling of goods, removals, vehicle use and site maintenance.
Our objectives are to maintain safe premises and work equipment, provide safe systems of work for manual handling, loading and unloading, ensure competent supervision and training, and respond promptly to hazards, near misses and incidents.
Legal Duties and Responsibilities
Storage Queens Park will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry guidance that applies to storage, warehousing and removal services. Management accepts ultimate responsibility for health and safety within the company and will provide the resources needed to implement this policy.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for leading by example, ensuring that safe systems of work are followed, monitoring standards on site, and taking prompt corrective action when required. 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, and to cooperate with the company in meeting its responsibilities.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We will carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments for all significant hazards associated with our operations, including storage activities, movement of goods, operation of vehicles, work at height, and any use of mechanical handling equipment. Where risks cannot be eliminated, we will put in place control measures to reduce them to the lowest reasonably practicable level.
Documented safe systems of work will be developed for tasks such as loading and unloading vehicles, stacking and retrieving items in storage units, operating lifting aids, and managing heavy or awkward loads during removal services. These procedures will be communicated to employees and reviewed regularly.
Manual Handling and Lifting Operations
Manual handling and lifting are central to storage and removals work and present a significant risk of injury when not managed properly. Storage Queens Park will, wherever possible, avoid unnecessary manual handling by using trolleys, dollies, lifting aids or vehicle mounted equipment.
Where manual handling is unavoidable, we will assess the task, load, environment and individual capability. Staff will receive training in correct lifting techniques, team handling, and the use of mechanical assistance. Loads must be kept within safe weight limits, and employees are instructed not to attempt lifting beyond their capability or to bypass established procedures.
Vehicles, Driving and Site Traffic
Our vehicles and any hired equipment will be maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition, with regular inspections and servicing. Drivers must hold the appropriate licence, follow defensive driving practices, comply with speed limits, and ensure that loads are secured safely before any journey.
Traffic routes on and around our premises will be organised so far as is reasonably practicable to minimise the risk of collision between vehicles, and between vehicles and pedestrians. Reversing operations will be reduced where possible and assisted by a guide when necessary. Customers and visitors will be directed to safe waiting and loading areas.
Workplace Safety and Housekeeping
We will keep storage areas, corridors, stairways, loading bays and offices in a safe condition and free from unnecessary obstructions. Floors will be kept as dry as reasonably practicable and any spillages will be cleaned promptly to prevent slips. Items will be stacked in a stable manner and within the safe height limits for the relevant storage area.
Lighting, ventilation and access routes will be maintained to support safe working. Fire exits, emergency routes and equipment will be kept clear at all times. All staff are expected to maintain good housekeeping practices and report any defects or hazards immediately.
Equipment, Maintenance and Personal Protective Equipment
All work equipment, including trolleys, pallet trucks, lifting accessories and any powered equipment, will be selected, inspected, used and maintained in accordance with manufacturer instructions and legal requirements. Faulty or damaged equipment must be taken out of use and reported without delay.
Personal protective equipment such as safety footwear, gloves, high visibility clothing and any other items identified by risk assessment will be provided as necessary. Employees must use the protective equipment supplied and take reasonable care of it.
Training, Information and Supervision
Storage Queens Park will provide employees with appropriate induction and ongoing training covering topics such as manual handling, safe vehicle loading, emergency procedures, hazard reporting and the correct use of equipment. Training will be refreshed periodically and when there are significant changes in working practices or equipment.
Information about risks and control measures will be communicated clearly to employees and, where relevant, to contractors and customers. Adequate supervision will be provided to ensure that safe working practices are followed and that new or inexperienced staff receive the support they need.
Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures
We will maintain clear procedures for dealing with accidents, incidents and near misses. All such events must be reported promptly so that first aid or emergency assistance can be provided and so that the circumstances can be investigated. Lessons learned will be used to improve our systems of work and prevent recurrence.
Emergency arrangements will include procedures for fire, serious injury, hazardous conditions and site evacuation. Fire safety equipment will be maintained and tested regularly, and staff will be made aware of assembly points and their responsibilities in an emergency.
Consultation, Monitoring and Policy Review
Storage Queens Park is committed to consulting with employees on health and safety matters, encouraging suggestions for improvement and involving staff in the development of safer ways of working. We will monitor our performance through inspections, audits and the review of accident and incident data.
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed at least annually, and earlier if there are significant changes in legislation, our operations or the level of risk. Updates will be communicated to employees and implemented as part of our ongoing commitment to safe storage and removal services.
