Storage Leamouth Health and Safety Policy
Storage Leamouth 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 associated with storage facilities, vehicle operations, manual handling, and the movement of goods.
We recognise that effective health and safety management is essential to the success of our business and to the wellbeing of everyone who works with us or uses our services. We will comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and relevant best practice guidance.
Policy Aims and Objectives
The aims of this Health and Safety Policy are to prevent injury and ill health, safeguard property, and promote a culture of safety awareness and continuous improvement. To achieve this, Storage Leamouth will
Identify, assess, and control significant risks arising from our activities, including storage operations and removals work.
Provide and maintain safe premises, plant, vehicles, and equipment.
Implement safe systems of work for handling, loading, transporting, and storing goods.
Ensure that all employees receive appropriate information, instruction, training, and supervision.
Consult with employees on matters affecting their health and safety.
Investigate accidents, incidents, and near misses and take action to prevent recurrence.
Review this policy regularly and revise it as necessary.
Management Responsibilities
Overall responsibility for health and safety at Storage Leamouth rests with senior management. They are responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements, resources, and competent personnel are in place to implement this policy.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for
Ensuring that activities under their control are carried out in accordance with this policy and any associated procedures.
Conducting and reviewing risk assessments for storage, removals, vehicle use, lifting operations, and office activities.
Ensuring that employees understand their duties and receive suitable training, information, and supervision.
Promptly addressing any health and safety concerns raised by employees or customers.
Ensuring that accidents and incidents are reported, recorded, and investigated.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees are required to
Follow all safe working procedures and instructions.
Use equipment, vehicles, and personal protective equipment correctly and only for its intended purpose.
Report hazards, defects, accidents, incidents, and near misses as soon as possible.
Cooperate with Storage Leamouth in the implementation of this policy and any legal requirements.
Not interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety, or welfare.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We will carry out risk assessments for all significant activities, including
Storage unit access and egress.
Manual handling of items, including heavy or bulky furniture and equipment.
Use of vehicles for removals and transport of goods.
Operation of lifting aids, trolleys, and other handling equipment.
Fire safety and emergency evacuation procedures.
Based on these assessments, safe systems of work will be developed, implemented, and communicated to all affected employees. These will be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to operations, equipment, or premises.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Storage and removal activities often involve manual handling tasks. To reduce the risk of injury, Storage Leamouth will
Avoid hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable by using mechanical aids and planning work flows.
Assess manual handling tasks that cannot be avoided and implement controls to minimise risk.
Provide training in safe lifting techniques and correct use of handling equipment such as sack trucks, pallet trucks, and trolleys.
Ensure that all equipment is suitable for its intended use, properly maintained, and inspected at suitable intervals.
Vehicle and Driving Safety
Where our services involve the use of vehicles for removals or the transport of goods, we will
Ensure that vehicles are roadworthy, regularly inspected, and maintained in line with manufacturer recommendations.
Load vehicles safely, securing goods to prevent movement during transit.
Provide guidance to drivers on safe driving practices, route planning, and rest breaks.
Ensure that only authorised and competent individuals operate our vehicles.
Workplace Environment and Welfare
We will provide and maintain premises in a safe condition, including storage areas, loading bays, corridors, stairways, and external access routes. Reasonable steps will be taken to
Keep floors and access routes free from obstructions and slip or trip hazards.
Provide suitable lighting, ventilation, and temperature control where reasonably practicable.
Maintain welfare facilities, including toilets and rest areas, in a clean and hygienic condition.
Control noise, dust, and other environmental factors so far as is reasonably practicable.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Leamouth will put in place suitable arrangements for fire safety and other emergencies. This includes
Providing and maintaining appropriate fire detection and firefighting equipment.
Marking fire exits and escape routes clearly and keeping them unobstructed.
Displaying clear instructions for emergency evacuation and assembly points.
Carrying out periodic evacuation drills and reviewing performance.
Training, Information, and Supervision
We will ensure that employees receive health and safety induction training and any role-specific training required for their duties, including storage operations, removals work, vehicle use, and equipment operation. Refresher training will be provided as needed.
Information on risks, controls, and safe procedures will be communicated through signage, written instructions, briefings, and supervision. Additional training or guidance will be provided if processes, equipment, or legislation change.
Accident, Incident, and Near Miss Reporting
All accidents, incidents, and near misses occurring on our premises or during work activities must be reported as soon as practicable. Storage Leamouth will
Record all reportable events accurately.
Investigate their cause and identify corrective and preventive actions.
Share relevant findings with employees to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
Comply with any applicable statutory reporting requirements.
Monitoring, Review, and Policy Availability
We will monitor our health and safety performance through inspections, audits, incident data, and employee feedback. This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed at regular intervals and revised whenever necessary to reflect changes in operations, legislation, or best practice.
This policy is available to all employees, contractors, visitors, and customers upon request. By implementing this policy, Storage Leamouth seeks to ensure that our storage and removal services are delivered in a safe, responsible, and professional manner.
