Storage Keston Health and Safety Policy
Storage Keston is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees, customers, visitors and contractors. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety across our storage and removal activities, including handling, transporting and storing customers belongings.
We recognise our duty to comply with applicable health and safety legislation and to continually improve our standards. All staff and contractors are expected to co operate in implementing this policy and to ensure that health and safety remains a core priority in everyday work.
Policy Aims
The aims of this Health and Safety policy are to prevent injury and ill health, protect property and the environment, and promote safe working practices in all areas of our storage facilities and removal operations. We seek to identify and control hazards associated with manual handling, driving and loading, working in and around storage units, and interacting with customers at their homes or premises.
We aim to foster a positive safety culture in which everyone takes responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others, proactively reporting hazards, near misses and incidents.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Keston has overall responsibility for health and safety performance. Management will ensure that appropriate resources, information and training are provided to enable safe working practices. Managers are responsible for ensuring that risk assessments are carried out, reviewed regularly and that control measures are implemented and followed.
Management will regularly review accident and incident data, investigate causes and take corrective action to reduce the likelihood of recurrence. They will also ensure that this policy is reviewed periodically and updated to reflect changes in legislation, best practice, or business activities.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee has an individual responsibility to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. Employees must follow all safety procedures, use equipment correctly, and co operate with any measures introduced to improve health and safety.
Staff must report hazards, unsafe conditions, defective equipment, accidents, near misses and any health and safety concerns to their line manager without delay. Employees must not interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety and welfare.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Storage Keston will carry out risk assessments covering all significant hazards within our operations, including warehouse and storage facilities, vehicle loading and unloading, customer site visits, and office work. These assessments will identify risks and set out control measures to eliminate or reduce them to an acceptable level.
Safe systems of work, method statements and operational procedures will be developed and communicated to staff. These will cover key tasks such as manual handling of furniture and boxes, use of trolleys and lifting equipment, stacking and racking within units, vehicle access and parking, and working in confined or shared spaces.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a significant part of storage and removal operations. Storage Keston will minimise the need for hazardous manual handling wherever reasonably practicable, by planning routes, using handling aids, and arranging loads to reduce strain.
All staff involved in lifting, carrying, loading and unloading will receive appropriate manual handling training. Employees must follow guidance on safe lifting techniques and use provided equipment such as sack trucks, dollies and ramps correctly at all times.
Any mechanical handling equipment, tools or vehicles will be maintained in a safe condition and inspected at suitable intervals. Defects must be reported immediately and unsafe equipment taken out of use until repaired or replaced.
Workplace Safety in Storage Facilities
Storage Keston will maintain storage areas, corridors, loading bays and access routes in a clean, orderly and safe condition. Floors will be kept as free as reasonably practicable from slip and trip hazards such as spillages, packaging materials, loose items or uneven surfaces.
Storage units and racking systems will be used within their designed capacity limits, with loads stacked safely to avoid collapse or falling items. Clear signage will indicate access routes, speed limits for vehicles, loading restrictions and emergency exits.
Customer Premises and Removal Operations
When working at customer homes or business premises, Storage Keston staff will assess hazards on arrival and work in a way that protects residents, visitors and the public. Particular attention will be paid to safe parking of vehicles, securing access routes, and the safe movement of large or heavy items through confined spaces, staircases and doorways.
Employees will take care to protect property from damage and maintain good housekeeping, including the careful placement of tools, blankets and packaging materials to avoid creating trip hazards.
Vehicles and Driving Safety
Vehicles used for storage transfers and removals will be selected, maintained and operated to high safety standards. All drivers must hold the appropriate licence, be medically fit to drive and follow all road traffic rules.
Loads must be planned and secured correctly, with attention to weight distribution, stability and access on arrival. Drivers must not operate vehicles under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that may impair their ability to drive safely. Mobile devices must be used only in a safe and legal manner.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Fire safety measures will be in place in all storage facilities, including appropriate fire detection and alarm systems, firefighting equipment and clearly signed escape routes. Emergency lighting and exit routes will be kept clear at all times.
Staff will be trained in emergency procedures, including evacuation, fire alarm response and the use of extinguishers where appropriate. Fire drills will be carried out at suitable intervals and findings used to improve procedures.
Health, Welfare and First Aid
Storage Keston will provide adequate welfare facilities, including access to toilets, washing facilities, drinking water and rest areas. Suitable first aid arrangements will be in place, and employees will be informed of the location of first aid equipment and trained first aiders.
Any work related ill health concerns will be taken seriously and investigated where necessary. Where tasks present a risk to health, suitable controls, health surveillance or adjustments will be considered.
Training, Information and Supervision
All employees will receive induction training covering relevant health and safety arrangements, including emergency procedures, workplace rules and key hazards. Role specific training will be provided for manual handling, use of equipment, vehicle operation and any higher risk tasks.
Supervisors will monitor working practices to ensure that procedures are followed, provide guidance to staff and take corrective action where unsafe behaviours or conditions are identified.
Contractors and Visitors
Contractors working on site must comply with Storage Keston health and safety requirements and any site specific rules. Relevant information about hazards and emergency procedures will be provided to them before work begins.
Visitors and customers entering storage facilities will be given appropriate safety information and, where necessary, will be accompanied by a member of staff. Children and pets must be kept under control and away from loading areas and moving vehicles.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
Storage Keston will monitor health and safety performance using inspections, audits, incident reports and staff feedback. Where shortcomings are identified, we will take prompt action to address them and learn from events.
This policy will be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to legislation, operations or organisational structure. Updated versions will be communicated to employees to ensure ongoing understanding and compliance.
Through effective management, employee involvement and continuous improvement, Storage Keston is committed to maintaining a safe environment for everyone who works with us or uses our storage and removal services.
