Storage Catford Health and Safety Policy
This Health and Safety Policy sets out how Storage Catford manages health, safety and welfare for everyone who uses or works within our storage and associated removal support services. Our aim is to prevent accidents, protect health, and provide a safe, well managed environment for customers, visitors, contractors and employees.
Policy Statement
Storage Catford is committed to providing safe and healthy conditions for the storage of goods, the movement of items on and off site, and any related removal and handling activities undertaken on our premises. We will identify and control hazards, comply with relevant health and safety legislation, and pursue continuous improvement in our safety performance.
This policy applies to all areas of our operation, including storage units, loading bays, access routes, reception areas, car parks and any designated handling areas used to support removal and relocation services.
Health and Safety Objectives
Our key objectives are to:
Prevent injury and ill health arising from our activities.
Provide and maintain safe premises, plant, equipment and systems of work.
Ensure safe handling, movement and storage of items, including bulky and heavy goods.
Provide information, instruction, training and supervision as required for safe working.
Consult with employees on health and safety matters and encourage reporting of hazards.
Review and improve our health and safety arrangements regularly.
Responsibilities
Overall responsibility for health and safety at Storage Catford rests with senior management, who ensure that adequate resources are provided to implement this policy and meet legal obligations.
Managers are responsible for:
Implementing this policy within their areas of control.
Carrying out and reviewing risk assessments.
Ensuring employees are trained, supervised and equipped to work safely.
Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses and taking corrective action.
Employees are required to:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Follow all safety instructions, procedures, signage and training.
Use equipment and personal protective equipment correctly.
Report hazards, unsafe conditions, accidents and near misses without delay.
Not interfere with or misuse anything provided for health, safety or welfare.
Customers, visitors and contractors must:
Comply with site rules and safety signage.
Follow the instructions of Storage Catford staff, particularly in loading, unloading and emergency situations.
Take care when lifting, carrying and transporting items, and request assistance where necessary.
Risk Assessment and Hazard Control
Storage Catford will identify hazards and assess risks associated with its operations, including but not limited to:
Manual handling of goods, including large or heavy items during self storage and removal related activities.
Use of trolleys, pallet trucks and other handling aids.
Movement of vehicles in and around loading bays and car parks.
Use of access equipment such as steps and ramps.
Fire safety within storage units and common areas.
Trips, slips and falls on site.
Risk assessments will be recorded, implemented and reviewed periodically or when there are significant changes in activities, equipment or layout. Control measures may include physical safeguards, safe systems of work, staff supervision, capacity limits in loading areas, and restrictions on prohibited items and substances.
Safe Use of Premises and Equipment
We will maintain premises, fixtures and fittings in a safe condition. This includes regular checks on lighting, floors, stairs, handrails, doorways, emergency exits, fire doors and signage. Any defects identified must be reported promptly and, where necessary, affected areas may be restricted until made safe.
Handling equipment provided by Storage Catford, such as trolleys and trucks, must be used correctly and only for their intended purpose. Customers and staff must not overload equipment and should take care when manoeuvring loads, particularly on ramps, in corridors and near door thresholds.
Manual Handling and Removal Support
The movement of goods to and from storage can involve significant manual handling. Storage Catford promotes safe manual handling practices for employees and encourages safe behaviours by customers and contractors. Key principles include:
Assessing the load before lifting and seeking help with heavy or awkward items.
Using handling aids where available.
Keeping pathways and loading areas clear to allow safe movement.
Planning routes in advance, especially when coordinating with removal services.
Employees engaged in manual handling tasks will receive appropriate training. Where removal partners operate on site, they will be expected to follow safe systems of work and respect our site rules.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Catford maintains fire safety arrangements appropriate to the nature of the premises and activities. This includes fire risk assessment, clearly marked escape routes, fire detection and alarm systems and appropriate firefighting equipment. Fire exits and escape routes must be kept clear at all times.
Employees will receive instruction on emergency procedures, including how to raise the alarm, evacuation routes and assembly points. Customers and visitors must follow staff instructions immediately in any emergency or evacuation.
Items that present unacceptable fire, explosion or health risks are not permitted to be stored on site. Prohibited items include materials that are flammable, explosive, corrosive, toxic, illegal or otherwise hazardous. Customers are responsible for ensuring that their stored goods comply with our terms and conditions and do not compromise safety.
Training, Information and Supervision
Storage Catford will provide employees with health and safety training suitable for their roles, including induction training, manual handling, fire safety, safe use of equipment, and site specific procedures. Refresher training will be arranged where necessary.
Information on site rules, restricted areas, loading practices and emergency arrangements will be communicated to employees, contractors and customers, using signage and verbal guidance from staff. Supervision will be provided to monitor compliance with safety requirements and to support less experienced staff.
Accidents, Incidents and First Aid
All accidents, incidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported to a member of staff as soon as possible so that they can be recorded, investigated and used to improve safety controls.
Storage Catford will maintain suitable first aid arrangements on site. Employees will be informed of first aid provisions and how to access assistance. In the event of a serious incident, emergency services will be contacted without delay.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
We will monitor health and safety performance through inspections, incident statistics, feedback from staff and customers, and periodic review of risk assessments and procedures. Where shortcomings are identified, corrective and preventative actions will be implemented.
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, operations or site layout. A current version will be made available to employees and to customers on request.
By using our storage and associated removal support services, customers agree to cooperate with Storage Catford in maintaining a safe environment for everyone on site.
