Health and Safety Policy for Storage North Kensington
Storage North Kensington is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our employees, contractors, customers and visitors. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks across our storage facilities and associated removal and transportation activities.
Policy Statement
Our objective is to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing effective control measures. We will provide and maintain safe premises, safe systems of work, and appropriate welfare facilities, and we will ensure that health and safety considerations are integrated into all aspects of our storage and removal operations.
We aim for continual improvement in health and safety performance through regular review, staff involvement and learning from incidents and near misses.
Scope of the Policy
This policy applies to all employees of Storage North Kensington, including temporary and agency workers, as well as contractors working on our behalf, visitors to our sites and customers accessing storage units or using our removal and transport services.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management holds overall responsibility for health and safety throughout Storage North Kensington. Management will:
Provide clear leadership on health and safety matters and allocate adequate resources to deliver this policy.
Ensure that risk assessments are carried out, documented where necessary and reviewed regularly, particularly for lifting, loading and unloading, manual handling, vehicle movements and storage of goods.
Provide suitable training, supervision and information to employees so that tasks are carried out safely and competently.
Maintain premises, plant and equipment in a safe condition, including storage units, loading bays, vehicles, trolleys, lifting aids and security systems.
Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses, identify root causes and ensure that appropriate corrective actions are taken.
Review this policy periodically and when significant changes occur in our operations or in relevant legislation.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees must:
Follow all safety instructions, procedures and site rules issued by Storage North Kensington.
Use equipment, tools and vehicles only as trained and authorised, and report any defects immediately.
Avoid unsafe behaviour, horseplay or shortcuts that might compromise safety, particularly during lifting, carrying, loading or driving activities.
Wear any personal protective equipment provided where required.
Report hazards, near misses, accidents or ill health to their manager as soon as possible.
Cooperate with any investigation or safety improvement measure.
Customer and Visitor Responsibilities
Customers and visitors are expected to cooperate with Storage North Kensington staff, observe safety signage and comply with site rules. In particular they should:
Drive and park safely within the facility, respecting speed limits and designated access routes.
Use trolleys, lifts and loading equipment correctly and only for their intended purpose.
Avoid blocking access routes, fire exits, emergency equipment or shared areas.
Report any hazards, damage or incidents to a member of staff as soon as they are noticed.
Risk Management and Safe Systems of Work
Storage North Kensington assesses risks arising from its activities and implements appropriate controls, including:
Manual handling assessments for loading, unloading and carrying goods, with training on correct lifting techniques and the use of trolleys or lifting aids.
Controls on stacking and storage heights to prevent falls of items and to ensure stability of loads.
Procedures for safe vehicle movements, including separation of pedestrian and vehicle routes where possible and careful use of loading bays.
Maintenance and inspection schedules for equipment, including handling aids and security shutters.
Housekeeping standards to keep floors, corridors and loading areas clear of obstructions and to reduce slip and trip risks.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
We maintain appropriate fire safety arrangements and emergency procedures for all storage locations. This includes:
Provision and maintenance of suitable fire detection and firefighting equipment.
Clearly marked emergency exits, escape routes and assembly points.
Regular drills and training for employees so they know how to respond in an emergency, assist customers and guide evacuations.
Clear instructions for customers and visitors on what to do if they discover a fire or hear an alarm.
Hazardous and Prohibited Items
To protect the safety of people and the integrity of the facility, certain items may not be stored or transported. These can include flammable, explosive, corrosive or otherwise hazardous materials, perishable goods that could attract pests or cause contamination, and any illegal or unsafe items. Customers are responsible for complying with these rules and for declaring any items that may require special handling or restrictions.
Wellbeing and Occupational Health
Storage North Kensington recognises the importance of both physical and mental wellbeing. We will:
Take account of workload, shift patterns and the physical demands of lifting and driving tasks when planning work.
Encourage early reporting of work-related health concerns so that appropriate support and adjustments can be considered.
Monitor patterns of accidents, manual handling incidents and driving related events to identify where further measures are required.
Training, Information and Supervision
All employees receive induction training that covers relevant safety procedures for storage and removal operations. Additional task specific training is provided where necessary, such as safe vehicle use, manual handling, use of lifting equipment and emergency response. Information on site rules and safe practices is communicated to customers through signage and written guidance where appropriate.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
We monitor health and safety performance through routine inspections, audits, incident reporting and feedback from staff and customers. The findings are used to improve processes, update risk assessments and revise training where needed. Management reviews this policy periodically to ensure that it remains suitable, effective and aligned with our operational needs and legal obligations.
Policy Communication
This Health and Safety policy is made available to all employees and is displayed or accessible to customers and visitors at our sites. Everyone using our storage and removal services is expected to support the aims of this policy and play their part in maintaining a safe environment at Storage North Kensington.
