Storage Dollis Hill Health and Safety Policy
Storage Dollis Hill is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all employees, customers, visitors and contractors. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety across our storage facilities and related removal and transport activities.
We recognise our duty to prevent injury and ill health and to comply with all applicable health and safety legislation. Health and safety is an integral part of how we plan, manage and deliver our services.
Policy Objectives
The objectives of this Health and Safety Policy are to:
Promote a positive health and safety culture throughout Storage Dollis Hill.
Prevent accidents, work-related ill health and damage to property.
Identify hazards, assess risks and implement proportionate control measures.
Provide and maintain safe premises, plant, vehicles and equipment.
Offer information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure safe working practices.
Continually review and improve our health and safety performance.
Responsibilities and Management
Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with senior management. They ensure that adequate resources are provided to implement this policy and that health and safety considerations are embedded in business planning and decision-making.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for day-to-day implementation of this policy. They must ensure that staff are trained, risk assessments are completed and reviewed, and safe systems of work are followed.
All employees, including temporary staff, share responsibility for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Employees must cooperate with management, follow safety procedures, use equipment correctly and report any hazards, near misses or incidents without delay.
Contractors and service providers working on our premises or supporting our removal operations are required to comply with this policy and with any site-specific rules and instructions given to them. Their performance may be monitored and reviewed as part of our contractor management process.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Storage Dollis Hill conducts suitable and proportionate risk assessments for all significant hazards associated with our storage facilities and removal activities. This includes manual handling, use of trolleys and lifting equipment, vehicle movements, loading and unloading, working at height, use of equipment and the general condition of premises.
Control measures are implemented to reduce risks so far as is reasonably practicable. Safe systems of work are developed, documented where appropriate and communicated clearly to all relevant staff.
Risk assessments and procedures are reviewed regularly, and whenever there are significant changes to our activities, equipment, layout or working practices.
Safe Premises and Equipment
We aim to maintain our storage units, offices, loading areas and access routes in a safe and tidy condition. This includes managing lighting, ventilation, housekeeping, security and emergency access.
All plant, vehicles and equipment used in our facilities and removal operations are selected, maintained and inspected to ensure they are safe and fit for purpose. Defective equipment is taken out of use and reported so that it can be repaired or replaced.
Where necessary, guards, restraints and safety devices are fitted and must not be removed or interfered with. Only authorised and trained staff may operate specific equipment such as forklifts or mechanical handling aids.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a significant aspect of storage and removal work. We seek to minimise the need for hazardous manual handling by using trolleys, dollies, lifting aids and appropriate packing methods wherever possible.
Employees receive guidance on safe lifting techniques, team lifting and the assessment of loads before handling them. Heavy, awkward or bulky items must not be lifted alone. Staff are expected to ask for assistance or use mechanical aids rather than place themselves or others at risk.
Vehicle Movements and Transport Safety
Where our services involve moving goods to or from customer premises, we manage the associated transport risks. This includes safe loading and unloading, securing loads, using appropriate access equipment and managing vehicle movements in yards and at customer locations.
Drivers and removal staff are expected to follow all road safety rules, wear any required high visibility clothing and communicate clearly when manoeuvring vehicles. Reversing and tight access areas must be managed carefully to reduce the risk of collision or injury.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Fire safety is a core part of our health and safety management. We maintain suitable fire detection and alarm arrangements, emergency exits, escape routes and fire-fighting equipment in line with our fire risk assessments.
Employees are made aware of the fire and emergency procedures, including how to raise the alarm, evacuation routes and assembly points. Fire exits and routes must be kept clear at all times and must never be blocked by stored goods or equipment.
In the event of any emergency, staff and visitors must follow instructions from designated personnel and prioritise safe evacuation.
Training, Information and Supervision
Storage Dollis Hill provides training and information so that employees understand the health and safety risks associated with their roles and know how to work safely. This may include induction training, job-specific instruction, refresher training and toolbox talks.
Supervisors are responsible for monitoring working practices, correcting unsafe behaviour and ensuring that procedures are followed. Additional supervision is provided for new or inexperienced staff and for tasks with a higher level of risk.
Welfare, Wellbeing and Personal Protective Equipment
We provide appropriate welfare facilities, including access to rest areas and sanitary facilities, and we encourage employees to raise any concerns about their wellbeing or workload.
Where risk assessments identify the need for personal protective equipment, such as gloves, safety footwear or high visibility clothing, this is provided and must be worn as instructed. Employees are responsible for taking reasonable care of any equipment issued to them and reporting any damage or loss.
Incident Reporting and Continuous Improvement
All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported promptly so that they can be investigated. The aim of any investigation is to identify underlying causes, learn lessons and prevent recurrence, not to attribute blame.
We review incident data, inspection findings and staff feedback to monitor our performance and to identify opportunities for improvement. This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated if necessary to reflect changes in legislation, operations or best practice.
Policy Communication and Review
This policy is communicated to all employees and is available to customers, contractors and others on request. It reflects our commitment to managing health and safety in a practical, responsible and proactive manner across all storage and removal activities.
Senior management will review this policy periodically to ensure it remains suitable, sufficient and effective in protecting the health, safety and welfare of everyone who may be affected by our operations.
