Storage Dulwich Health and Safety Policy
Storage Dulwich 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 in our storage facilities and during removal and transportation activities. Our objective is to prevent accidents, protect property and promote safe working practices at all times.
Policy Objectives
The objectives of this policy are to:
Identify, assess and control health and safety risks associated with our storage and removal operations.
Provide and maintain safe premises, vehicles, equipment and systems of work.
Ensure all employees receive appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision.
Promote a culture where health and safety responsibilities are understood and taken seriously by everyone.
Review and improve our health and safety arrangements on a regular basis.
Legal Responsibilities
Storage Dulwich complies with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards applicable to storage and removals activities. Management is responsible for ensuring that our procedures are kept up to date with legal requirements and good practice. Employees, contractors and visitors are expected to co operate with these arrangements and follow all safety instructions issued by Storage Dulwich.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management has overall responsibility for health and safety within Storage Dulwich. This includes:
Setting and maintaining this health and safety policy.
Providing adequate resources to implement and monitor safety measures.
Ensuring that risk assessments are completed, documented and reviewed.
Ensuring that all employees are trained and competent for the work they undertake.
Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses and implementing corrective actions.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Employees are required to:
Follow all Storage Dulwich safety procedures and instructions.
Use equipment, vehicles and personal protective equipment correctly.
Report accidents, incidents, unsafe conditions and near misses as soon as possible.
Attend required training sessions and apply the knowledge gained.
Refrain from any behaviour that could put themselves or others at risk, including working under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Risk Assessment and Hazard Control
Storage Dulwich conducts risk assessments covering storage spaces, loading areas, offices, vehicles and removal operations. These assessments identify potential hazards such as manual handling risks, slips and trips, vehicle movements, working at height, and use of equipment. Control measures are implemented to eliminate or minimise these risks, and are reviewed regularly or when changes to operations occur.
Safe Premises and Access
Our facilities are maintained to ensure safe access and egress for staff, customers and contractors. This includes:
Keeping walkways, stairways and loading bays clear and well lit.
Maintaining doors, ramps, lifts and security systems to a safe standard.
Providing clear signage and safety information in key areas.
Implementing rules for visitors and customers when entering operational areas, including supervised access where appropriate.
Safe Use of Vehicles and Transport
As a business providing removal and related services, Storage Dulwich takes particular care over the safety of vehicles and transport operations. We ensure that:
Vehicles are maintained, inspected and serviced in line with manufacturer guidance and legal requirements.
Drivers are properly licensed, trained and familiar with safe loading, securing of goods and route planning.
Loading and unloading activities are risk assessed, with safe systems of work in place to manage vehicle movements and protect pedestrians.
Manual handling when moving items to and from vehicles is minimised through the use of handling aids and team lifting where appropriate.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Much of our work involves handling boxes, furniture and other items associated with storage and removals. To reduce manual handling injuries, Storage Dulwich:
Provides training on safe lifting techniques and posture.
Encourages staff to assess the weight and shape of items before lifting.
Uses handling aids such as trolleys, dollies and hoists where practical.
Promotes team lifting for heavy or awkward items and prohibits unsafe lone lifting.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Fire safety and emergency planning are essential within storage facilities. Storage Dulwich:
Provides clear emergency evacuation procedures and signage.
Maintains fire detection and alarm systems, extinguishers and emergency lighting.
Conducts periodic fire drills and reviews evacuation arrangements.
Ensures that escape routes are kept clear and accessible at all times.
Welfare, First Aid and Incident Reporting
Storage Dulwich provides welfare facilities such as toilets, washing facilities, drinking water and appropriate rest areas. Adequate first aid provision is maintained, including stocked first aid kits and trained first aiders. All accidents, incidents, dangerous occurrences and near misses must be reported as soon as possible to a manager or supervisor, and recorded. Investigations are carried out to identify causes and prevent recurrence.
Information, Training and Supervision
All staff receive health and safety induction training and job specific instruction for tasks such as driving, lifting, use of handling equipment, working in loading areas and customer interaction. Refresher training is provided as needed, particularly when procedures or equipment change. Supervisors monitor working practices, correct unsafe behaviour and support staff to carry out tasks safely.
Contractors and Visitors
Contractors undertaking work on Storage Dulwich premises must comply with this policy and any site specific rules. Their competence and approach to health and safety are assessed before work starts. Visitors and customers are given relevant safety information and, where necessary, are escorted in operational areas to protect them from vehicle movements, lifting activities and other hazards.
Continuous Improvement and Policy Review
Storage Dulwich is committed to continuously improving its health and safety performance. We monitor compliance with this policy through inspections, audits and feedback from staff and customers. Lessons learned from incidents and near misses are used to update procedures and training. This policy is reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes in our operations or applicable legislation.
Policy Communication
This health and safety policy is made available to all employees, contractors and customers upon request. Managers are responsible for ensuring that staff understand their responsibilities under this policy and know where to find further guidance. By working together, Storage Dulwich aims to maintain a safe environment for everyone involved in our storage and removal services.
