Storage Nine Elms Health and Safety Policy
Storage Nine Elms is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees, customers, contractors and visitors. This policy sets out our approach to health and safety for our storage facilities and associated removal and handling services. Our aim is to prevent accidents, reduce risks and protect the wellbeing of everyone who uses or works within our premises.
Policy Statement and Objectives
We recognise our duty to manage health and safety in a systematic and proactive way. Our objectives are to:
Identify and manage risks arising from our storage and removal activities.
Provide and maintain safe premises, equipment and systems of work.
Ensure employees are properly trained, supervised and informed.
Promote a culture where safety concerns are raised and addressed promptly.
Comply with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards.
This policy is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to reflect changes in operations, legislation and best practice.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Nine Elms has overall responsibility for health and safety performance. Management will:
Implement and maintain this policy across all storage and removal operations.
Provide adequate resources to manage health and safety effectively.
Ensure risk assessments are carried out and kept up to date.
Set clear safety standards and monitor performance against them.
Investigate incidents, near misses and hazards to prevent recurrence.
Communicate health and safety information to staff and contractors in a clear and timely manner.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee has a responsibility to protect their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. Employees are required to:
Follow all safety procedures, instructions and training provided.
Use equipment, vehicles and handling aids correctly and safely.
Wear any required personal protective equipment when instructed.
Report accidents, incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions promptly.
Cooperate with management and colleagues in promoting safe working practices.
Never interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health and safety.
Customer and Visitor Safety
Storage Nine Elms is committed to providing a safe environment for customers and visitors using our storage units and related services. We will:
Maintain clean, well lit and clearly signed access routes.
Control the movement of vehicles where removals and loading are taking place.
Provide guidance to customers on safe loading, unloading and use of trolleys and handling equipment where applicable.
Respond quickly to any reported hazards, such as spills, obstructions or damaged fixtures.
Advise customers on items that cannot be stored for safety reasons, such as hazardous or flammable materials.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We undertake regular risk assessments covering storage areas, loading bays, removal operations and office spaces. These assessments identify hazards and determine appropriate control measures. From this we develop safe systems of work that address:
Manual handling of goods, furniture and equipment.
Use of lifting aids, trolleys and other handling devices.
Stacking, racking and storage of items to prevent collapse or falling objects.
Vehicle movements, loading and unloading activities.
Use and maintenance of mechanical and electrical equipment.
Cleaning, waste management and housekeeping standards.
Manual Handling and Removal Activities
Manual handling is a core part of storage and removal services. To reduce the risk of injury, Storage Nine Elms will:
Provide appropriate training in safe lifting and carrying techniques.
Encourage the use of handling aids such as trolleys and dollies where possible.
Plan lifting tasks to avoid unnecessary carrying and awkward postures.
Ensure that large or heavy items are handled by sufficient personnel.
Discourage customers and staff from overloading containers, boxes or vehicles.
Monitor handling practices and take corrective action where unsafe behaviour is observed.
Premises, Equipment and Maintenance
We aim to maintain all parts of our premises in a safe condition. This includes:
Regular inspections of corridors, stairways, loading bays and storage areas.
Keeping walkways and fire exits clear of obstruction at all times.
Maintaining lighting, signage and security systems in good working order.
Inspecting racking, doors, locks and unit fixtures for damage and wear.
Keeping handling equipment in safe working condition and removing defective items from use immediately.
Contracting competent specialists where necessary for maintenance and repairs.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Nine Elms is committed to preventing fires and ensuring a prompt and safe response if an emergency occurs. We will:
Maintain appropriate fire detection and alarm systems.
Provide suitable fire extinguishers and ensure they are inspected regularly.
Keep emergency exits clearly marked and free from obstruction.
Display evacuation instructions and site layout information where appropriate.
Conduct periodic drills and training for staff on emergency procedures.
Advise customers on safe storage practices to reduce fire risk and prohibit the storage of flammable or explosive items.
Training, Information and Supervision
Staff must be competent to carry out their duties safely. To support this, we provide:
Induction training covering general health and safety and site rules.
Task specific training for manual handling, use of handling equipment and any specialised activities.
Refresher training where processes or legislation change or where additional support is required.
Clear written and verbal instructions on safe working methods.
Appropriate supervision, particularly for new, young or inexperienced workers.
Incident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, injuries, near misses and hazardous events must be reported. Storage Nine Elms will:
Record and review all reported incidents.
Investigate the causes and implement corrective measures where necessary.
Identify trends and take action to prevent similar occurrences.
Share learning outcomes with relevant staff to improve safety awareness.
Continuous Improvement and Review
Health and safety at Storage Nine Elms is a continuous process. We regularly review our policy, risk assessments and procedures to ensure they remain effective and relevant to our storage and removal operations. Feedback from employees, customers and contractors is encouraged and is used to refine and improve our approach.
By working together, we aim to maintain a safe, secure and well managed environment for everyone who uses or works with Storage Nine Elms.
