Storage Riddlesdown Health and Safety Policy
This Health and Safety Policy sets out how Storage Riddlesdown manages health, safety and welfare for employees, contractors, visitors and customers. Our operations include storage, handling of goods and associated removal and transport activities. We are committed to maintaining safe working conditions and to preventing injury, ill health and damage to property.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Storage Riddlesdown aims to provide a safe, healthy and secure environment for all people who use or work on our premises, or who may be affected by our removal and storage operations. We seek to:
Identify and control hazards associated with storage facilities and moving goods, including manual handling, vehicle movements, use of equipment and access to units.
Reduce risks so far as is reasonably practicable through safe systems of work, training, supervision and appropriate equipment.
Comply with applicable health and safety laws, regulations and recognised industry standards relevant to storage and removal services.
Promote a positive health and safety culture where everyone understands their responsibilities and feels able to raise concerns.
Management Responsibilities
The management of Storage Riddlesdown has overall responsibility for health and safety within the business. This includes:
Ensuring suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for all key activities, including loading and unloading vehicles, operation of handling equipment, working in storage areas and interaction with customers on site.
Providing and maintaining safe premises, plant and equipment, including regular inspections of storage units, loading bays, access routes, lighting and security systems.
Providing relevant health and safety information, instruction, training and supervision to employees and, where appropriate, to contractors and agency workers.
Ensuring emergency procedures are in place and clearly communicated, covering fire, first aid, accidents, spillages and other foreseeable incidents.
Reviewing the effectiveness of this policy on a regular basis and making updates when operations, legislation or best practice change.
Employee Responsibilities
Employees at Storage Riddlesdown share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Every employee is expected to:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions, including colleagues, customers and visitors.
Follow all health and safety procedures, safe working practices, signage and instructions provided during induction and ongoing training.
Use equipment, vehicles, tools and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects or damage immediately so they can be taken out of use or repaired.
Cooperate with management on all health and safety matters, including risk assessments, investigations and audits.
Report hazards, near misses, unsafe conditions and accidents without delay so that corrective action can be taken.
Safe Handling, Lifting and Removal Activities
Due to the nature of storage and removal services, particular emphasis is placed on safe manual handling and physical movement of goods. Storage Riddlesdown will:
Provide guidance and training on safe lifting techniques, use of trolleys and other mechanical aids, and correct loading practices to minimise the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.
Assess the risks associated with heavy, bulky, fragile or hazardous items, and plan removal or storage activities to avoid overloading staff or equipment.
Ensure vehicles used for collection, delivery and removals are suitable, maintained, and loaded and unloaded in a controlled manner to prevent falls, slips and crush injuries.
Encourage customers to pack and label items appropriately so that handling risks are clearly understood by staff prior to movement and storage.
Site Safety and Customer Access
Storage Riddlesdown aims to provide safe access and egress for all users of the site. We will:
Keep internal and external walkways, stairs, ramps and loading areas clear of obstructions, trip hazards and spillages.
Maintain appropriate lighting and clear signage to guide customers and employees safely around the premises.
Manage vehicle movements on and around the site, including designated loading areas, speed restrictions and, where needed, traffic segregation for pedestrians and vehicles.
Control access to storage areas to authorised persons only and provide guidance to customers on safe behaviour while on site.
Equipment, Maintenance and Housekeeping
Storage Riddlesdown recognises that well-maintained equipment and good housekeeping are essential to safety. To support this, we will:
Schedule routine checks and maintenance on handling equipment, vehicles, locks, doors, lifts, alarms and other key systems.
Remove defective equipment from use until it has been repaired or replaced and is safe to operate.
Ensure storage areas are kept tidy, with goods stacked and stored securely to prevent collapse, falling objects or blocked access routes.
Encourage staff and customers to report issues such as damaged doors, lighting failures or leaks as soon as they are noticed.
Health, Welfare and Emergency Preparedness
We recognise the importance of both physical and mental wellbeing. Storage Riddlesdown will:
Provide basic welfare facilities, including toilets, washing facilities and access to drinking water for employees and, where appropriate, customers and contractors.
Make reasonable adjustments to duties or work patterns where employees have specific health needs relevant to safe performance of their role.
Ensure that first aid arrangements are in place, including appointed persons and suitable equipment, and that incidents are recorded and reviewed.
Prepare and communicate emergency procedures, including fire evacuation routes, alarm points and assembly areas, and provide instruction on these during induction and refresher training.
Training, Communication and Policy Review
Health and safety training is an ongoing requirement for all employees engaged in storage and removal activities. Storage Riddlesdown will:
Provide induction training for new starters, covering site rules, emergency procedures, accident reporting and safe working methods.
Offer role-specific training where tasks involve higher risk, such as use of lifting equipment, working at height or driving company vehicles.
Communicate updates to procedures and policy changes through team briefings and written notices.
Review this Health and Safety Policy periodically and whenever there are significant changes to operations, ensuring it remains relevant and effective.
This policy reflects Storage Riddlesdown’s commitment to health and safety as an integral part of providing secure and reliable storage and removal services. Everyone involved in our activities is expected to uphold these standards at all times.
