Storage Haringey Health and Safety Policy
Storage Haringey is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, contractors, customers, visitors, and anyone affected by our removals and storage activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks across our offices, warehouses, vehicles, and customer locations where we operate.
Our Health and Safety Commitment
We aim to prevent injury, ill health, and incidents by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing suitable control measures. Health and safety are integral to the way we plan, organise, and deliver our removal and storage services. We will review this policy regularly to ensure it remains effective and reflects current legislation, best practice, and operational requirements.
Responsibilities and Accountability
Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the senior management of Storage Haringey. They are responsible for providing adequate resources, setting clear objectives, and ensuring that safe systems of work are in place for both storage and removals operations.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing this policy on a day-to-day basis. This includes monitoring working practices, ensuring staff understand and follow procedures, and taking prompt action to address any safety concerns or non-compliance.
All employees, including drivers, porters, warehouse operatives, and administrative staff, are required to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Employees must cooperate fully with Storage Haringey in meeting legal and policy requirements, use equipment correctly, and report hazards, near misses, and incidents without delay.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We carry out risk assessments for all key tasks, including loading and unloading vehicles, handling furniture and personal belongings, operating handling equipment, stacking and retrieving items in storage units, and working at customer premises. These assessments identify significant hazards, such as manual handling, slips and trips, vehicle movements, and working in confined or restricted spaces.
Control measures and safe working procedures are developed based on these assessments and communicated to staff through training and briefings. Risk assessments are reviewed regularly and whenever there are changes in our activities, equipment, or premises.
Training, Information and Supervision
Storage Haringey provides information, instruction, and training appropriate to each role. This may include induction training, manual handling techniques, safe vehicle loading, use of trolleys and lifting equipment, workplace safety rules, and emergency procedures.
New employees are supervised closely until they are competent to carry out tasks safely. Ongoing refresher training is provided where necessary, especially where risks are higher or working practices have changed. Records of training are maintained and reviewed to ensure that all staff remain competent for the work they perform.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a core part of our removals and storage services. We are committed to reducing the risk of injury by planning lifts carefully, using appropriate equipment such as sack trucks and dollies, and encouraging team lifting where individual lifting is not safe. Staff are trained to recognise their own limits and to stop and seek assistance when a load is too heavy or awkward.
All work equipment, including lifting aids, racking, vehicles, and personal protective equipment, is maintained in a safe condition. Regular checks are carried out and defects are reported and rectified promptly. Equipment must only be used by authorised and trained personnel.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Our vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy and safe condition, with regular inspections and servicing. Drivers must carry out basic pre-use checks and report any defects immediately. Safe loading and securing of items is essential to prevent movement of goods during transit and to protect staff, customers, and other road users.
Drivers are expected to follow all road safety laws, drive responsibly, and manage fatigue by taking appropriate breaks. Journeys are planned to reduce undue time pressure and encourage safe driving behaviour.
Workplace Environment and Housekeeping
We aim to maintain clean, orderly, and well-organised storage areas, offices, and loading bays. Good housekeeping helps prevent slips, trips, falls, and collisions. Aisles, fire exits, and access routes must be kept clear at all times, and spillages or obstructions must be dealt with promptly.
Lighting, ventilation, and temperature are monitored as far as reasonably practicable to provide a comfortable and safe working environment. Any issues should be reported to management so that suitable corrective action can be taken.
Emergency Preparedness and First Aid
Storage Haringey has procedures in place for emergencies, including fire, accidents, and serious incidents in storage facilities and during removals. Evacuation routes and assembly points are clearly identified and must be kept unobstructed.
Designated staff receive first aid training, and appropriate first aid supplies are available at our premises and in vehicles where required. All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported, recorded, and investigated to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.
Consultation, Reporting and Continuous Improvement
We encourage open communication about health and safety. Employees are invited to raise any concerns or suggestions for improving safety practices. Management will consult with staff on significant changes that may affect health and safety and will consider feedback when reviewing procedures.
Storage Haringey is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. We will monitor our activities, review incidents and inspection findings, and update this policy and associated procedures whenever necessary to maintain high standards of safety in our removals and storage operations.
Policy Review
This Health and Safety policy is reviewed periodically and updated as required to reflect changes in legislation, industry standards, and the nature of our business. All revisions will be communicated to staff to ensure that everyone understands their responsibilities and the standards expected of them.
