Storage Kennington Health and Safety Policy
This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Storage Kennington to provide a safe and healthy working environment for employees, contractors, visitors and customers. It applies to all storage, removals, handling and associated activities carried out by the company on its premises and at customer locations.
Policy Statement
Storage Kennington is committed to preventing injury and ill health, protecting property and promoting the wellbeing of everyone affected by our operations. We will identify and manage health and safety risks arising from storage, loading, unloading, lifting, transport and related work activities. We will comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards.
Health and safety is an integral part of our business planning, decision making and daily operations. Management and staff at every level share responsibility for maintaining and improving safe working practices.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management has overall responsibility for implementing this policy and for ensuring that effective arrangements are in place for health and safety. This includes:
Allocating appropriate resources to manage health and safety risks, including training, equipment and supervision.
Ensuring that risk assessments are carried out, kept up to date and used to guide safe systems of work, especially for storage, lifting and removals tasks.
Providing and maintaining safe plant, vehicles, equipment and storage facilities, and ensuring they are inspected and serviced regularly.
Ensuring that employees receive suitable information, instruction and training so they can work safely and competently.
Promoting a positive health and safety culture that encourages reporting of hazards, near misses and incidents, and supports continuous improvement.
Investigating accidents and incidents to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. Employees are expected to:
Follow all safe working procedures, instructions and training provided by Storage Kennington.
Use equipment, vehicles, lifting aids and personal protective equipment correctly and only for their intended purpose.
Report hazards, defects, near misses, accidents and any health and safety concerns to management without delay.
Cooperate with management in implementing this policy, including attending training and participating in risk assessments where requested.
Ensure that their actions do not endanger colleagues, customers, visitors or members of the public during storage or removals activities.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Storage Kennington will identify and assess risks arising from its operations and put in place practical control measures. This includes, but is not limited to, risks associated with manual handling, working in storage units, operating vehicles, loading and unloading, working at height, use of lifting equipment and contact with members of the public.
Written risk assessments and method statements will be developed for key activities and communicated to staff. Safe systems of work will be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to processes, equipment or premises.
Manual Handling and Lifting Operations
Due to the nature of storage and removals work, manual handling and lifting operations present significant risks. Storage Kennington will:
Assess manual handling tasks to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.
Provide appropriate handling aids and lifting equipment where reasonably practicable.
Train staff in safe lifting techniques, team lifting and the correct use of lifting equipment.
Plan lifting operations involving mechanical equipment to ensure they are carried out safely and under competent supervision.
Vehicles, Driving and Site Safety
Storage Kennington will operate vehicles and manage traffic in a way that minimises risk to drivers, passengers, pedestrians and other road users. We will:
Ensure that company vehicles are roadworthy, regularly inspected and maintained.
Require drivers to hold the appropriate licence and to follow safe driving practices, including adherence to speed limits and load securing requirements.
Manage traffic flow on company premises, using clear markings and designated loading, unloading and parking areas where appropriate.
Supervise vehicle movements during loading and unloading operations to reduce the risk of collision or injury.
Workplace and Storage Facility Safety
The company will keep workplaces and storage areas safe, well maintained and suitable for their intended use. This includes:
Maintaining clear access routes, fire exits and emergency escape paths.
Ensuring that floors, stairs and working platforms are kept in good condition and free from slip and trip hazards.
Storing goods safely, with appropriate stacking heights, load limits and segregation where necessary.
Providing adequate lighting and ventilation in work and storage areas.
Controlling access to storage units and operational zones to authorised persons only.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Kennington will maintain effective fire and emergency arrangements. We will:
Provide appropriate fire detection and fire-fighting equipment and ensure it is inspected and maintained.
Display clear instructions on emergency procedures and ensure staff understand how to raise the alarm and evacuate safely.
Conduct regular drills, where relevant, to test emergency procedures and improve performance.
Ensure that emergency exits are clearly signed, unobstructed and easily accessible at all times.
Health, Welfare and Working Environment
The company will seek to protect the physical and mental health of employees. We will:
Provide suitable welfare facilities, including access to rest areas and drinking water.
Monitor working hours and workload to reduce the risk of fatigue, especially for staff involved in driving and intensive removals work.
Encourage open communication about health concerns that may affect an individual’s ability to work safely.
Training, Information and Supervision
Storage Kennington will ensure that all employees receive appropriate induction and ongoing health and safety training relevant to their role. This may include manual handling, vehicle safety, use of lifting equipment, emergency procedures and the safe operation of storage facilities.
Information on hazards and control measures will be communicated clearly. Adequate supervision will be provided, particularly for new or inexperienced staff and for higher-risk activities.
Consultation and Continuous Improvement
The company will consult with employees on health and safety matters and encourage suggestions for improving safety and wellbeing. We are committed to reviewing performance, learning from incidents and near misses, and updating procedures as needed.
Review of Policy
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in operations, legislation or best practice. The latest version will be made available to employees, contractors, visitors and customers upon request.
