Storage Hackney Wick Health and Safety Policy
Storage Hackney Wick is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our customers, staff and contractors. This Health and Safety Policy explains how we manage safety risks associated with storage facilities, moving services and removals-related activities on our premises.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Our primary objectives are to prevent injury, protect health and reduce risk. We aim to:
Identify and control potential hazards in storage areas, loading zones and handling spaces. Provide and maintain safe systems of work for lifting, moving and transporting items. Ensure that staff are trained and competent for their roles, including safe manual handling and use of equipment. Encourage customers and contractors to follow safe practices while using our facilities or working on site. Continuously review and improve our health and safety performance.
Management Responsibilities
Management at Storage Hackney Wick has overall responsibility for health and safety. This includes:
Implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy. Carrying out regular risk assessments covering storage units, corridors, stairways, lifts, loading bays and vehicle access areas. Providing suitable equipment for handling and moving items, where applicable, and ensuring any such equipment is in a safe condition. Ensuring emergency procedures are in place, clearly communicated and regularly reviewed. Providing information and guidance to staff on safe working practices, including storage and removals activities.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Employees are expected to:
Follow all health and safety instructions, training and site rules. Use any handling aids or safety equipment correctly and report defects immediately. Avoid unsafe practices such as overloading trolleys, lifting items beyond their capability or blocking emergency exits. Report accidents, near-misses and hazards to management as soon as possible. Cooperate fully with any investigation or review intended to improve safety.
Customer and Visitor Responsibilities
Customers and visitors share responsibility for safety while on our premises. To help maintain a safe environment, we expect all users of our storage and removal-related services to:
Follow site signage, instructions from staff and any safety guidance provided when booking or accessing units. Load and stack goods safely within units, ensuring items are stable and not likely to fall. Use appropriate lifting techniques and seek assistance where items are heavy or awkward. Keep aisles and shared corridors clear from obstruction at all times. Refrain from bringing prohibited or dangerous items into the facility, such as flammable, explosive, toxic or illegal goods. Report any hazards or incidents they observe to a member of staff promptly.
Safe Handling, Lifting and Removals Practices
Health and safety in handling and removals activities is essential to prevent injury and damage. Storage Hackney Wick promotes the following principles:
Plan the lift or move before starting, including route, obstructions and resting points. Assess the weight and shape of items and do not attempt to lift anything beyond your personal capability. Bend knees, keep the back as straight as possible and hold items close to the body when lifting. Use appropriate trolleys or handling aids when available and suitable. Avoid rushing, running or using mobile devices while moving items through corridors, stairwells or loading areas. Make sure vehicle loading is carried out in a controlled manner, ensuring that vehicles are parked safely and brakes are applied.
Facility Safety and Housekeeping
Good housekeeping is essential for maintaining a safe storage and removals environment. We will:
Keep communal areas, corridors and stairways clear of trip hazards wherever reasonably practicable. Provide lighting in common access areas and monitor for any lighting failures that may affect safe movement. Monitor surfaces and floors to reduce slips and trips and arrange prompt cleaning of any spills reported to staff. Ensure that storage units and shared spaces are maintained in a condition that does not present avoidable risk to users.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Fire safety and emergency preparedness are key elements of our Health and Safety Policy. Storage Hackney Wick will:
Provide clearly marked emergency exits and keep them unobstructed as far as reasonably practicable. Install suitable fire detection and alarm systems where appropriate to the premises. Display instructions for evacuation and emergency procedures at clearly visible points. Carry out regular checks of escape routes and associated safety equipment. In an emergency, all customers, staff and visitors must follow staff instructions and leave the building by the nearest safe exit without using lifts.
Hazardous and Prohibited Items
To protect everyone on site, certain items must not be stored or handled at our facilities. Customers must not store items that are:
Explosive or highly flammable. Toxic, corrosive or radioactive. Perishable in a way that may create hygiene or pest issues. Illegal or otherwise prohibited by law or by our terms of service. If uncertain whether an item is suitable for storage or removals, customers should seek clarification from staff before bringing it to the site.
Incident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, injuries, near-misses and dangerous occurrences on our premises must be reported to staff without delay. Storage Hackney Wick will:
Record details of incidents in an accident or incident log. Investigate incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective actions where reasonably practicable. Review patterns of incidents to improve training, procedures and physical arrangements within the facility.
Training, Information and Supervision
We recognise the importance of training in preventing incidents linked to storage and removals work. We will:
Provide staff with training relevant to their roles, including manual handling, safe use of any equipment, emergency procedures and hazard awareness. Offer clear information to customers, including guidance on safe loading, stacking and access. Monitor compliance with safety measures through supervision and routine checks.
Policy Review and Continuous Improvement
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when needed to reflect changes in operations, legislation or best practice. We are committed to continuous improvement and welcome feedback from staff, customers and contractors on safety matters.
By using our storage and removals-related services, customers agree to cooperate with this policy and any associated safety rules. Working together, we can maintain a safe, secure and efficient environment for everyone at Storage Hackney Wick.
