Storage Hornchurch Health and Safety Policy
Storage Hornchurch is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees, customers, contractors, and visitors. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks in our storage facilities and during removal and handling activities. Our objective is to prevent injury, protect health, and safeguard property through effective planning, training, and supervision.
Policy Statement
We aim to conduct all storage and removal operations in a way that minimises risk and promotes a positive safety culture. Health and safety considerations are integrated into day to day decision making, from warehouse layout and vehicle loading to manual handling and customer access. We comply with relevant health and safety legislation and recognised best practices, and we are committed to ongoing improvement.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management holds overall responsibility for implementing this policy and ensuring adequate resources are available for health and safety measures. This includes maintaining safe premises and equipment, organising regular inspections and audits, providing information and training, and reviewing this policy periodically to ensure it remains effective and up to date.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for ensuring that staff follow safe systems of work and that any hazards or incidents are promptly reported and addressed. They must lead by example, reinforce safety rules, and support employees who raise concerns about unsafe conditions or practices.
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 or omissions. Employees must follow all safety instructions, training, and procedures, use any equipment provided correctly, report hazards, near misses, accidents, or faulty equipment, and cooperate with managers and safety representatives on all health and safety matters.
Failure to follow agreed safety procedures or deliberate misuse of equipment may result in disciplinary action, as it places colleagues, customers, and property at risk.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We conduct risk assessments for key activities, including storage operations, handling of customer goods, loading and unloading of vehicles, use of lifting equipment, and general site access. The findings of these assessments are used to develop safe systems of work that are communicated to staff and reviewed regularly.
We aim to eliminate hazards where reasonably practicable. Where risks cannot be eliminated, we implement suitable control measures such as physical safeguards, clear signage, personal protective equipment, and staff training.
Manual Handling and Lifting Operations
Much of our work involves the moving, lifting, and stacking of items. To reduce the risk of injury, we provide training in safe manual handling techniques, plan lifting tasks to avoid unnecessary strain, use mechanical aids such as trolleys and pallet trucks where appropriate, and ensure that loads are stable, secure, and within safe weight limits.
Employees must not attempt to lift or carry items that are beyond their capability or that pose a foreseeable risk. Where a task requires team lifting or specialist equipment, it must be organised and supervised accordingly.
Use of Equipment and Vehicles
All equipment and vehicles used in our storage and removal operations must be suitable for their intended purpose, maintained in a safe condition, and inspected regularly. Only trained and authorised personnel may operate vehicles, lifting equipment, and other machinery.
Pre use checks must be carried out and defects reported immediately. Equipment that is unsafe or suspected to be defective must not be used until it has been inspected and repaired or replaced as necessary.
Site Safety and Customer Access
We strive to maintain our premises in a clean, orderly, and safe condition. This includes keeping walkways, fire exits, and loading areas clear, managing traffic routes to minimise the risk of collisions, and ensuring adequate lighting throughout the site.
Customers and visitors are required to follow site safety instructions, observe signage, and comply with any restrictions related to loading bays, access doors, and storage areas. Children must be supervised at all times and are not permitted in hazardous areas.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
We maintain fire safety measures appropriate to our premises and operations. This includes clear fire evacuation routes and signage, suitable fire detection and alarm systems where required, and firefighting equipment positioned and maintained in accordance with risk assessments.
Employees receive information on emergency procedures, including evacuation routes, assembly points, and the location of emergency equipment. Fire drills and emergency practice may be conducted periodically to ensure that everyone is familiar with the required actions in the event of an incident.
Hazardous Substances and Prohibited Items
Certain items and substances present specific safety risks and are either restricted or prohibited in our storage facilities and vehicles. These include flammable liquids and gases, explosives, corrosive or toxic chemicals, pressurised cylinders, and any other materials identified as hazardous through our risk assessments.
Customers are informed of these restrictions and must not store or request transport of prohibited items. Any suspected hazardous materials discovered on site will be handled in accordance with our internal procedures and relevant regulations.
Training, Communication, and Consultation
We provide appropriate health and safety training to employees based on their roles, including induction training for new starters, job specific instruction on handling, packing, and loading, refresher training where needed, and additional training when new equipment or processes are introduced.
Health and safety information is communicated through briefings, signage, and written guidance. Employees are encouraged to raise concerns, suggest improvements, and participate in safety discussions. Reasonable consultation will take place on changes that may affect health and safety at work.
Accident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported promptly so that they can be recorded, investigated, and used to prevent recurrence. Where necessary, incidents will be reported to the relevant enforcing authorities in line with legal requirements.
Investigations focus on identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions, rather than placing blame. Lessons learned are shared with staff and reflected in updated procedures, risk assessments, and training.
Monitoring and Continuous Improvement
We monitor our health and safety performance by reviewing incident data, inspection findings, staff feedback, and compliance with procedures. This policy and related arrangements are reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes to our operations or legislation.
By working together and following the principles set out in this Health and Safety Policy, Storage Hornchurch seeks to provide a safe and responsible storage and removal service for all who use or work within our facilities.
