Health and Safety Policy for Storage Finchley
Storage Finchley is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our customers, visitors, contractors, and employees. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks across our storage facilities and removal services, ensuring that all activities are carried out safely and responsibly.
Policy Objectives
The objectives of this policy are to prevent accidents and work-related ill health, to provide safe and well-maintained facilities, and to promote a culture where health and safety are integral to our storage and removals operations. We review our procedures regularly to ensure they remain appropriate, effective, and aligned with current best practice.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Finchley has overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety policy. Management will:
Ensure that appropriate resources are allocated for health and safety, including equipment, training, and supervision. Identify, assess, and manage significant risks associated with storage, handling, lifting, and transport of goods. Maintain safe systems of work for staff involved in removals, loading, unloading, and handling of items. Monitor health and safety performance and investigate incidents to prevent recurrence. Communicate health and safety expectations clearly to employees, contractors, and customers.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees share responsibility for maintaining a safe environment and must:
Follow all health and safety procedures, instructions, and training provided. Use equipment and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects or concerns. Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Report hazards, near misses, and incidents promptly to management so that corrective action can be taken. Co operate with any monitoring, inspections, or investigations carried out by Storage Finchley.
Customer and Visitor Responsibilities
Customers and visitors using our storage facilities or interacting with our removal services are expected to:
Follow all safety signage, guidance, and instructions given by staff. Take care when moving around the premises, especially in loading bays, corridors, stairways, and parking areas. Use trolleys, lifts, and other handling equipment only as instructed by staff and never misuse or overload them. Ensure that goods brought into our facilities are safe, suitable for storage, and do not include prohibited or hazardous items. Report any hazards, spills, or unsafe conditions to a member of staff as soon as they are noticed.
Safe Storage Environment
Storage Finchley aims to provide a safe, clean, and secure environment for storing goods. To achieve this we will:
Maintain storage areas, access routes, and common spaces in a tidy and orderly condition. Ensure that lighting, ventilation, alarms, and fire safety systems are in good working order and inspected regularly. Keep emergency exits clear at all times and ensure that evacuation routes are clearly marked. Implement procedures for safe stacking and storage of goods to reduce the risk of falls, collapses, or obstruction of walkways. Restrict access to staff only areas and plant rooms to reduce the risk of unauthorised entry and accidents.
Removals and Handling Operations
As part of our removal and storage services, we carry out a range of handling operations, including loading, unloading, packing, and transport of goods. To manage the associated risks we will:
Plan removal jobs in advance, taking into account access, parking, lifting requirements, and any special handling needs. Provide staff with training in safe lifting techniques, use of equipment, and handling of fragile or bulky items. Use appropriate equipment such as trolleys, dollies, lifting aids, and securing straps where necessary. Avoid overloading vehicles, lifts, or handling equipment and ensure loads are stable and safely secured. Take particular care when moving items in confined spaces, staircases, and shared access areas to protect both staff and members of the public.
Manual Handling and Ergonomics
Many activities in storage and removals involve manual handling. To reduce the risk of strain injuries and accidents, Storage Finchley will:
Assess manual handling tasks and design systems that reduce the need for heavy or awkward lifting. Encourage team lifting for large, heavy, or awkward items and the use of mechanical aids wherever practical. Train employees to recognise their own physical limits and to request assistance when required. Promote safe working postures and avoidance of unnecessary reaching, twisting, or carrying over long distances.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Fire safety is a critical part of our Health and Safety policy. Storage Finchley will:
Provide clearly marked fire exits, evacuation routes, and assembly points. Install and maintain appropriate fire detection and firefighting equipment and inspect it at suitable intervals. Prohibit smoking, open flames, and ignition sources within designated areas, particularly near storage units and combustible materials. Display clear instructions on what to do in the event of a fire or other emergency. Train staff in emergency procedures, including evacuation, fire alarm activation, and liaison with emergency services.
Hazardous and Prohibited Items
To protect the safety of all users, certain items may not be stored or handled through our services. Customers must not store or present for removal any substance or item that is explosive, highly flammable, corrosive, toxic, illegal, or otherwise hazardous. If a potentially dangerous item is identified, Storage Finchley reserves the right to refuse storage or removal, to isolate the item, and to take appropriate action to protect people and property.
Training, Supervision, and Information
Storage Finchley recognises that effective health and safety management depends on competent people. We will:
Provide induction training for new staff covering key health and safety topics relevant to storage and removals. Offer refresher training and additional instruction when roles, processes, or equipment change. Supervise new or inexperienced staff closely until they demonstrate safe and competent working practices. Provide relevant safety information and guidance to customers on request, including advice on safe packing, loading, and storage.
Risk Assessment and Continuous Improvement
We carry out risk assessments to identify potential hazards in our operations and facilities. These assessments inform our control measures and are reviewed periodically, especially when introducing new services, equipment, or procedures. Incident reports, customer feedback, and staff observations are used to improve our systems and prevent recurrences of accidents or near misses.
Policy Review
This Health and Safety policy is reviewed on a regular basis and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, services, or facilities. Storage Finchley is committed to continual improvement in health and safety performance and expects all employees, customers, and contractors to support and uphold this policy.
By using our storage and removals services, customers agree to comply with the safety requirements set out in this policy and any additional instructions provided by Storage Finchley staff.
