Storage Wanstead Health and Safety Policy
Storage Wanstead is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all employees, customers, contractors, visitors, and anyone affected by our storage and removal activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety in our facilities, vehicles, and any locations where our removal and storage services are delivered.
Policy Statement
We aim to prevent accidents, injuries, and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing practical control measures. Health and safety is an integral part of how we manage our storage units, handle goods, operate vehicles, and carry out removals. We will comply with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards.
Every person working for or with Storage Wanstead is expected to take responsibility for health and safety, follow our procedures, and report any concerns promptly.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Wanstead is responsible for providing effective leadership on health and safety. This includes setting clear objectives, allocating sufficient resources, and monitoring performance. Managers will ensure that safe systems of work are in place for all storage and removal activities and that staff are trained and competent to carry out their roles.
Management will regularly review and, where necessary, update this policy to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, and the nature of our services. Lessons learned from incidents, near misses, and customer feedback will be used to improve our procedures.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees, whether working in storage facilities, offices, warehouses, or on removal vehicles, share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Employees must:
Follow all safety procedures, instructions, and training provided by Storage Wanstead. Use equipment, vehicles, and tools only for their intended purpose and in a safe manner. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment when required. Report hazards, defects, accidents, and near misses immediately to their manager or supervisor. Cooperate with any accident investigations, safety audits, or inspections. Avoid any behaviour that could endanger themselves, colleagues, customers, or the public.
Failure to comply with health and safety requirements may result in action in line with our internal procedures.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
We carry out risk assessments for our key activities, including storage operations, manual handling of items, use of trolleys and lifting equipment, loading and unloading vehicles, and carrying out home or office removals. These assessments identify potential hazards and specify suitable control measures.
Safe working practices will be documented and communicated to all relevant staff. Examples include safe methods for stacking and storing items, securing loads in vehicles, using ramps and lifting aids, and working in customer premises. These practices are reviewed periodically and when new equipment, processes, or services are introduced.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a core part of storage and removal work. To reduce the risk of injury, we provide manual handling training focused on safe lifting techniques, assessing load weight, and planning routes before moving items. Wherever possible, mechanical aids such as sack trucks, dollies, and pallet trucks will be used.
Employees are expected to avoid lifting loads that are too heavy, unstable, or awkward to handle safely. Team lifting should be used for large or bulky items, and any concerns about a particular lift must be raised before work continues.
Vehicles and Driving Safety
For our removal services, the safe operation of vehicles is essential. Drivers must hold the appropriate licence, be medically fit to drive, and comply with road traffic laws and company procedures. Vehicles will be maintained according to manufacturer recommendations and subject to regular checks.
Loads must be evenly distributed and properly secured before any journey. Drivers must pay particular attention when manoeuvring near storage units or at customer premises, using banksmen or spotters where necessary to avoid collisions with people, structures, or other vehicles.
Storage Facilities and Customer Areas
Storage Wanstead is committed to keeping storage areas, corridors, loading bays, and customer access routes clean, tidy, and free from hazards. Floors will be inspected for spills, debris, or damage that could cause slips, trips, or falls. Lighting will be maintained to provide good visibility throughout the facility.
Racking and storage systems will be used within their rated capacity and inspected regularly for signs of damage. Items must be stored securely and not stacked in an unstable way. Fire exits, escape routes, and emergency equipment must never be blocked by stored goods or vehicles.
Fire Safety and Emergencies
We maintain appropriate fire precautions in our storage and office areas. This includes suitable detection and alarm systems, clearly marked fire exits, emergency lighting, and fire extinguishers where required. Staff receive information on evacuation procedures and the location of assembly points.
In the event of an emergency, everyone on site must follow the instructions of Storage Wanstead staff or emergency services. Fire drills and checks of emergency equipment will be carried out at reasonable intervals to ensure preparedness.
Hazardous Substances and Prohibited Items
Certain substances and items are not permitted in storage units or on removal vehicles because they may present health, safety, or fire risks. Examples include flammable liquids, explosives, compressed gas cylinders, corrosive chemicals, and perishable goods that could decay or attract pests.
Customers are informed of prohibited items as part of our terms of service. Any suspected hazardous materials identified by staff must be reported immediately to management and handled in accordance with appropriate procedures.
Training, Communication, and Consultation
Storage Wanstead provides health and safety induction training to all new employees and refresher training as needed. Specific training is provided for tasks such as manual handling, use of lifting equipment, and operating vehicles.
We encourage open communication about health and safety. Employees are invited to raise concerns, suggest improvements, or report hazards without fear of unfair treatment. Information about health and safety arrangements is communicated through briefings, notices, and regular discussions.
Monitoring, Audit, and Review
We monitor health and safety performance through inspections, reporting of incidents and near misses, and periodic audits of our storage and removal operations. Where shortcomings are identified, corrective actions are implemented and tracked.
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed on a regular basis and when significant changes occur in our services, operations, or legal requirements. The aim of each review is to continually improve our health and safety standards and ensure that Storage Wanstead remains a safe provider of storage and removal services.
