Storage Goodmayes Health and Safety Policy
Storage Goodmayes is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for employees, customers, contractors, and visitors. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety across our storage facilities and associated removal and transport operations. We aim to prevent accidents, reduce risks, and promote safe behaviour in every aspect of our work.
Policy Objectives
Our health and safety objectives are to:
Identify, assess, and control risks associated with storage and removals activities; Provide and maintain safe premises, plant, and equipment; Ensure employees are competent through information, instruction, and training; Promote a positive health and safety culture, encouraging reporting and continuous improvement; Comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and relevant industry standards.
Management Responsibilities
The management team at Storage Goodmayes has overall responsibility for implementing this policy and ensuring that health and safety is an integral part of business planning and daily operations. Management will:
Provide adequate resources to meet health and safety commitments; Ensure that safe systems of work are developed, implemented, and reviewed; Regularly assess workplace risks and implement appropriate control measures; Investigate accidents, incidents, and near misses, and take corrective action; Review this policy periodically and revise it when necessary.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee at Storage Goodmayes 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 health and safety instructions, procedures, and safe systems of work; Use equipment, tools, and vehicles correctly and only for their intended purpose; Wear appropriate personal protective equipment provided by the company; Report hazards, unsafe conditions, accidents, and near misses promptly; Participate in training and toolbox talks and apply the knowledge gained; Refrain from any behaviour that could endanger themselves or others.
Customer and Visitor Safety
Storage Goodmayes aims to provide a safe environment for customers and visitors to our storage facilities. We will:
Keep access routes, corridors, and loading areas as clear and well lit as reasonably practicable; Provide clear signage for entrances, exits, fire escape routes, and restricted areas; Control customer access to operational areas where vehicles, lifting equipment, or manual handling activities are taking place; Offer guidance on safe loading, unloading, and stacking of goods in storage units.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We carry out risk assessments covering key activities such as vehicle movements, loading and unloading, manual handling, working at height for stack access, and storage of bulky or heavy items. Based on these assessments, Storage Goodmayes implements safe systems of work which may include:
Designated loading bays and traffic routes; Restrictions on customer presence in active loading zones; Procedures for secure stacking and racking of stored goods; Specific handling methods for large, awkward, or heavy items; Controls on the use of trolleys, sack trucks, and lifting equipment.
Manual Handling and Removals Operations
Manual handling is a core part of storage and removal activities and can lead to injuries if not properly controlled. To minimise these risks, Storage Goodmayes will:
Provide manual handling training appropriate to roles; Encourage planning of lifts, including route checks and team lifting where necessary; Use mechanical aids, such as trolleys or pallet trucks, wherever reasonably practicable; Set safe weight limits for individual and team lifts; Instruct staff and, where appropriate, advise customers on safe loading practices.
Vehicles, Driving, and On-site Traffic
Where Storage Goodmayes vehicles or third-party vehicles operate on or around our premises, we will manage traffic risks by:
Maintaining company vehicles in a safe, roadworthy condition; Ensuring drivers are competent, licensed, and aware of relevant procedures; Implementing site traffic rules, including speed limits and one-way systems where appropriate; Designating loading and unloading areas, away from pedestrian walkways where possible; Providing guidance to customers on safe parking and vehicle positioning during loading.
Premises, Equipment, and Maintenance
Storage Goodmayes will ensure that its premises, fixtures, and equipment are kept in a safe condition by:
Carrying out routine inspections of buildings, lighting, fire doors, and access routes; Ensuring that storage structures, racking, and units are suitable, stable, and properly maintained; Checking equipment and tools and removing from service any item that is unsafe; Keeping floors and walkways as free as reasonably practicable from slip and trip hazards; Managing temperature, ventilation, and general housekeeping standards.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Fire safety and emergency preparedness are key components of our health and safety arrangements. Storage Goodmayes will:
Maintain appropriate fire detection and firefighting equipment; Keep emergency exits and escape routes clearly marked and unobstructed; Display fire action notices and site-specific evacuation instructions; Conduct periodic checks of alarms and emergency lighting; Train staff on fire safety awareness and evacuation procedures; Ensure that a responsible person coordinates response during an emergency.
Health, Welfare, and First Aid
Storage Goodmayes recognises the importance of general health and welfare at work. We will:
Provide suitable welfare facilities such as toilets, washing, and rest areas; Make first aid provisions available, including first aid kits and trained first aiders where required; Encourage reporting of health concerns that may affect safe working; Consider the impact of work activities on both physical and mental wellbeing and seek reasonable adjustments where appropriate.
Training, Information, and Supervision
To ensure competence, Storage Goodmayes will provide employees with adequate health and safety training and information. This may include:
Induction training for new starters; Role-specific training for removals crews, warehouse operatives, and office staff; Refresher training and toolbox talks on key risks and procedures; Clear written instructions and signage to support safe working; Appropriate levels of supervision, particularly for new or inexperienced staff.
Consultation and Continuous Improvement
Storage Goodmayes encourages open communication on health and safety matters. Employees are invited to share suggestions and raise concerns so that we can continually improve our arrangements. We will review this policy and associated procedures on a regular basis, and after any significant incident or operational change, to ensure they remain effective and proportionate to the risks associated with our storage and removals services.
