Storage Gunnersbury Health and Safety Policy Statement
Storage Gunnersbury is committed to providing a safe, healthy and secure environment for all employees, customers, contractors and visitors. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with storage and removal services, including handling, transporting, loading, unloading and storing customers belongings. Our aim is to prevent accidents, injuries and ill health, while promoting a positive safety culture throughout our operations.
We recognise our responsibilities under relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice, and we strive to go beyond minimum standards wherever reasonably practicable. Health and safety considerations are integrated into decision making, planning and day to day activities at every level of the company.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Gunnersbury has overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy. Management will provide clear leadership, allocate suitable resources and ensure that health and safety remains a core business priority. Managers will regularly review working practices, risk assessments and incident reports to identify opportunities for improvement.
Management is responsible for ensuring that all employees are competent to carry out their duties safely, and that adequate supervision is provided. This includes confirming that staff who work on removal and storage activities understand the correct procedures for manual handling, use of vehicles, operation of lifting equipment and securing loads. Managers will ensure that safety equipment and protective clothing are available, maintained and used where required.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Every team member must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. Employees must cooperate fully with safety procedures, training and instructions issued by Storage Gunnersbury.
Employees are required to use equipment, vehicles, tools and protective gear correctly and to report any defects, hazards, near misses or incidents without delay to their line manager. Removal staff must follow agreed lifting techniques, safe driving practices, and site specific rules when operating at customer premises or storage facilities. Failure to follow health and safety guidance will be treated as a serious matter.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We carry out suitable and proportionate risk assessments for our storage and removal activities, including handling heavy items, working in confined spaces, operating in public areas, moving goods through stairways and corridors, and securing loads in vehicles and storage units. Risks are evaluated and appropriate control measures are implemented to eliminate or reduce the likelihood of harm.
Safe systems of work are developed for key tasks such as loading and unloading vehicles, stacking goods in storage, using trolleys and lifting equipment, and managing vehicle movements in and around our facilities. These procedures are communicated to all relevant staff and reviewed regularly to reflect changes in operations, equipment or legislation.
Training, Instruction and Supervision
Storage Gunnersbury provides appropriate health and safety training for all employees, with additional instruction for staff engaged in removal and handling activities. Training covers topics such as manual handling techniques, safe use of vehicles and equipment, hazard awareness, emergency procedures and customer site protocols.
New employees receive induction training before starting work, and refresher training is provided at regular intervals or when there are changes in working practices. Supervisors monitor adherence to safety procedures and provide ongoing guidance to ensure that standards are maintained.
Safe Use of Vehicles, Equipment and Premises
All vehicles used for removal and transport activities are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition according to a planned inspection and servicing schedule. Drivers and crew must carry out basic pre use checks and report defects promptly. Loads must be distributed and secured correctly to prevent movement during transit and to reduce the risk of injury when unloading.
Equipment such as sack trucks, trolleys, dollies, straps and lifting aids are selected, maintained and used in line with manufacturer instructions. Only trained personnel are permitted to use specialised equipment. Our storage areas, loading bays, corridors and stairways are kept as clear as reasonably practicable, with appropriate lighting, signage and housekeeping to minimise slip, trip and fall hazards.
Manual Handling and Physical Safety
Manual handling is a key part of removals and storage work, and presents a significant risk of strains and other musculoskeletal injuries if not managed correctly. We assess handling tasks and, wherever possible, use mechanical aids or team lifting to reduce the need for individuals to carry heavy or awkward loads.
Employees are trained in correct lifting techniques, including assessing the load, planning the route and working within personal limits. Staff are encouraged to speak up if they believe an item is too heavy, unstable or unsafe to handle without extra equipment or assistance.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Fire safety is an essential part of our health and safety arrangements. Our premises are equipped with appropriate fire detection and firefighting equipment, and escape routes are maintained clear and clearly signposted. Staff are instructed in emergency evacuation procedures and attend drills as required.
In the event of an emergency on site or at customer premises, employees must follow the relevant procedures, prioritising the safety of people above property. Any evacuation, incident or near miss is recorded and reviewed to identify lessons learned.
Customer and Visitor Safety
We take reasonable steps to safeguard the health and safety of customers and visitors while they are on our premises or interacting with our removal teams. Where customers access storage units, they are provided with information about safe access routes, loading areas and any site rules that apply.
During removal operations at customer locations, our staff work to minimise disruption and hazards by managing cables, equipment, boxes and furniture in a controlled and orderly way. Where necessary, customers are advised about temporary restrictions or precautions to ensure their safety.
Accident Reporting, Investigation and Continuous Improvement
All accidents, incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions must be reported through our internal reporting process. This enables us to identify patterns, underlying causes and opportunities to prevent recurrence. Management will investigate incidents proportionately and share relevant findings with employees.
Storage Gunnersbury is committed to ongoing improvement in health and safety performance. We review this policy regularly, at least annually or following significant changes to our operations or legislation. Feedback from employees, customers and contractors is welcomed and used to refine our arrangements.
Policy Communication and Review
This Health and Safety Policy is communicated to all employees and is made available to customers and other interested parties on request. Staff are reminded of their responsibilities during training, meetings and supervision sessions. The policy is reviewed periodically to ensure that it remains current, effective and aligned with best practice in storage and removal services.
By working together, we aim to maintain a safe and healthy environment for everyone connected with Storage Gunnersbury and to deliver our services in a responsible and professional manner.
