Storage Goddington Health and Safety Policy
Storage Goddington is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all employees, customers, contractors and visitors. This policy sets out our approach to health and safety across our storage and removal activities, including the handling, transport and storage of goods, operation of vehicles and equipment, and use of our premises.
Our Commitment to Health and Safety
We recognise our responsibility to manage health and safety risks associated with storage and removal operations. We aim to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and disruption to services by maintaining safe systems of work and continually improving our practices.
Health and safety considerations form an integral part of our planning for storage, loading, unloading and moving items, whether within our facilities or during removal and transport work. Every employee is required to follow this policy and associated procedures.
Legal Compliance and Responsibilities
Storage Goddington complies with all applicable health and safety legislation and relevant industry standards. We monitor changes in regulations and good practice to ensure our procedures remain current and effective.
The management team is responsible for implementing this policy, providing adequate resources, and ensuring that roles and responsibilities for health and safety are clearly defined and communicated. Supervisors are responsible for day-to-day monitoring of safety standards and ensuring that staff follow agreed procedures.
All employees, contractors and visitors 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. Everyone must cooperate with Storage Goddington in meeting its legal and moral obligations.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We conduct regular risk assessments covering our storage facilities, offices, vehicles and removal operations. These assessments identify hazards, evaluate risks and determine suitable control measures.
Documented safe systems of work are maintained for key activities, including manual handling of items, use of trolleys and lifting equipment, storage of goods at height, vehicle loading and unloading, and movement of vehicles on and off site. These procedures are reviewed periodically and whenever changes in work activities or incidents indicate a need for revision.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Much of our work involves the handling and movement of furniture, boxes and other items. To reduce the risk of strains, sprains and other injuries, Storage Goddington:
Provides manual handling training and guidance to staff involved in removals, loading and storage activities.
Encourages the use of mechanical aids such as trolleys, sack trucks and lifting equipment wherever reasonably practicable.
Plans lifting tasks to ensure items are within safe weight limits, suitably packaged and stable.
Requires staff to work in teams where loads are heavy or awkward and to avoid unsafe lifting techniques.
Vehicles, Driving and Site Traffic
Safe operation of vehicles is essential to our removal and storage services. Storage Goddington:
Ensures drivers are competent, appropriately licensed and familiar with the vehicles they operate.
Maintains vehicles in a roadworthy condition through regular inspections and servicing.
Implements safe practices for loading and securing goods, including load distribution, use of restraints and checking for stability before departure.
Controls traffic movement on site, including designated parking, loading areas and pedestrian routes to minimise the risk of collisions.
Premises Safety and Storage Areas
We maintain our premises to provide a safe environment for staff and customers using our storage units and services. This includes:
Keeping walkways, stairs and access routes clear, well lit and free from trip hazards.
Ensuring racking, shelving and storage structures are suitable, regularly inspected and not overloaded.
Implementing appropriate measures for the safe storage of items, including maximum height limits, safe stacking and segregation of incompatible materials.
Maintaining security and access controls so that only authorised persons enter operational and storage areas.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Goddington takes fire safety and emergency preparedness seriously. We:
Conduct fire risk assessments and implement suitable control measures.
Provide and maintain appropriate fire detection and firefighting equipment.
Display clear evacuation routes and emergency instructions.
Carry out regular checks on alarm systems, emergency lighting and escape routes.
Ensure staff understand emergency procedures, including how to raise the alarm, assist customers and evacuate the premises safely.
Information, Instruction, Training and Supervision
We provide employees with the information, instruction and training they need to work safely. This includes induction training for new starters, task-specific training for removal and storage activities, and refresher training where necessary.
Supervisors monitor work practices, offer guidance and correct unsafe behaviour. Health and safety information, including this policy and associated procedures, is made available to staff and explained where needed.
Accident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences on our premises or during removal and transport operations must be reported promptly. Storage Goddington records these events, investigates the causes and takes appropriate action to prevent recurrence.
We review incident data to identify patterns and areas for improvement, and we share relevant findings with staff to support learning and safer practices.
Consultation and Continuous Improvement
We encourage open communication on health and safety matters. Employees are invited to raise concerns, suggest improvements and participate in discussions about working practices. Management will consider all reasonable suggestions and act where appropriate.
This policy and our associated procedures are reviewed regularly to ensure they remain effective and reflect current operations, legislation and industry expectations. Updates are communicated to staff and implemented as part of our commitment to continuous improvement.
Policy Review
This Health and Safety policy is approved by the management of Storage Goddington and is reviewed at regular intervals, or sooner if there are significant changes in our activities, facilities or legal requirements. The latest version of this policy is made available to staff, customers and contractors upon request.
