Storage Beckenham Health and Safety Policy
Storage Beckenham is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all employees, customers, contractors, and visitors. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing safety in our storage facilities, offices, vehicles, and during all related removal and handling activities.
The objectives of this policy are to prevent injury and ill health, comply with applicable health and safety legislation, and continuously improve our health and safety performance across our storage and removal operations.
Management Commitment and Responsibilities
Senior management is responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements, resources, and competent personnel are in place to implement this policy. Management will:
Provide and maintain safe premises, equipment, and systems of work for storage, packing, loading, transport, and unloading of goods.
Identify and control risks arising from removal services, manual handling, use of vehicles, and movement within storage areas.
Ensure that employees are informed, instructed, trained, and supervised to work safely and responsibly.
Review this policy regularly and update it in line with operational changes and relevant legislation.
Managers and supervisors must lead by example, promote a positive safety culture, and ensure that all staff follow the procedures outlined in this policy.
Employee Duties
Every employee has a responsibility to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions at work. Employees must:
Follow all safety procedures, training, and instructions provided.
Use equipment, vehicles, and personal protective equipment correctly and only for their intended purpose.
Report all accidents, incidents, near misses, hazards, and unsafe conditions immediately to a manager or supervisor.
Cooperate with management in implementing this policy and any related health and safety arrangements.
Refrain from misusing, interfering with, or disabling any safety equipment or controls.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Storage Beckenham conducts regular risk assessments covering our storage facilities, customer access areas, and removal operations. These assessments identify hazards, evaluate risks, and specify control measures to reduce risks as far as reasonably practicable.
Safe systems of work are developed for key activities such as manual handling of furniture and boxes, use of trolleys and lifting aids, vehicle loading and unloading, working at height within storage units where applicable, and securing loads for transport.
Risk assessments and safe systems are communicated to employees through training, briefings, and written procedures. They are reviewed periodically and following any significant change or incident.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Handling of goods is a core part of our storage and removal services. To minimise the risk of injury:
Employees receive training in safe lifting techniques, team lifting, and correct use of handling equipment.
Mechanical aids such as sack trucks, dollies, and pallet trucks are provided where appropriate and must be used whenever reasonably practicable.
Loads must be assessed for weight, shape, and stability before lifting or moving; staff must not attempt to lift or carry loads that are too heavy or awkward.
Equipment must be inspected before use, and any defects must be reported immediately so that damaged items are taken out of service.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Our removal vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition. Drivers must hold the appropriate licence, follow company driving standards, and comply with road traffic laws.
Vehicles must be loaded and unloaded using agreed safe systems of work. Loads must be properly secured to prevent shifting during transit. Drivers are responsible for completing pre-use vehicle checks and reporting any defects or concerns without delay.
Safe driving behaviour is expected at all times, including adherence to speed limits, avoidance of distraction, and consideration for other road users and pedestrians in and around our premises and customers locations.
Customer and Visitor Safety
Storage Beckenham takes reasonable steps to ensure that customers and visitors are not exposed to unnecessary risks while on our premises or during removal activities at their locations.
Access routes, reception areas, corridors, and storage zones are kept as clear as possible to avoid slips, trips, and falls. Where work is taking place, customers may be asked to wait in designated safe areas until handling and loading operations are complete.
Where customers assist with moving or packing their own items, staff will provide guidance on safe practices but customers remain responsible for their own actions.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
We maintain appropriate fire safety arrangements, including alarms, extinguishers, and clearly marked escape routes. Employees receive instruction on fire prevention, emergency procedures, and the location of assembly points.
In the event of a fire or other emergency, all persons on site must follow the instructions of Storage Beckenham staff, evacuate promptly using the nearest safe exit, and not re-enter the building until it has been declared safe.
Accident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported as soon as practicable. Details are recorded and investigated to identify causes and implement measures to prevent recurrence.
Where necessary, management will review risk assessments, update procedures, and provide additional training or equipment in response to investigation findings.
Training, Consultation and Policy Review
Storage Beckenham provides initial and refresher training appropriate to each role, including induction, manual handling, equipment use, and site-specific safety procedures.
Employees are consulted on health and safety matters through regular discussions, briefings, and feedback mechanisms. Suggestions for improving safety are encouraged and will be considered by management.
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, facilities, or legal requirements. Updated versions will be communicated to all employees and made available to customers and contractors on request.
