Storage Kensington Health and Safety Policy
Storage Kensington is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all employees, customers, contractors and visitors. This policy sets out our overarching approach to health and safety in our storage facilities and associated removal and transport activities. Our objective is to prevent accidents, protect property and promote a culture where safety is the responsibility of everyone on site.
Policy Scope and Objectives
This policy applies to all Storage Kensington locations and to all activities carried out in connection with our storage and removal services. It covers employees, agency workers, contractors assisting with removals or transport, and customers accessing storage units or common areas.
Our primary objectives are to minimise risk, comply with applicable health and safety legislation, and ensure that work is carried out in a way that safeguards people, goods and the surrounding environment. We aim to continually improve our standards through monitoring, training and regular review of procedures.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective health and safety arrangements. This includes allocating adequate resources, setting clear objectives, and ensuring that competent persons are appointed to manage specific safety functions. Management will lead by example, promoting safe working practices in office areas, storage zones, loading bays and during any associated removal operations.
Managers must ensure that risk assessments are completed, that safe systems of work are implemented, and that staff receive appropriate training for their roles, particularly where manual handling, use of equipment or vehicle movements are involved. Incidents, accidents and near misses must be investigated promptly and corrective actions implemented without delay.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Staff must follow training, instructions and safe systems of work provided by Storage Kensington, and must not misuse or interfere with any safety equipment or procedures.
Employees are required to report hazards, unsafe conditions, defective equipment and any accident or near miss to their manager as soon as possible. Where staff are involved in handling customer goods, removals or driving vehicles connected to the business, they must pay particular attention to manual handling guidelines, load security and site traffic rules.
Customer and Contractor Responsibilities
Customers and contractors are expected to behave in a safe and responsible manner while on Storage Kensington premises. They must follow site rules and any safety instructions given by staff. This includes complying with speed limits, one-way systems, pedestrian walkways, loading bay instructions and any restrictions on access to certain areas.
Where customers or contractors carry out their own loading, unloading or removal activities, they are responsible for the safe conduct of those activities, including the use of appropriate lifting techniques, avoiding blocking fire exits and keeping aisles clear. Storage Kensington reserves the right to stop any activity that is considered unsafe or likely to cause damage.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Storage Kensington undertakes regular risk assessments to identify potential hazards associated with storage facilities, handling of goods, use of trolleys and equipment, loading bay operations and vehicle movements related to removal work. The findings are used to develop safe systems of work and appropriate control measures.
These measures may include physical controls such as guard rails, signage and lighting, as well as procedural controls such as restricted access, supervision, permit to work systems for high-risk tasks and clear guidance for staff and customers on safe loading and unloading practices.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Many activities within storage and removal services involve lifting, carrying and moving items. Storage Kensington is committed to reducing the risk of injury from manual handling by providing training, suitable equipment and clear guidance on safe techniques.
Employees and customers should assess the weight, shape and stability of any item before moving it, seek assistance where necessary, and make use of trolleys or lifting aids provided. Heavy or awkward loads should be handled by more than one person or moved using appropriate equipment. No individual should attempt to lift or carry an item they consider beyond their physical capability.
Vehicles, Traffic Management and Loading Bays
Vehicle movements, particularly during loading and unloading for removals, present significant risks. Storage Kensington operates site-specific traffic management arrangements designed to separate vehicles and pedestrians where reasonably practicable and to minimise congestion in loading areas.
Drivers must follow all posted site rules, including speed limits, parking instructions and loading bay procedures. Engines should be turned off while vehicles are being loaded or unloaded, and loads must be secured before vehicles leave the site. Reversing should be minimised and, where necessary, assisted by a competent person acting as a guide.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Kensington maintains fire safety measures appropriate to each site. These may include fire detection and alarm systems, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers, clearly marked escape routes and assembly points. Fire exits and access routes must be kept clear at all times, including during busy periods of customer access and removals.
All persons on site must familiarise themselves with emergency procedures and follow staff instructions immediately in the event of an alarm. Regular drills and checks ensure that systems and procedures remain effective and that staff are prepared to assist customers and visitors during any evacuation.
Equipment, Plant and Maintenance
All equipment provided by Storage Kensington, including trolleys, lifting aids, access equipment and security systems, will be maintained in a safe condition. Routine inspections, servicing and repairs will be carried out by competent persons and records retained where required.
Defects or damage to equipment must be reported immediately and the equipment taken out of use if safety is compromised. Staff and customers must not use equipment for purposes for which it was not designed or modify any equipment or safety devices.
Training, Information and Supervision
Storage Kensington provides employees with information, instruction and training relevant to their duties. This includes induction training, role-specific training on manual handling, working in storage areas, managing customer access and overseeing removal-related activities, as well as ongoing refresher training where appropriate.
Supervision will be provided proportionate to the level of risk and the competence of staff involved. Safety notices, signage and written guidance are displayed in key areas to remind staff, customers and contractors of safe practices and any site-specific rules.
Incident Reporting, Investigation and Continuous Improvement
All accidents, incidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences at Storage Kensington must be reported promptly. They will be recorded and investigated to identify root causes and to determine what actions are necessary to prevent recurrence.
Findings from investigations, audits and routine inspections will be used to improve our health and safety arrangements. The policy and associated procedures will be reviewed regularly and updated when changes in operations, legislation or best practice require it.
Policy Communication and Review
This Health and Safety policy is made available to employees, customers, contractors and visitors. It is communicated to staff during induction and through ongoing briefings. Management will review the policy at regular intervals and whenever significant changes occur in our storage or removal activities, ensuring it remains suitable, sufficient and effective.
By working together and following this policy, Storage Kensington aims to provide a safe, efficient and professional environment for storage and removal services, protecting all those who use or visit our facilities.
