Health and Safety Policy for Storage Shadwell
Storage Shadwell is committed to providing a safe, healthy and secure environment for all employees, contractors, customers and visitors. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and arrangements we follow to manage safety within our storage facilities and during any associated removal and handling activities.
1. Policy Statement
We recognise our responsibility to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property arising from our operations. Health and safety considerations are integral to the planning and delivery of our storage and removal services. We aim to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and to work towards continuous improvement in our safety performance.
Storage Shadwell will provide appropriate resources to implement this policy, including training, supervision, safe equipment and suitable facilities. All individuals on our premises or involved in our services are expected to cooperate with these measures and take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others.
2. Responsibilities
Senior management holds overall responsibility for health and safety within Storage Shadwell. This includes setting objectives, reviewing performance and ensuring that suitable systems are in place to control risk. Managers and supervisors are responsible for day-to-day implementation, communication of procedures, and monitoring of safe working practices.
Employees must follow all safety instructions, use equipment correctly, report hazards and incidents promptly, and participate in relevant training. Contractors and removal teams working on site must adhere to Storage Shadwell safety rules, cooperate with our staff, and ensure that their own work practices do not endanger others.
Customers and visitors are expected to obey site rules, respect signage and instructions, and use only designated areas. They must not interfere with equipment or access restricted zones without authorisation.
3. Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We identify hazards and assess risks associated with storage operations, manual handling, removal activities, traffic movement, use of equipment, and general occupancy of our sites. Risk assessments are reviewed regularly and whenever significant changes occur in our operations or layout.
Where risks cannot be eliminated, they are reduced as far as reasonably practicable through safe systems of work. These systems cover tasks such as loading and unloading vehicles, stacking and storing goods, operating handling equipment, managing access routes and working in storage units. Procedures are communicated to staff and, where relevant, to customers and contractors.
4. Training, Instruction and Supervision
Storage Shadwell ensures that employees receive appropriate health and safety training for their roles. This includes induction training, task-specific instruction, and refresher training where needed. Staff involved in removal activities or in the operation of handling equipment are trained in safe lifting techniques, load securing, and correct use of tools and machinery.
Supervisors monitor compliance with procedures and provide guidance where necessary. Additional instruction is given when new equipment, processes or layouts are introduced. Records of training and competency are maintained and reviewed.
5. Site Safety and Housekeeping
We maintain our premises in a clean, orderly and safe condition. Access routes, corridors, stairways and loading areas are kept clear of obstructions as far as practicable. Floors and surfaces are inspected for damage, spills and trip hazards, and remedial action is taken promptly.
Storage units and common areas are designed and managed to minimise risk from falling objects, unstable loads and unsafe stacking. Signage is used to highlight potential hazards and to indicate emergency exits, assembly points and restricted areas.
6. Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a key element of both storage and removal activities. Storage Shadwell promotes safe lifting practices, including assessing the load, using appropriate handling aids, and seeking assistance when needed. Staff are instructed not to exceed their physical capability and to plan handling tasks in advance.
Any mechanical handling equipment, such as trolleys and other lifting aids, is selected, inspected and maintained to ensure safety. Only trained and authorised personnel may operate equipment. Defects or malfunctions must be reported immediately and the equipment taken out of use until repaired.
7. Customer and Public Safety
Customers accessing our storage facilities or using associated removal services are given clear information on site rules and safe conduct. We encourage customers to pack and label goods safely, to avoid overloading containers, and to use appropriate lifting methods when moving items.
We manage the interaction between vehicles, pedestrians, staff and customers on site through marked routes, controlled loading areas and visible signage. Where removal vehicles are present, particular care is taken during loading and unloading to protect both customers and the public.
8. Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Shadwell maintains fire safety arrangements appropriate to the nature of stored goods and site layout. These include provision and maintenance of fire detection and firefighting equipment, clearly marked means of escape, and emergency lighting where required.
Staff are trained in fire and emergency procedures, including evacuation routes, alarm raising and the operation of basic firefighting equipment where safe to do so. Evacuation drills are carried out periodically, and procedures are reviewed in light of any changes or incidents.
9. Hazardous Substances and Prohibited Items
To protect the safety of all users, we set clear rules regarding items that may not be stored or transported. These include, but are not limited to, flammable, explosive, corrosive or otherwise hazardous substances, as well as illegal goods. Customers are informed of these restrictions and are required to comply with them.
Where permissible substances present a lower level of risk, they are managed in line with relevant guidance, including appropriate packaging, labelling and segregation. Any suspected breach of these rules is investigated and dealt with promptly.
10. Incident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, near misses, dangerous occurrences and cases of work-related ill health must be reported without delay. Storage Shadwell records and investigates incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective actions. Learning from incidents is shared with relevant staff and, where appropriate, with contractors and customers.
11. Consultation and Continuous Improvement
We encourage open communication on health and safety matters. Employees are consulted on changes that may affect their safety and are invited to raise concerns or suggestions. Feedback from customers and contractors is also considered as part of our improvement process.
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective, relevant and proportionate to the nature and scale of our storage and removal activities. Revisions are communicated to staff and applied consistently across our operations.
By following this policy, Storage Shadwell aims to provide a safe and reliable environment for storing and handling goods, supporting both everyday storage needs and the wider requirements of removal and relocation services.
