Storage Norbiton Health and Safety Policy
Storage Norbiton 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 risks associated with storage, removals, handling, and transportation of goods. We seek to prevent accidents, injuries, and ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing effective control measures.
Policy Aims and Scope
This policy applies to all activities carried out by Storage Norbiton, including but not limited to the operation of storage facilities, loading and unloading of vehicles, removal services, packing, handling of goods, and the use of equipment and vehicles. Our aims are to comply with all applicable health and safety legislation, promote a positive safety culture, provide clear responsibilities, and ensure continuous improvement in safety performance.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management has overall responsibility for health and safety at Storage Norbiton. Management will ensure that suitable resources are made available to implement this policy and to maintain safe systems of work. This includes providing and maintaining safe premises, plant, and equipment, ensuring that risk assessments are undertaken and regularly reviewed, and setting measurable safety objectives to monitor performance and drive improvement.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing this policy in their areas of control, ensuring that employees follow safe working practices, arranging appropriate training, and addressing any safety concerns raised by staff or customers. They will also ensure that incidents and near misses are reported, recorded, and investigated so that corrective actions can be taken.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees of Storage Norbiton 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. Staff must follow all safety instructions, training, and procedures, use equipment correctly, and wear any personal protective equipment provided. Employees are expected to report hazards, unsafe conditions, incidents, and near misses without delay to a supervisor or manager.
No employee is required to work in unsafe conditions. If an employee believes that a task cannot be carried out safely, they must stop work and report the matter so that appropriate measures can be put in place.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Storage Norbiton carries out regular risk assessments for all key activities, including storage, manual handling, vehicle movements, loading and unloading, working at height, and the use of tools and machinery. These assessments identify hazards, evaluate risks, and determine the control measures needed to eliminate or reduce risks to an acceptable level.
Safe systems of work are developed and implemented based on these risk assessments. These systems are communicated to all relevant employees and contractors and are reviewed periodically or following any significant incident, change in operations, or introduction of new equipment or processes.
Manual Handling and Lifting Operations
Due to the nature of storage and removal services, manual handling and lifting operations are a significant focus of our safety management. Storage Norbiton aims to reduce the need for manual lifting wherever possible by using appropriate equipment such as trolleys, pallet trucks, and lifting aids.
Where manual handling cannot be avoided, tasks will be assessed and organised to minimise risk. Employees receive training in safe lifting techniques, team lifting, and load assessment. Staff must not attempt to lift or move loads that are too heavy or awkward and should seek assistance or equipment whenever required.
Vehicle Movements and Traffic Management
Storage Norbiton recognises the risks associated with vehicle movements, including delivery vehicles, removal vans, and customer vehicles. We implement traffic management measures to separate vehicles and pedestrians where possible, use designated loading and unloading areas, and provide clear signage and instructions.
Drivers must follow all site rules, operate vehicles safely, and be particularly vigilant in areas where pedestrians may be present. Reversing manoeuvres are controlled wherever reasonably practicable, and, where necessary, a trained banksman is used to guide vehicle movements.
Use of Equipment and Machinery
All equipment and machinery used in storage and removal operations are selected, maintained, and inspected to ensure they are safe and suitable for their intended use. Only trained and authorised staff are permitted to use certain equipment, including lifting devices and mechanical handling equipment.
Employees must carry out pre-use checks where required, report defects immediately, and remove any unsafe equipment from use until it has been repaired or replaced. Guards, safety devices, and protective features must never be removed or disabled.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Norbiton maintains appropriate fire safety arrangements, including the provision of fire detection and alarm systems, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting where applicable, and clearly marked escape routes and exits. Fire risk assessments are conducted and reviewed regularly.
Employees receive instruction in fire safety procedures, including evacuation routes, assembly points, and the importance of keeping corridors and exits clear. Fire drills are carried out periodically to ensure that staff are familiar with emergency arrangements. Customers and visitors are provided with relevant safety information where appropriate.
Health, Welfare, and First Aid
We aim to protect the health and welfare of employees and others who may be affected by our operations. Suitable welfare facilities, including rest areas and sanitation, are provided where required. Storage Norbiton ensures that an adequate number of trained first aiders are available and that first aid supplies are maintained.
Any accident, injury, or incident must be reported promptly so that appropriate treatment, investigation, and follow-up actions can be taken. We treat all health and safety concerns seriously and ensure that individuals are not disadvantaged for raising genuine issues.
Training, Communication, and Consultation
Effective training and communication are essential to maintaining high health and safety standards. Storage Norbiton provides induction training for new employees and ongoing training relevant to specific tasks, such as manual handling, equipment use, and emergency procedures.
Health and safety information is communicated through briefings, instructions, and signage. We encourage open consultation with employees on health and safety matters, inviting feedback and suggestions for improvement. Employees and contractors are expected to participate positively in this process.
Contractors, Customers, and Visitors
Contractors working on our premises must comply with this Health and Safety Policy and all site rules. They are required to carry out their own risk assessments and method statements where appropriate and to coordinate their activities with Storage Norbiton management to avoid creating risks to others.
Customers and visitors are expected to follow safety instructions, respect restricted areas, and comply with guidance provided by staff, particularly during loading, unloading, and removal operations. Parents or guardians remain responsible for the supervision of children on site.
Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement
Storage Norbiton monitors health and safety performance through inspections, audits, incident reports, and feedback from employees and customers. Where deficiencies are identified, corrective and preventative actions are taken without undue delay.
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed at regular intervals and whenever significant changes occur in our activities, legislation, or best practice guidance. Revisions are communicated to all relevant parties to ensure ongoing awareness and compliance.
Policy Statement
Storage Norbiton is committed to continually improving health and safety standards and to integrating safety considerations into all aspects of our storage and removal services. Every employee, contractor, and visitor has a role to play in maintaining a safe environment, and cooperation at all levels is essential to fulfilling this commitment.
