Health and Safety Policy for Storage Park Royal
This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Storage Park Royal to provide safe and healthy conditions for employees, contractors, customers and visitors. It applies to all activities on our premises, including storage operations, handling of goods, vehicle movements and any associated removal services carried out on or from the site.
Our Commitment to Health and Safety
Storage Park Royal is committed to preventing accidents, work-related ill health and damage to property. We will manage health and safety with the same level of importance as quality of service and business performance, with particular attention given to the physical demands and risks associated with moving, loading and storing goods.
We will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards, and we will review this policy regularly to ensure it remains effective and appropriate to our operations.
Responsibilities
Overall responsibility for health and safety lies with the company management, who will ensure that adequate resources, training and supervision are provided. Management will:
Assess risks arising from our work activities and implement appropriate control measures. Maintain premises, equipment and vehicles in safe working order. Provide information, instruction and training for employees, particularly in safe lifting, carrying, packing, loading and unloading procedures. Monitor health and safety performance and take corrective action where required.
Employees are required to:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Follow all safety procedures, instructions and guidance given during training. Use equipment and vehicles correctly and report defects or hazards immediately. Co-operate with management to ensure legal duties and policy objectives are met.
Contractors, including any teams assisting with removals or deliveries, must adhere to site rules, safe systems of work and any specific instructions given by Storage Park Royal staff.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We conduct risk assessments for our activities, including the receipt, handling, stacking, storage and removal of goods, as well as movement of vehicles and the use of mechanical aids. Findings from these assessments are used to develop safe systems of work, which are communicated to relevant personnel.
Where higher-risk activities are identified, such as heavy manual lifting, operation of lifting equipment or working in confined or restricted areas, additional control measures will be introduced. These may include limiting loads, using mechanical aids, team lifting, designated walkways, vehicle marshalling and restricted access zones.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Given the nature of storage and removal activities, manual handling is a key focus of our safety arrangements. Storage Park Royal aims to eliminate hazardous manual handling wherever reasonably practicable by using trolleys, pallet trucks, lifts and other appropriate equipment.
Where manual handling cannot be avoided, we will:
Provide training on safe lifting techniques, including posture, load assessment and team handling. Set clear guidelines on maximum loads for individual and team lifts. Ensure walkways, loading areas and storage units are kept clear to allow safe movement of goods. Encourage staff and contractors to seek assistance when handling awkward, heavy or unstable items.
Use of Equipment and Vehicles
All equipment and vehicles used on site, including handling aids and any vehicles used for removals or transport of goods, must be operated only by competent persons who have received appropriate instruction.
We will ensure that equipment is inspected and maintained in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations and legal requirements. Defective or damaged equipment must not be used and must be reported immediately so it can be repaired or replaced.
Vehicle movements are managed to minimise the risk of collisions with pedestrians and other vehicles. This may include designated parking and loading areas, one-way systems, speed limits, reversing controls and the use of banksmen where necessary.
Housekeeping and General Safety
Good housekeeping is essential to maintaining a safe storage and removals environment. Storage Park Royal staff and customers are expected to:
Keep aisles and access routes clear and free from obstructions. Store goods securely and in a stable manner to prevent falls or collapse. Clean up spills promptly and report any slip or trip hazards. Keep fire exits, emergency routes and equipment unobstructed at all times.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Fire risk assessments are carried out and reviewed periodically to ensure appropriate control measures are in place. These include alarms, extinguishers, emergency lighting and clearly signed escape routes. Combustible materials are managed and stored safely, and smoking is only permitted in designated external areas where this is allowed by site rules.
Emergency procedures, including evacuation arrangements, assembly points and the role of fire wardens, are displayed on site and explained during induction. In the event of an emergency, all persons on site must follow instructions from authorised staff and proceed to the designated assembly point promptly and calmly.
Training, Information and Supervision
Storage Park Royal provides induction training for new employees, covering general site safety rules, emergency procedures, manual handling principles and any hazards specific to their role. Ongoing training will be provided as needed, particularly where job roles change or new equipment or working methods are introduced.
Information on health and safety will be shared through briefings, notices and supervision. Managers and supervisors are responsible for ensuring that safe working methods are followed and that any concerns raised by staff, contractors or customers are investigated and addressed.
Accident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, incidents, near misses and cases of work-related ill health must be reported promptly to management. This enables us to provide appropriate first aid or follow-up support and to identify any underlying causes.
We will investigate incidents to determine what happened, why it happened and what can be done to prevent a recurrence. Lessons learned will be used to improve procedures, training and controls, particularly in relation to handling goods, operating vehicles and managing storage areas.
Consultation and Continuous Improvement
Storage Park Royal recognises that effective health and safety management relies on the involvement of those who work within the business. We encourage employees to raise any suggestions for improving safety practices, storage layouts, handling methods or vehicle movements.
This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated where necessary to reflect changes in legislation, industry best practice or the nature of our storage and removal-related operations. Our objective is to continually improve health and safety performance and to ensure that Storage Park Royal remains a safe place to work, visit and store goods.
