Storage St Jamess Health and Safety Policy
Storage St Jamess is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, contractors, visitors, and customers. This policy supports our activities in storage, handling, and removal of goods, and forms an integral part of how we plan and deliver our services. We aim to prevent injury, protect health, and reduce risks arising from our operations to the lowest level reasonably practicable.
Policy Objectives
Our health and safety objectives are to prevent accidents, work-related ill health, and damage to property; identify, assess, and control risks associated with storage, lifting, transport, and removal activities; provide information, instruction, training, and supervision to ensure safe working practices; maintain safe access and egress to all areas under our control; and review performance and continually improve our health and safety management.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage St Jamess holds overall responsibility for the implementation of this policy and for ensuring that adequate resources are made available. Management will establish and maintain safe systems of work for storage facilities, vehicle operations, and removal services; ensure risk assessments are completed, documented, and reviewed regularly; provide suitable equipment that is safe, maintained, and appropriate for the intended tasks; and ensure that incidents, near misses, and hazards are reported, investigated, and acted upon promptly.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for day-to-day implementation of this policy, ensuring staff understand their duties, follow safe working practices, and use equipment correctly. They will lead by example, promote a positive safety culture, and stop any work that is unsafe or suspected to be unsafe.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees, whether working within storage areas, on removal assignments, or in an administrative capacity, share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Employees must take reasonable care of their own health and safety as well as that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions; follow instructions, procedures, and training provided by Storage St Jamess; correctly use all equipment, tools, and personal protective equipment supplied; report hazards, unsafe conditions, incidents, and near misses without delay; and cooperate fully with any health and safety investigations, audits, or reviews.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Storage St Jamess will conduct risk assessments for all significant activities, including storage of goods, loading and unloading vehicles, lifting and carrying items, and operating removal vehicles. These assessments will identify hazards and specify measures to control the associated risks. Safe systems of work will be developed and communicated for tasks such as manual handling of furniture and boxes, use of trolleys and mechanical aids, stacking and racking in storage areas, movement of vehicles and pedestrians, and use of work equipment including lifting gear and access equipment.
Risk assessments will be reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes in processes, equipment, layout, or service delivery.
Training, Information, and Supervision
Storage St Jamess will provide appropriate training, information, and supervision to ensure that employees are competent to carry out their work safely. This includes induction training for new starters, covering general site safety, emergency procedures, and reporting lines; task-specific training on manual handling, safe loading of vehicles, and use of handling equipment; refresher training where necessary to maintain competence; and clear written and verbal instructions for any new or changed procedures.
Supervisors will monitor working practices to ensure that training is applied in the workplace and that safety standards are upheld.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Due to the nature of storage and removal activities, manual handling is a key risk area. Storage St Jamess will minimise manual handling where reasonably practicable by using mechanical aids such as trolleys and dollies; planning work to reduce unnecessary carrying, lifting, and repetitive movements; assessing individual lifting tasks and using team lifts where appropriate; and providing training on safe lifting techniques and body positioning.
All equipment will be selected, inspected, and maintained to ensure safety. Defective or damaged equipment must be taken out of use immediately and reported to management.
Safe Storage and Workplace Environment
We will maintain storage areas in a condition that minimises the risk of accidents. This includes ensuring clear walkways and access routes; keeping floors and access routes free from slip and trip hazards; safely stacking and securing items to prevent collapse or falling objects; providing adequate lighting in all working and storage areas; and controlling access to restricted or higher risk zones.
Housekeeping standards will be monitored regularly to maintain a tidy, organised, and safe environment.
Vehicle and Driving Safety
For our removal and transport activities, Storage St Jamess will ensure that vehicles are suitable for their intended use and maintained in a safe condition; drivers are competent, authorised, and appropriately trained; loads are planned, packed, and secured to prevent movement during transit; and vehicle movements on site are controlled to protect drivers, staff, and visitors.
Drivers must comply with all relevant road and site safety rules and report any defects or incidents without delay.
Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions must be reported as soon as possible. Storage St Jamess will investigate incidents to identify causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Records of incidents and investigations will be maintained and reviewed to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
Emergency procedures will be established and communicated, covering fire, evacuation, first aid, and other foreseeable emergencies. Staff will be informed of assembly points, emergency exits, and their specific roles during an emergency. Drills will be carried out periodically to test and improve our preparedness.
Consultation and Continuous Improvement
Storage St Jamess values open communication on health and safety matters and encourages employees to raise concerns, make suggestions, and participate in discussions about safety improvements. We will consult with employees or their representatives when introducing new procedures, equipment, or working arrangements that may affect health and safety.
This policy will be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes in our operations, legal duties, or best practice guidance. Updates will be communicated to all employees and relevant contractors to ensure continued understanding and compliance.
By working together and following this Health and Safety Policy, Storage St Jamess aims to provide a safe environment for everyone involved in our storage and removal services.
