Storage Marks Gate Health and Safety Policy
Storage Marks Gate is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all employees, customers, contractors and visitors. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles, responsibilities and arrangements that guide the safe operation of our storage and removal handling services.
Our aim is to prevent injury, ill health, property damage and environmental harm by managing health and safety risks in a systematic and proportionate way across all aspects of our activities.
Policy Objectives
The objectives of this Health and Safety Policy are to:
Identify, assess and control risks associated with storage units, handling of goods, lifting and moving items, loading and unloading vehicles, and general site activities.
Provide and maintain safe facilities, plant and equipment, including storage units, access ways, loading areas and handling tools.
Ensure employees are competent, trained and supervised to work safely, particularly when involved in removal handling, manual lifting, use of trolleys and operation of equipment.
Promote a positive health and safety culture where concerns are reported promptly and improvements are implemented without unnecessary delay.
Comply with applicable health and safety legislation, guidance and recognised industry standards.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Marks Gate has overall responsibility for implementing this policy and ensuring that adequate resources are made available to maintain safe operations. Management will:
Set clear health and safety expectations and ensure that they are communicated to all staff, contractors and relevant third parties.
Conduct and review risk assessments for key activities, including storage operations, removal handling, vehicle movements and working in and around loading areas.
Provide suitable training, instruction and supervision, especially for new employees and those undertaking higher risk tasks such as manual handling and equipment use.
Ensure that plant, equipment and facilities are maintained in a safe condition and inspected regularly, and that defects are reported and rectified promptly.
Monitor health and safety performance through inspections, audits, accident data and feedback from employees and customers, and act on findings to drive continuous improvement.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee at Storage Marks Gate has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees are expected to:
Follow all health and safety procedures, safe systems of work and instructions provided by management and supervisors.
Use equipment, vehicles and handling aids correctly and only for their intended purpose.
Report hazards, near misses, unsafe conditions and accidents immediately to their supervisor so that appropriate action can be taken.
Wear any required personal protective equipment provided for tasks, such as safety footwear or gloves, and ensure it is used and stored correctly.
Participate in health and safety training and briefings, and cooperate with any risk assessments or investigations.
Safe Storage and Removal Handling
Our operations involve the storage of goods and the frequent handling of items associated with removals and relocations. To manage these specific risks, Storage Marks Gate will:
Provide clear rules on maximum loading heights, safe stacking practices and weight limits to prevent falls of stored goods and structural overloading of shelving or units.
Ensure that aisles, corridors, access routes and fire exits are kept clear of obstructions, including boxes and removal equipment.
Provide manual handling guidance for lifting, carrying and moving items, emphasising the use of handling aids such as trolleys and sack trucks wherever practicable.
Plan loading and unloading activities to minimise reversing and vehicle-pedestrian interaction, and where possible use designated loading bays and marked areas.
Ensure that only trained personnel operate mechanical equipment used in connection with storage or removal activities.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Marks Gate recognises the importance of effective fire safety and emergency preparedness. To support this, we will:
Maintain an up to date fire risk assessment covering all areas of the premises, including storage units, corridors, stairways, offices and loading areas.
Provide and maintain suitable fire detection and firefighting equipment, including extinguishers and alarms, and ensure they are inspected regularly.
Display clear emergency escape signage and ensure that routes and exits remain accessible at all times.
Establish and communicate emergency procedures, including evacuation arrangements and assembly points, and carry out periodic drills.
Ensure that staff are trained in basic fire safety awareness and understand their roles in an emergency.
Welfare, Health and Wellbeing
We recognise that health and safety extends beyond physical hazards. Storage Marks Gate will:
Provide suitable welfare facilities, including access to toilets, washing facilities, drinking water and rest areas.
Seek to identify and manage work-related stressors by promoting open communication, fair workloads and supportive supervision.
Encourage prompt reporting of health concerns that may affect an employee’s ability to work safely, particularly for tasks involving lifting or equipment operation.
Consider individual needs and make reasonable adjustments where practicable to support safe working.
Contractors, Visitors and Customers
Contractors and visitors, including customers accessing storage units or using removal handling services, share responsibilities for health and safety on our premises. We will:
Provide relevant safety information to contractors and visitors so they understand site rules, emergency arrangements and any specific local risks.
Require contractors to work in accordance with our safety standards and to provide evidence of their own health and safety arrangements where appropriate.
Ensure that visitors and customers are supervised where necessary and are made aware of any restricted areas or activities.
Accident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, incidents and near misses that occur on our premises or during our activities are to be reported promptly. Storage Marks Gate will:
Record incidents in an accident reporting system with sufficient detail to allow meaningful analysis.
Investigate significant incidents to determine root causes and contributing factors.
Implement corrective and preventive actions to reduce the likelihood of recurrence, including updates to risk assessments, procedures and training where required.
Training, Consultation and Review
Effective health and safety management depends on well informed and engaged people. Storage Marks Gate will:
Provide initial and refresher training relevant to each role, including induction, manual handling, fire safety and any specific operational requirements.
Consult with employees on health and safety matters, encouraging suggestions for improvement and taking account of reasonable feedback.
Review this Health and Safety Policy at regular intervals, and whenever there are significant changes to our operations or relevant legislation, to ensure it remains current and effective.
Through this policy and its active implementation, Storage Marks Gate seeks to create and maintain a safe environment for all those who work with us and use our storage and removal handling services.
