Storage Millwall Health and Safety Policy
Storage Millwall is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our employees, customers, contractors, and visitors. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with storage, removals, manual handling, transportation of goods, and day to day activities within our facilities and vehicles.
We aim to prevent accidents, injuries, and work related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing appropriate control measures. Health and safety is a core part of our business operations and decision making.
Management Responsibility and Commitment
The management team at Storage Millwall has overall responsibility for health and safety performance. We will provide clear leadership, allocate sufficient resources, and ensure that effective systems are in place to manage risks.
Managers are responsible for implementing this policy within their areas, ensuring that employees are aware of their responsibilities, receive necessary training, and follow safe systems of work. We will review this policy regularly and in response to significant changes in our operations or relevant legislation.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. This includes colleagues, customers, contractors, and visitors on site or during removal and transport operations.
Employees are expected to:
Follow all safety instructions, procedures, and training provided.
Use equipment, vehicles, and materials correctly and safely.
Report hazards, near misses, accidents, or unsafe practices to management without delay.
Wear and maintain any personal protective equipment issued to them.
Cooperate with management in implementing and improving health and safety measures.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We conduct risk assessments for key activities, including storage handling, loading and unloading vehicles, removals work, driving, working at height, and use of mechanical equipment such as trolleys, sack trucks, and lifting aids.
From these assessments we develop and maintain safe systems of work to reduce risks so far as is reasonably practicable. These procedures are communicated to employees through training, supervision, and written guidance where appropriate.
Risk assessments are reviewed regularly and after incidents, introducing new equipment, changing work methods, or expanding our services.
Manual Handling and Removals Safety
Handling, lifting, and moving goods safely is central to our storage and removal services. We are committed to minimising the risk of injury by:
Planning removals and storage moves in advance, considering access routes, load weights, and any special handling requirements.
Providing training in safe lifting techniques, team handling, and use of mechanical aids.
Encouraging staff to assess each lift and avoid lifting loads that are too heavy, bulky, or awkward without assistance.
Ensuring floors, ramps, and vehicle loading areas are kept clear, well lit, and free from trip hazards.
Using appropriate equipment where required, such as dollies, wheeled containers, straps, blankets, and protective covers.
Vehicle and Driving Safety
Where vehicles are used for removals, collections, and deliveries, we manage driving related risks by:
Ensuring drivers are competent and hold valid licences for the vehicles they operate.
Carrying out regular vehicle inspections and maintenance to keep them roadworthy and safe.
Requiring safe loading and securing of goods to prevent movement during transit.
Planning routes where practicable to reduce unnecessary journeys and time pressure.
Encouraging safe driving practices, including adherence to speed limits and avoidance of mobile phone use while driving.
Workplace Environment and Housekeeping
We aim to maintain our premises, storage areas, and offices in a clean, orderly, and safe condition. This includes:
Maintaining clear walkways and emergency exits at all times.
Ensuring storage units and racking are used within safe load limits and arranged to minimise risk of items falling.
Providing adequate lighting, ventilation, and where appropriate, temperature control.
Implementing spill control measures and safe storage of any hazardous substances.
Managing waste and recycling in a safe and responsible manner.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
We will take all reasonable steps to prevent fires and to prepare for effective emergency response. This includes:
Maintaining fire detection and alarm systems and testing them regularly.
Providing clearly marked fire exits, emergency lighting, and appropriate fire fighting equipment.
Carrying out fire risk assessments and reviewing them periodically.
Ensuring staff are familiar with evacuation procedures, assembly points, and their responsibilities during an emergency.
Training, Information, and Supervision
We provide employees with appropriate health and safety training when they start work, when their role changes, or when new equipment or procedures are introduced.
Training may include induction, manual handling, fire safety, safe driving practices, use of equipment, and incident reporting procedures. Refresher training is provided as needed to ensure knowledge remains current.
Supervisors monitor working practices to ensure that safety procedures are followed and correct any unsafe behaviour or conditions promptly.
Accident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, injuries, incidents, and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. We record and investigate these events to identify root causes and take corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Where required, incidents will be reported to the relevant authorities. Information from investigations will be used to improve training, procedures, and risk control measures.
Contractors, Customers, and Visitors
We aim to protect everyone who enters our premises or uses our services. Contractors working on our sites are expected to comply with our health and safety standards and any specific site rules. We will provide them with relevant safety information and expect them to manage their own work activities safely.
Customers and visitors will be given any necessary safety guidance relating to access, loading and unloading, and conduct within the premises. We reserve the right to stop any activity that presents an unacceptable safety risk.
Continuous Improvement
Storage Millwall is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. We will review and update this policy on a regular basis, take into account feedback from staff and customers, and monitor our performance through inspections, audits, and incident analysis.
By working together and following this Health and Safety Policy, we aim to ensure that all storage, removals, and associated activities are carried out safely and responsibly.
