Storage Waddon Health and Safety Policy
Storage Waddon is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees, contractors, customers, and visitors across our storage and removal operations. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks, preventing accidents, and promoting a culture of safety in all aspects of our business.
Policy Statement
Our objective is to conduct all storage, handling, loading, unloading, and removal activities in a manner that protects people, property, and the environment. We aim to prevent injury, ill health, and damage by assessing risks in our storage facilities, vehicles, and handling processes, and by implementing effective controls.
Health and safety is a shared responsibility. Management, employees, contractors, and customers are expected to cooperate fully with this policy and follow all safety instructions provided by Storage Waddon staff.
Management Responsibilities
The management of Storage Waddon accepts overall responsibility for health and safety performance. This includes:
Ensuring that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for storage areas, access routes, loading bays, and removal operations.
Providing and maintaining safe premises, equipment, and vehicles used for transporting and handling goods.
Ensuring that employees receive appropriate training, information, and supervision relevant to their roles, including manual handling, vehicle safety, and emergency procedures.
Reviewing this policy regularly and updating procedures in line with legal requirements and best practice in the storage and removals sector.
Allocating adequate resources to support health and safety improvements.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Employees are required to:
Follow all Storage Waddon safety procedures, instructions, and signage, particularly in storage areas, corridors, loading zones, and vehicle yards.
Use equipment, vehicles, and protective gear correctly and report any defects immediately.
Practice safe manual handling techniques when lifting, carrying, loading, or unloading items, especially during removal and relocation tasks.
Report accidents, near misses, hazards, or unsafe practices promptly to their supervisor or manager.
Refrain from working under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any substance that may impair their ability to work safely.
Customer and Visitor Safety
Storage Waddon aims to ensure that customers and visitors can access our storage facilities and removal services safely. To support this, we will:
Provide clear instructions and signage for access routes, parking areas, loading zones, and emergency exits.
Maintain clean, well lit, and unobstructed internal walkways and external areas to reduce the risk of slips, trips, and falls.
Control access to operational zones where vehicles and handling equipment are in use, and restrict entry where necessary.
Offer guidance on safe handling and packing of goods for storage and removal, including information on items that must not be stored or transported.
Ask customers and visitors to comply with all safety notices and staff instructions while on site.
Risk Management and Safe Systems of Work
We identify potential hazards associated with storage and removal activities and implement safe systems of work to manage these risks. This includes:
Assessing risks from manual handling, working at height, use of trolleys and lifting equipment, and vehicle movement in loading areas.
Implementing safe procedures for loading and unloading vehicles, stacking goods, securing loads, and operating in confined or busy areas.
Ensuring that only trained and authorised personnel operate mechanical handling equipment and company vehicles.
Prohibiting the storage or transport of hazardous, illegal, or unsuitable items that may create significant risk.
Monitoring safety performance and investigating incidents to prevent recurrence.
Equipment, Vehicles, and Maintenance
Storage Waddon is responsible for providing and maintaining safe equipment and vehicles used in connection with our storage and removal services. We will:
Carry out regular inspections and servicing of vehicles, lifting aids, trolleys, and other handling equipment.
Remove defective equipment from service immediately and arrange repairs or replacements.
Ensure that safety features, such as brakes, lights, warning signals, and restraints, are functioning correctly.
Provide suitable personal protective equipment where required by the task or environment.
Manual Handling and Removal Activities
Manual handling and removal operations present particular risks, including strains and injuries. To manage these risks we will:
Plan lifting and moving tasks to minimise risk, using mechanical aids wherever reasonably practicable.
Train staff in correct lifting techniques, team lifting methods, and the safe use of specialist removal equipment.
Assess the weight, size, and condition of items before attempting to move them and refuse any task that presents unacceptable risk.
Encourage customers to pack goods safely and sensibly, avoiding excessive weight and unstable loads.
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Storage Waddon maintains appropriate emergency procedures to protect people and property in the event of fire, accident, or other incidents. We will:
Provide clear information on emergency exits, assembly points, and evacuation procedures.
Install and maintain suitable fire detection and firefighting equipment, where required.
Ensure staff are trained in emergency response, including how to raise the alarm, assist with evacuation, and respond to injuries within the limits of their training.
Conduct periodic checks and drills to ensure that procedures remain effective.
Training, Consultation, and Policy Review
Ongoing training and communication are essential to maintaining a safe working environment. Storage Waddon will:
Provide induction training for new employees, covering key health and safety procedures, hazard awareness, and emergency arrangements.
Offer refresher training and additional instruction when new equipment, processes, or services are introduced.
Consult with employees on health and safety matters and encourage feedback on potential improvements.
Review this Health and Safety Policy periodically, and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, to ensure it remains current and effective.
By implementing this Health and Safety Policy and promoting a culture of care and responsibility, Storage Waddon seeks to protect everyone involved in or affected by our storage and removal services.
