Health and Safety Policy for Storage Colyers
Storage Colyers is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, contractors, customers and visitors. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our principles and arrangements for managing risks across our removals and storage operations, including packing, loading, transportation, offloading and storage of customer goods.
We recognise that effective health and safety management is essential to the quality of our services, the wellbeing of our people and the confidence of our customers. Safety considerations are integrated into the planning and delivery of all removal and storage activities.
Policy Aims and Commitments
Our aims are to prevent injury, protect health and safeguard property by controlling workplace hazards. To achieve this, Storage Colyers will:
Identify and assess risks associated with removals, manual handling, storage operations and vehicle use.
Implement practical control measures to eliminate or reduce risks as far as reasonably possible.
Provide appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision to enable staff to work safely and competently.
Ensure that equipment, vehicles, tools and storage facilities are maintained in a safe condition.
Promote a positive safety culture where all personnel contribute to hazard reporting and risk reduction.
Review and improve our health and safety arrangements regularly to reflect operational changes and best practice.
Responsibilities for Health and Safety
Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the management of Storage Colyers. Managers are responsible for ensuring that this policy is implemented, monitored and reviewed, and that adequate resources are provided to maintain safe working conditions.
Supervisors are responsible for the day to day application of safe systems of work, including briefings before removal jobs, allocation of appropriate equipment, and monitoring of working practices both on site and within storage facilities.
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 must follow safety procedures, use equipment correctly, attend training and immediately report hazards, incidents, injuries or near misses to their manager or supervisor.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Storage Colyers carries out risk assessments covering typical removal and storage tasks, including packing, lifting, carrying, loading and unloading vehicles, working in customer premises and operating within warehouses or storage units.
Safe working procedures are developed from these assessments and communicated to employees. These procedures cover matters such as team lifting, use of handling equipment, safe stacking and storage of items, securing of loads for transport and safe access to loading areas.
Site specific assessments may be completed where work presents unusual or higher risks, such as restricted access, high floor levels without lift access, or the movement of unusually heavy or fragile items.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a central part of removals and storage work. Storage Colyers is committed to minimising the risk of injury from lifting and carrying by:
Providing manual handling training, including correct lifting techniques and team coordination.
Using appropriate handling aids wherever possible, such as sack trucks, dollies, trolleys and lifting straps.
Planning jobs to avoid unnecessary carrying distances and awkward movements.
Assessing heavy or bulky items before movement and ensuring sufficient personnel and appropriate equipment are available.
All equipment used in removals and storage operations is to be kept in good condition, inspected regularly and taken out of service immediately if damaged or defective.
Vehicles, Driving and Transport Safety
Storage Colyers takes steps to ensure that vehicles used for removals and storage activities are safe and suitable for purpose. Vehicles are to be regularly inspected and maintained, with any defects reported and addressed promptly.
Drivers and removal teams receive guidance on safe loading, securing loads, route planning and safe driving behaviour. Loads must be evenly distributed and secured to minimise the risk of movement or damage during transit.
Drivers must comply with road safety legislation and internal rules relating to fatigue management, rest breaks and reporting of vehicle incidents or near misses.
Workplace, Storage Facility and Customer Premises Safety
Our premises, including offices, warehouses and storage units, are maintained to provide safe access, adequate lighting and clear walkways free from obstruction. Fire exits and escape routes are kept clear at all times and appropriate fire safety measures are in place.
Removal teams working at customer premises will take care to prevent slips, trips and falls by managing trailing leads, packing materials, tools and equipment. Wherever possible, work areas will be organised to reduce crowding and to allow safe movement of items and personnel.
Training, Information and Supervision
All new employees receive an induction that includes an overview of this Health and Safety Policy, emergency procedures and key risks associated with removals and storage tasks.
Role specific training is provided for staff involved in driving, manual handling, operation of handling equipment and warehouse tasks. Refresher training is arranged as required and whenever procedures or equipment change.
Supervision is proportionate to the nature of the work, with particular attention paid to new employees, young workers and staff carrying out unfamiliar tasks.
Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting
Storage Colyers encourages open reporting of all accidents, incidents, injuries and near misses. Reports are reviewed to identify root causes and opportunities for improvement.
Where necessary, we will review risk assessments, procedures, training or equipment to prevent recurrence. Lessons learned are communicated to relevant staff and, where appropriate, incorporated into updated safe working practices.
Consultation and Continuous Improvement
Employees are encouraged to raise health and safety concerns and suggestions for improvement with their manager or designated safety contact. Constructive feedback is valued and considered as part of our ongoing review of health and safety arrangements.
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically and whenever significant changes occur in our operations, equipment or legal requirements. Updated versions are communicated to employees and made available to customers on request.
By implementing this policy, Storage Colyers aims to maintain a safe working environment and deliver professional, reliable and responsible removal and storage services.
