Storage Pimlico Health and Safety Policy
Storage Pimlico is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees, contractors, customers and visitors. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks across our storage facilities and removals operations, including packing, handling, loading, transport and unloading activities.
We aim to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing sensible, proportionate controls. Health and safety considerations are integrated into the planning and delivery of our storage and removal services.
Policy Objectives
The objectives of this policy are to:
Promote a positive health and safety culture across all areas of Storage Pimlico operations.
Comply with all applicable health and safety laws, regulations and recognised industry standards.
Provide and maintain safe premises, storage units, vehicles, plant and equipment.
Ensure safe systems of work for manual handling, lifting, loading, unloading, driving and working within storage areas.
Provide information, instruction, training and supervision to enable employees to carry out their duties safely and competently.
Consult with employees on health and safety matters and encourage active participation in improving standards.
Continually review and improve our health and safety performance.
Responsibilities
Ultimate responsibility for health and safety rests with senior management of Storage Pimlico. They are responsible for ensuring this policy is implemented, resourced and reviewed regularly.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for day to day implementation of the policy, including:
Identifying hazards and assessing risks in their areas of control.
Ensuring suitable control measures are in place and maintained.
Monitoring working practices to confirm compliance with safe systems of work.
Arranging appropriate training and supervision for staff.
Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses and taking corrective action.
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 acts or omissions. Employees must:
Follow all safety procedures, instructions and training provided.
Use equipment, vehicles and personal protective equipment correctly.
Report hazards, defects, accidents and near misses without delay.
Cooperate with management in achieving health and safety objectives.
Contractors and agency workers working on behalf of Storage Pimlico are required to follow our health and safety procedures and any site-specific rules provided to them.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Storage Pimlico carries out risk assessments covering storage facilities, office areas and removals operations. Particular focus is placed on:
Manual handling of furniture, boxes and heavy or awkward items.
Use of trolleys, sack trucks, lifting equipment and loading aids.
Vehicle movements in yards, loading bays and public areas.
Slips, trips and falls, including housekeeping standards.
Working in confined storage units and multi-level facilities.
Fire safety, including detection, escape routes and emergency procedures.
Where significant risks are identified, written safe systems of work are developed, communicated and monitored. These procedures explain step by step how tasks must be carried out to minimise risk, including the correct use of lifting techniques, team handling, traffic management and securing loads.
Training, Information and Supervision
All employees receive induction training that includes health and safety rules, emergency arrangements, reporting procedures and safe use of facilities. Staff engaged in removals and handling activities receive further role-specific training in areas such as:
Manual handling and lifting techniques.
Safe loading and unloading of vehicles.
Use of mechanical aids and equipment.
Vehicle safety and defensive driving where relevant.
Hazard awareness within storage environments.
Refresher training is provided periodically and when there are changes to equipment, processes or legislation. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that staff are competent for the tasks they undertake and for providing appropriate supervision, especially for new or inexperienced employees.
Vehicles, Plant and Equipment
Vehicles, plant and equipment used by Storage Pimlico are selected, maintained and inspected to ensure they remain safe and fit for purpose. This includes:
Routine safety checks and planned maintenance of vehicles and lifting equipment.
Ensuring safety devices are in place and functioning correctly.
Removing defective equipment from service until it is repaired or replaced.
Providing clear guidance on correct operation and load limits.
Only trained and authorised personnel are permitted to operate vehicles and equipment such as lift platforms, pallet trucks and similar items used in removals and storage.
Workplace and Storage Safety
We maintain our storage facilities, offices and yards in a clean, orderly and safe condition. This includes:
Keeping access routes, corridors and fire exits clear at all times.
Maintaining good lighting and ventilation where reasonably practicable.
Implementing appropriate stacking and racking practices to prevent collapse and falling objects.
Managing customer access to ensure safe movement within the site.
Displaying clear signage for emergency exits, fire points, speed limits and restricted areas.
Fire risk assessments are carried out and reviewed regularly. Fire detection, alarms and extinguishers are provided where appropriate, and emergency procedures are communicated to staff.
Accidents, Incidents and First Aid
All accidents, incidents and near misses occurring on Storage Pimlico premises or during removals activities must be reported promptly. We maintain records to help identify trends and implement preventative measures.
First aid provisions are maintained on site, and suitably trained first aiders are appointed where required. In the event of serious incidents, emergency services will be contacted and the area made safe.
Investigations are conducted to determine root causes and identify corrective actions. Lessons learned are shared with relevant staff and, where appropriate, procedures are updated.
Consultation and Communication
Storage Pimlico recognises the importance of involving employees in health and safety matters. We encourage staff to raise concerns, suggest improvements and participate in discussions about working practices.
Health and safety information, updates and changes to procedures are communicated through briefings, training sessions and notices displayed in appropriate areas.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
We monitor health and safety performance through workplace inspections, incident data, maintenance records and staff feedback. This policy and associated procedures are reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, services or applicable legislation.
Storage Pimlico is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety, ensuring that our storage and removals services are delivered with due care for the wellbeing of employees, customers and the wider public.
