Storage Swiss Cottage Health and Safety Policy
Storage Swiss Cottage is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for employees, contractors, visitors, and customers using our storage and removal services. We recognise our responsibilities under relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice, and we work to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property.
This policy applies to all activities undertaken on our premises and to work carried out by our personnel off site, including collection, loading, transportation, and delivery services associated with storage and removals.
Health and Safety Objectives
Our primary health and safety objectives are to prevent accidents, protect physical and mental wellbeing, and maintain safe systems of work. We aim to continuously improve our performance by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and putting effective control measures in place. We also promote a positive safety culture in which everyone feels responsible for their own safety and that of others.
Management Responsibilities
The management of Storage Swiss Cottage holds overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety policy. Management will provide appropriate resources, training, equipment, and supervision to ensure that health and safety standards are met.
Managers are responsible for confirming that risk assessments are completed and reviewed, that staff follow safe working procedures, and that accidents, near misses, and dangerous occurrences are reported, investigated, and used as a basis for improvement. They must ensure that plant, equipment, and vehicles used in storage and removal operations are suitable, maintained, and inspected regularly.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees have a legal and moral duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. This includes colleagues, customers, contractors, and members of the public.
Employees must follow all instructions, training, and procedures given for their safety, use any safety equipment provided, and report hazards, defects, or unsafe practices to management without delay. Staff involved in lifting, carrying, loading vehicles, or working at height must comply with the relevant safe systems of work and avoid improvising unsafe methods.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Storage Swiss Cottage will carry out risk assessments for all significant activities, including manual handling, storage of goods, vehicle movements, use of lifting aids, and office-based tasks. These assessments will identify hazards, evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm, and set out control measures.
Safe systems of work will be developed based on these assessments and communicated to all relevant staff. Procedures will be reviewed periodically and following any incident, change in work process, or introduction of new equipment. Staff are expected to cooperate fully with these procedures and participate in refresher briefings when required.
Manual Handling and Lifting Operations
Manual handling is a key part of storage and removal operations. To minimise the risk of injury, Storage Swiss Cottage will provide manual handling training, suitable handling aids where practicable, and guidance on task planning.
Employees must assess the load before lifting, considering its weight, shape, and stability. Where loads are too heavy or awkward, mechanical assistance or team lifting must be used. Staff must keep pathways clear, use correct lifting techniques, and never attempt to lift more than they can safely manage.
Vehicle Movements and Loading
Vehicle movements and loading operations present risks to drivers, staff, and visitors. Designated loading and unloading areas will be used wherever possible. Drivers and loading staff must follow agreed signals, keep reversing to a minimum, and ensure that no one stands in blind spots.
Loads must be evenly distributed, secured, and checked before vehicles move. Only trained personnel may operate tail lifts, pallet trucks, and other loading equipment. Engines should be switched off when vehicles are being loaded or unloaded unless needed for the safe operation of equipment.
Storage Areas and Housekeeping
Safe storage is central to our operations. Storage Swiss Cottage will maintain clear walkways, adequate lighting, and safe access routes. Items will be stacked in a stable manner and in line with load capacity limits for shelving and racking.
Good housekeeping is essential in preventing slips, trips, and falls. Spills must be cleaned promptly, packaging materials disposed of safely, and obstructions removed. Fire exits, escape routes, and equipment must remain unobstructed at all times.
Equipment, PPE, and Maintenance
All tools, lifting aids, and other work equipment will be selected for suitability and maintained in safe working order. Regular inspections and servicing will be carried out according to manufacturers guidance and legal requirements, with defects reported immediately and faulty equipment taken out of use.
Where personal protective equipment is required, such as gloves, safety footwear, or high-visibility clothing, it will be provided as necessary and must be worn as instructed. Employees must look after PPE, report any damage, and request replacements when needed.
Training, Information, and Supervision
Storage Swiss Cottage will provide appropriate induction and ongoing training so staff can work safely and understand their responsibilities. This includes training in manual handling, safe loading practices, emergency procedures, and any task-specific requirements.
Supervisors will monitor working practices to ensure procedures are followed and will provide guidance and support where necessary. Health and safety information, including notices and instructions, will be communicated clearly to staff and visitors.
Accidents, Incidents, and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, near misses, and dangerous occurrences must be reported as soon as possible so that they can be recorded, investigated, and used to prevent recurrence. First aid arrangements will be in place on site, with trained first aiders and suitable equipment.
Emergency procedures, including for fire and evacuation, will be established, clearly displayed, and regularly reviewed. Fire drills will be conducted periodically, and staff will be informed of assembly points and their roles in an emergency.
Visitors, Contractors, and Customers
Storage Swiss Cottage will take reasonable steps to ensure that visitors, contractors, and customers are not exposed to unnecessary risks while on our premises or interacting with our services. Visitors will be given relevant safety information on arrival and may be escorted where required.
Contractors working on site must follow our health and safety rules and provide evidence of their own safe systems and qualifications where appropriate. Customers engaging with our removal services will be given clear guidance on access, packing, and any restrictions necessary for safe operations.
Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement
This Health and Safety policy will be monitored through regular inspections, incident reviews, staff feedback, and management audits. Where improvements are identified, procedures will be updated and communicated to all relevant parties.
The policy will be formally reviewed at regular intervals and whenever there are significant changes in operations, legislation, or industry standards. Storage Swiss Cottage is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance and to maintaining a safe environment for everyone involved in our storage and removal activities.
