Self Storage Surrey Health and Safety Policy
Self Storage Surrey is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all employees, customers, contractors and visitors who use our storage and associated services. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to preventing accidents and work-related ill health, including activities linked to storage, handling, moving and removal of goods.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Our objective is to manage health and safety risks in a systematic and proportionate way, in line with relevant legislation and recognised industry good practice. We aim to prevent injury, protect property and maintain a clean, orderly and safe environment across our storage facilities and areas where removal and transport activities interface with our premises.
We will provide suitable information, instruction and training so that employees and contractors can carry out their work safely, and so that customers understand how to use our facilities without putting themselves or others at risk.
Management Responsibilities
The management team at Self Storage Surrey is responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that health and safety is integrated into day-to-day operations. Management duties include identifying significant hazards, assessing associated risks and putting in place control measures to eliminate or reduce those risks as far as is reasonably practicable.
Managers will ensure that equipment, storage units, loading areas, corridors and external access routes are maintained in a safe condition. We will periodically review this policy and our procedures to reflect changes in operations, facilities or legal requirements.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees have a 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 following company procedures, using any safety equipment provided and cooperating with training and supervision.
Employees must promptly report hazards, near misses, accidents, damage to property and any unsafe practices to management. They must not misuse or interfere with anything that has been provided in the interests of health and safety, including fire safety and security systems.
Customer and Visitor Responsibilities
Customers and visitors, including those using our facilities in connection with removal and transport activities, are expected to act responsibly and observe all safety instructions displayed on site or provided by staff. This includes safe use of trolleys, lifts and loading bays, compliance with traffic routes and observing maximum load notices.
Children must be supervised at all times. Customers must ensure that goods brought into storage are suitable for self-storage and do not include prohibited or hazardous items. Any unsafe condition or incident should be reported to a member of staff as soon as possible.
Safe Use of Storage and Handling of Goods
To reduce risks associated with lifting, carrying and stacking, we encourage careful planning of how goods are brought to and arranged within units and vehicles. Customers and employees should avoid overloading trolleys, shelving or vehicles, and should use safe lifting techniques to protect against strain and injury.
Heavy or bulky items should be stored at lower levels and moved by more than one person where necessary. Employees and contractors must use any mechanical aids provided, such as sack trucks and platform trolleys, wherever reasonably practicable.
Access, Traffic Management and Removal Activities
We recognise that many customers and partner companies use our sites for loading, unloading and short-term parking of vehicles, including vans and removal vehicles. We will, so far as is reasonably practicable, maintain clear traffic routes, designated loading areas and appropriate signage to separate vehicles and pedestrians.
Drivers must follow site speed limits, directional signage and staff instructions. Engines should be switched off when vehicles are stationary for loading or unloading. Care must be taken to prevent falls from vehicles and ramps, and to avoid blocking emergency exits or access to fire equipment.
Contractors and Third Parties
Contractors, including those providing removal and related services on our premises, are required to comply with this Health and Safety Policy, as well as their own legal duties. We will provide relevant information about site hazards and emergency procedures to contractor supervisors and expect them to manage their work in a safe and competent manner.
Any high-risk work, such as use of powered lifting equipment or modification to building services, must only be carried out with prior authorisation from management and in accordance with agreed risk assessments and method statements.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Self Storage Surrey will maintain appropriate fire detection and alarm systems, fire extinguishers and clearly marked escape routes. Fire exits, corridors and access routes must be kept clear of obstructions at all times, including during loading, unloading and removal activities.
All persons on site must familiarise themselves with fire safety signage and follow staff instructions in an emergency. On hearing the fire alarm, everyone must leave the building promptly by the nearest safe exit and proceed to the designated assembly area. Re-entry to the building is not permitted until authorised by a responsible person.
Security, Hazardous Substances and Prohibited Items
To protect the health and safety of users and staff, certain items must not be stored or handled on our premises. These include flammable or explosive substances, compressed gas cylinders, chemicals, perishable goods, illegal items and anything that may present a significant risk to people or property.
Customers must declare any items that may present a particular risk and comply with all restrictions set out in their storage agreement and displayed on site. Where substances are used for cleaning or maintenance, they will be stored, labelled and handled in accordance with their safety data and relevant regulations.
Consultation, Training and Continuous Improvement
We are committed to consulting with employees on health and safety matters, encouraging suggestions for improvement and addressing concerns promptly. Staff will receive appropriate induction and ongoing training relevant to their roles, including manual handling, emergency procedures and safe operation of equipment.
Accidents, incidents and near misses will be recorded and, where appropriate, investigated to identify root causes and implement corrective actions. We will use this information to improve our procedures, working environment and the safety of customers and contractors who use our storage and associated services.
Policy Review
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in our operations, facilities, legislation or industry standards. The current version of the policy will be made available to employees, customers, contractors and visitors on request.
