Self Storage Harringay Health and Safety Policy
Self Storage Harringay is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees, contractors, removal company teams and customers. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks across our storage facility and associated removal and handling activities carried out on site.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing effective control measures. We aim to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and to follow recognised industry good practice for storage and moving activities.
Health and safety is a core management responsibility and an integral part of day-to-day operations, including customer access, loading and unloading, and work carried out by removal companies operating within our premises.
Responsibilities
The management of Self Storage Harringay has overall responsibility for ensuring that this policy is implemented and reviewed. Management will provide appropriate resources, information, instruction and supervision to maintain safe conditions on site.
Employees are responsible for following health and safety procedures, using equipment correctly, reporting hazards or incidents promptly, and cooperating with management and contractors to maintain a safe workplace.
Removal company staff, contractors and visitors are required to comply with site safety rules, follow instructions from our staff, and use safe working practices at all times when on our premises.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We regularly review the activities undertaken at the facility, including storage, handling, and vehicle movements. Where significant risks are identified, formal risk assessments are carried out and control measures implemented, such as designated walkways, loading areas and clear signage.
Safe systems of work are developed for key tasks such as operating manual handling equipment, stacking goods, accessing upper levels and managing vehicle access for removals. These systems are communicated to employees and, where relevant, to removal teams and contractors.
Safe Use of Storage Units
To minimise risk within storage units and corridors, the following principles apply:
Customers and removal teams must not store prohibited or hazardous materials, including flammable, explosive, toxic or illegal items. Goods must be stacked safely, with heavier items at the bottom and lighter items above, ensuring that loads are stable and do not obstruct doors, walkways or emergency exits.
Units must be kept tidy and accessible, with sufficient space to move safely. Any damage to units, fittings or fire protection systems must be reported to staff immediately so that appropriate remedial action can be taken.
Manual Handling and Lifting
We recognise that lifting and moving items is a key risk area for staff and removal company personnel. To reduce the likelihood of injury, we promote safe manual handling techniques and, where possible, the use of trolleys, sack trucks and other handling aids provided on site.
Employees receive guidance on correct lifting posture, load assessment, team lifting and the safe use of handling equipment. We expect removal companies and customers to adopt similar good practice, to plan loads sensibly and to ask for assistance where a task presents undue risk.
Vehicle Movements and Loading Areas
Vehicle and pedestrian safety is a priority. Dedicated loading and unloading zones are clearly identified, and speed limits apply within the facility. Drivers, including removal company drivers, must follow site rules, observe signage and instructions, and park only in designated areas.
Reversing should be minimised and, wherever possible, assisted by a banksman or colleague. Pedestrians must use marked routes and take care when crossing or moving through areas used by vehicles. Engines should be switched off when vehicles are parked for loading or unloading.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
We maintain fire detection and protection systems appropriate to the premises, and we ensure that fire exits, corridors and access routes are kept clear at all times. Fire extinguishers and other equipment are inspected regularly in line with regulatory requirements and good practice.
Emergency procedures, including evacuation routes and assembly points, are displayed clearly. Employees receive training in fire safety awareness and evacuation procedures. All customers, visitors and removal teams must familiarise themselves with emergency routes and obey staff instructions in the event of an alarm or incident.
Welfare, First Aid and Incident Reporting
Suitable welfare arrangements are provided for employees, including access to toilets, washing facilities and rest areas. Reasonable facilities are made available to visitors and removal personnel while they are on site.
First aid provisions are maintained, and nominated staff are trained to provide basic assistance. All accidents, near misses, injuries or damage to property must be reported promptly to site staff so that they can be recorded, investigated, and used to improve safety measures and prevent recurrence.
Training, Information and Supervision
We provide employees with appropriate health and safety training relevant to their roles, including induction training, refresher training and task-specific guidance. This covers topics such as manual handling, safe use of equipment, emergency procedures and customer interaction.
Where necessary, information is also provided to contractors and removal teams to ensure that they understand and comply with our site rules. Supervisors monitor working practices and intervene where unsafe behaviour or conditions are observed.
Cooperation with Removal Companies and Contractors
We recognise that removal companies play an important role in the safe movement of goods to and from our facility. We encourage coordination, planning and communication before and during removals work, particularly for large, heavy or awkward items.
Removal teams are expected to assess risks associated with their own activities, to use appropriate equipment and personal protective equipment where required, and to ensure that their work does not endanger others or obstruct fire exits, corridors or traffic routes.
Continuous Improvement and Policy Review
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to operations, legislation or best practice. Feedback from staff, customers, contractors and removal companies is welcomed and used to refine procedures and improve safety performance.
Self Storage Harringay is committed to continual improvement in health and safety standards and to fostering a culture in which everyone shares responsibility for keeping the site safe, secure and well managed.
