Health and Safety Policy for Self Storage Greenwich
Self Storage Greenwich is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our customers, visitors, contractors, drivers and employees. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with self storage activities, including the loading, unloading and handling of goods linked to removals and transport services.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing proportionate control measures. We aim to maintain premises and storage units that are safe to access, use and move goods within, whether customers are handling items themselves or working with removal and transport providers.
Health and safety requirements are integral to our daily operations. Everyone using our facilities is expected to follow site rules and act with reasonable care for their own safety and that of others.
Management Responsibilities
Management at Self Storage Greenwich is responsible for implementing and reviewing this policy. This includes:
Ensuring that health and safety risks are regularly assessed and that appropriate control measures are introduced and maintained. Providing information and guidance to staff on safe working practices, including safe handling of goods, traffic management and emergency procedures. Ensuring that staff receive suitable training and instruction for their roles, particularly in respect of interacting with customers and removal companies on site. Monitoring the effectiveness of safety arrangements and updating procedures when necessary.
This policy will be reviewed periodically, and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, facilities or relevant legislation.
Employee Responsibilities
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 or omissions. Employees are expected to:
Follow all safety instructions, procedures and site rules. Use equipment and facilities only for their intended purpose and in a safe manner. Report any hazards, near misses, accidents or unsafe practices to management as soon as possible. Cooperate with any health and safety investigations or improvement measures. Maintain clear access routes, keep work areas tidy and ensure that loading and unloading spaces remain orderly.
Customer and Visitor Responsibilities
Customers and visitors, including removal company teams, share responsibility for maintaining a safe environment. All users of the site must:
Observe signage, instructions from staff and traffic flow markings. Take care when lifting, carrying and stacking goods, especially heavy or awkward items. Park only in designated areas and avoid blocking access routes, loading bays, emergency exits or fire assembly points. Ensure that children and vulnerable persons are supervised at all times on site. Refrain from bringing prohibited or unsafe items into storage units, including flammable, explosive or otherwise hazardous materials.
Contractors and Removal Companies
Contractors, including drivers and removal company personnel, must comply with this policy and any specific site rules. They are expected to:
Carry out their work safely and in a manner that does not endanger staff, customers or other visitors. Use appropriate manual handling techniques and equipment when loading and unloading goods. Follow any agreed traffic management arrangements, including one way systems, speed limits and vehicle access restrictions. Keep loading areas clear, minimise obstruction and promptly remove packing materials and waste they generate.
Where necessary, site staff may provide guidance on safe use of loading bays, lifts, trolleys and access points to help ensure efficient and safe removals activity.
Risk Management and Site Safety
We manage health and safety risks through regular inspections and risk assessments that cover, among other matters:
Condition of buildings, corridors, stairways, lifts and external areas. Suitability and maintenance of lighting, signage and access controls. Integrity of doors, locks, roller shutters and unit partitions. Trolley, sack truck and other handling equipment condition. Safe use and demarcation of loading bays and vehicle access routes.
Identified risks are addressed through repair, maintenance, improved procedures or additional controls. Where necessary, certain areas may be temporarily restricted while work is carried out.
Manual Handling and Storage Practices
Safe lifting and storage are essential to preventing injuries. We encourage all customers, staff and contractors to:
Use proper lifting techniques, keeping loads close to the body and avoiding twisting movements. Seek assistance or use equipment for heavy, bulky or awkward items. Distribute weight evenly within storage units and avoid creating unstable stacks of boxes or furniture. Keep floors clear of trip hazards such as loose packaging, straps, tools or debris. Store heavier items at lower levels and lighter goods on top to reduce the risk of falls.
Staff may provide general guidance on safe handling and storage, although the specific method of packing and stacking within a unit is the responsibility of the customer or removal provider.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Self Storage Greenwich maintains fire detection and protection measures appropriate to the nature of the premises. All users of the site must:
Familiarise themselves with fire exit routes and assembly points indicated by signage. Keep doors, corridors and exits clear of obstructions at all times. Refrain from smoking or using open flames anywhere on the premises. Avoid storing any prohibited flammable or explosive materials.
In the event of an alarm or emergency instruction, everyone on site must leave the building immediately using the nearest safe exit and must not re enter until authorised to do so.
First Aid, Accidents and Incident Reporting
Basic first aid provisions are maintained on site. Any accidents, near misses or incidents must be reported promptly to a member of staff so that appropriate assistance can be provided and the event recorded. We use accident and incident records to help identify trends and opportunities to improve safety measures.
Security and Personal Safety
We operate security measures such as access control, surveillance and monitored access points to support both asset protection and personal safety. Customers and visitors must ensure that they:
Use only their own authorised access credentials. Do not allow unknown persons to tailgate through secure entrances. Report suspicious behaviour or security concerns to staff.
Security arrangements are reviewed regularly to balance accessibility for legitimate storage and removals activity with the need to protect people and property.
Continuous Improvement
Self Storage Greenwich is committed to continual improvement in health and safety performance. We welcome feedback from staff, customers, visitors and removal partners on any aspect of site safety. Suggestions are reviewed by management and, where appropriate, used to refine our procedures and facilities.
By working together and following this Health and Safety Policy, everyone using Self Storage Greenwich can contribute to a safe and efficient storage and removals environment.
