Storage Mortlake Health and Safety Policy
Storage Mortlake is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, customers, visitors, and contractors. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and arrangements we adopt to safeguard people, property, and the environment during all storage and removal activities.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Our main objectives are to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property, and to continually improve our health and safety performance. We aim to achieve this by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing proportionate control measures across all storage, handling, and removal operations.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Mortlake holds overall responsibility for health and safety within the business. Management will provide clear leadership, ensure appropriate resources are available, and integrate health and safety considerations into business planning and decision-making. Managers are responsible for:
Ensuring risk assessments are completed, reviewed regularly, and communicated effectively. Implementing and maintaining safe systems of work for storage, lifting, loading, unloading, and transportation of goods. Providing suitable equipment, maintaining it in safe working condition, and arranging statutory inspections where required. Investigating accidents, incidents, and near misses to identify root causes and implement corrective actions. Ensuring employees and contractors understand and comply with this policy and all associated procedures.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee has 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. All employees must:
Follow all safety instructions, procedures, and training provided. Use equipment, vehicles, and personal protective equipment correctly and report defects immediately. Refrain from interfering with or misusing anything provided for health, safety, or welfare. Report hazards, incidents, near misses, and unsafe practices as soon as they are identified. Cooperate fully with management in the implementation and improvement of health and safety measures.
Safe Handling, Lifting, and Removals
Our removal and storage services involve frequent handling, lifting, and transportation of items of varying sizes and weights. To minimise the risk of injury and damage, Storage Mortlake will:
Conduct manual handling risk assessments for typical tasks, including packing, loading, unloading, and stacking. Provide manual handling training, including correct lifting techniques, team lifting, and the use of handling aids. Use trolleys, dollies, straps, and other mechanical aids where reasonably practicable. Plan routes and loading patterns in advance to minimise unnecessary handling and reduce the risk of falls, trips, and collisions. Ensure that heavy or awkward items are lifted and moved only by competent personnel using appropriate equipment and safe methods.
Vehicle and Driving Safety
Safe operation of vehicles used in removal and storage services is essential. Storage Mortlake will:
Ensure that vehicles are suitable for their intended use, maintained regularly, and subject to safety checks. Require drivers to hold the correct licences and receive appropriate training in safe driving and loading techniques. Ensure loads are properly secured to prevent movement, damage, or injury during transport. Manage working hours and schedules to reduce the risk of driver fatigue. Promote safe driving behaviours, including adherence to traffic laws, speed limits, and parking restrictions.
Warehouse and Storage Safety
The storage areas and warehouses operated by Storage Mortlake will be managed to control risks associated with stacking, access, plant, and equipment. We will:
Maintain safe access routes, clear walkways, and suitable lighting. Ensure racking, shelving, and storage systems are properly installed, inspected, and used within their design limits. Implement safe stacking heights and stability controls to prevent collapse or falling items. Control access to restricted areas and plant, ensuring only authorised and trained personnel are permitted. Keep floors, loading bays, and external areas in a condition that minimises the risk of slips, trips, and falls.
Personal Protective Equipment
Where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means, Storage Mortlake will provide appropriate personal protective equipment. This may include safety footwear, gloves, high-visibility clothing, and other items as required. Employees must use this equipment as instructed and report damage or loss without delay.
Training, Information, and Supervision
Storage Mortlake recognises that competent and informed staff are central to a safe working environment. We will:
Provide induction training for all new employees, covering key health and safety topics and company rules. Deliver task-specific training for removal operations, machinery use, and warehouse activities. Ensure adequate supervision, particularly for new or inexperienced employees. Communicate relevant risk assessments, procedures, and updates promptly and clearly.
Accident and Incident Reporting
All accidents, incidents, near misses, and cases of work-related ill health must be reported to management as soon as practicable. Storage Mortlake will record and investigate these events, taking action to prevent recurrence. We will comply with applicable reporting requirements and retain records as part of our continuous improvement processes.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Mortlake will maintain suitable fire and emergency arrangements at all sites. This includes:
Carrying out fire risk assessments and implementing appropriate control measures. Providing and maintaining fire detection and fire-fighting equipment where required. Clearly marking fire exits and escape routes and keeping them unobstructed. Providing instruction on emergency procedures, including evacuation arrangements and assembly points. Conducting periodic drills, where appropriate, to ensure familiarity with emergency procedures.
Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement
We will monitor health and safety performance through inspections, audits, incident statistics, and feedback from employees and customers. This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, operations, or identified best practices. Storage Mortlake is committed to continuous improvement and expects all employees to contribute to a positive safety culture.
Policy Availability and Communication
This Health and Safety Policy is communicated to all employees and is available to customers, contractors, and other interested parties on request. All staff are required to familiarise themselves with the contents of this policy and to follow the procedures that support it as part of their normal duties.
