Storage Millbank Health and Safety Policy
Storage Millbank is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our employees, customers, contractors, and visitors. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety across our storage facilities and removal services. Our aim is to prevent accidents, minimise risks, and promote a positive safety culture in all areas of our operation.
Policy Aims and Scope
This Health and Safety Policy applies to all activities undertaken by Storage Millbank, including storage operations, removals, packing, loading and unloading, transportation of goods, office work, and customer access to our premises. The policy covers all employees, temporary staff, contractors, and members of the public who may be affected by our activities.
Our key aims are to identify and control hazards, comply with applicable health and safety legislation, and continuously improve our standards through effective management and staff involvement.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Storage Millbank holds overall responsibility for health and safety performance. They will ensure that suitable resources, equipment, and training are provided to maintain safe systems of work for storage and removals. Management will regularly review this policy, monitor performance, and promote a culture in which safety is integral to everyday decision making.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing this policy within their areas of control. This includes carrying out and reviewing risk assessments, ensuring staff follow safe working procedures, maintaining equipment in a safe condition, and responding promptly to safety concerns raised by employees or customers.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees, including removal crews, warehouse staff, and office personnel, share responsibility for maintaining a safe workplace. Employees must 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 safety instructions and training, use equipment correctly, wear any required personal protective equipment, report hazards, near misses, and incidents promptly, and cooperate with investigations and improvement measures.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Storage Millbank carries out risk assessments for key tasks and environments, including handling and moving goods, operation of lifting equipment, working in storage units, vehicle loading and unloading areas, and customer access routes. The findings of these assessments are used to develop safe systems of work for both storage and removal activities.
Control measures may include restricted access to certain areas, clear walkways and signage, safe stacking and racking of goods, limits on load weights, careful route planning for removals, and the use of appropriate lifting aids. Risk assessments are reviewed regularly and whenever significant changes occur to processes, equipment, or layout.
Manual Handling and Removal Activities
Manual handling is a significant part of our operations, particularly within our removal services and storage handling tasks. Storage Millbank is committed to avoiding hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable, and to reducing the risk of injury where manual handling cannot be eliminated.
Employees receive training in safe lifting techniques, use of trolleys and lifting equipment, team lifting, and handling of awkward or heavy items. Removal routes are planned to avoid unnecessary carrying distances and obstacles. Customers are encouraged to allow trained staff to handle heavy objects instead of doing so themselves.
Vehicles, Parking, and Traffic Management
We recognise the risks associated with vehicles and traffic movement in and around our premises and during removal operations. Storage Millbank implements measures to manage these risks, including designated loading and unloading areas, clear signage and marked walkways, and separate routes for vehicles and pedestrians wherever practical.
Drivers must follow site rules, adhere to speed limits, and ensure vehicles are safely positioned, braked, and stabilised before loading or unloading. Loads are secured to prevent movement during transit. Only authorised and trained personnel may operate company vehicles or specialist lifting and loading equipment.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Storage Millbank maintains fire safety and emergency procedures to protect people and property in the event of an incident. Our arrangements include appropriate fire detection and alarm systems, clearly marked emergency exits and escape routes, fire-fighting equipment where suitable, and regular drills and equipment checks.
Employees are trained in fire and emergency procedures, including evacuation routes, assembly points, and the importance of keeping exits and access ways clear at all times. Customers and visitors are expected to follow staff instructions in the event of an emergency.
Workplace Environment and Welfare
We aim to provide a clean, tidy, and well-maintained working and storage environment. This includes adequate lighting and ventilation, safe access routes, secure and stable racking and storage systems, and prompt attention to spillages or damage. Welfare arrangements such as rest areas and sanitary facilities are maintained in a safe and hygienic condition.
Housekeeping is an essential element of health and safety. All staff are responsible for keeping work areas, storage units, and loading spaces free from unnecessary obstructions that could cause trips, slips, or other incidents.
Training, Information, and Supervision
Storage Millbank provides appropriate health and safety training to all employees, with additional training for roles involving higher risk activities such as removals, lifting operations, and plant or vehicle use. New starters receive an induction covering emergency procedures, site rules, and basic safe working practices.
Information about hazards, controls, and procedures is communicated through signage, instructions, and briefings. Supervision levels are set according to the risks involved and the experience of staff, ensuring that new or less experienced employees are adequately supported.
Incident Reporting and Continuous Improvement
All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported as soon as possible so that they can be investigated and appropriate corrective actions identified. Storage Millbank uses this information to learn from events, prevent recurrence, and improve our health and safety performance.
Safety performance is monitored through inspections, audits, and feedback from staff and customers. This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains suitable, effective, and aligned with our commitment to safe storage and removal operations.
Customer and Visitor Safety
We are committed to ensuring that customers and visitors can access our premises safely. Visitors are required to follow site instructions and any safety guidance provided by staff. Certain operational areas may be restricted to authorised personnel only, to protect all parties from unnecessary risk.
By choosing Storage Millbank for storage or removal services, customers can be assured that health and safety is treated as a core priority in the planning and delivery of our services.
