Storage Oakleigh Park Health and Safety Policy
Storage Oakleigh Park is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our employees, contractors, customers and visitors. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risk across our storage facilities and associated removal and handling activities. We aim to prevent injury, protect property and promote a culture in which safety is an integral part of everyday operations.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Our objective is to conduct all storage, handling and removal services in a way that minimises risks to people, equipment and the environment. We will identify and control hazards, provide appropriate training and supervision, and continually improve our standards. Health and safety considerations take priority over operational convenience, and all activities must be planned and carried out with safe working practices in mind.
This policy applies to all employees, temporary staff, contractors and any person working on or visiting our premises, including customers accessing their stored goods or using our removal services.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management has overall responsibility for ensuring that this policy is implemented and reviewed. Management duties include setting clear safety standards, ensuring compliance with relevant health and safety legislation and allocating adequate resources for training, equipment and maintenance.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for:
Ensuring that risk assessments are carried out for storage areas, loading bays, vehicle movements and manual handling tasks related to removals and self-storage. Implementing appropriate control measures and safe systems of work. Making sure that employees receive relevant information, instruction and training. Monitoring working practices and correcting unsafe behaviour or conditions. Ensuring that reported hazards, incidents and near misses are investigated and addressed promptly.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees share responsibility for maintaining a safe workplace. Each member of staff must:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Follow all safety procedures, instructions and training provided, particularly when handling heavy items, using equipment or operating in storage aisles and loading areas. Use protective equipment and safety devices correctly, and report any defects immediately. Refrain from misusing or interfering with any safety equipment. Report hazards, accidents, injuries and near misses to their manager without delay. Cooperate fully with any investigation, training or corrective action related to health and safety.
Customer and Visitor Responsibilities
Customers and visitors to Storage Oakleigh Park are expected to act in a way that does not put themselves or others at risk. Customers must comply with site rules, signage and any reasonable instructions from staff, particularly regarding vehicle movements, loading and unloading activities and access to storage units.
Customers using removal or storage services should ensure that goods are packed sensibly and that any specific hazards, such as fragile, heavy or awkward items, are brought to staff attention. Children must be supervised at all times on site.
Risk Assessment and Hazard Control
We carry out regular risk assessments to identify hazards associated with storage units, corridors, stairways, lifts, loading bays, vehicle access and handling operations. Typical hazards include manual handling injuries, slips and trips, falls from height, contact with moving vehicles and damage arising from poorly stacked or unstable loads.
Control measures may include safe stacking procedures, marked pedestrian walkways, traffic management plans, controlled access to certain areas, adequate lighting, housekeeping standards and the use of appropriate handling equipment such as trolleys and pallet trucks. Assessments are reviewed periodically, when operations change and after any incident that suggests existing controls may be insufficient.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a key aspect of storage and removal work. We aim to reduce the need for heavy lifting wherever reasonably practicable. Where manual handling is unavoidable, staff are trained in safe techniques, including assessing the load, planning the lift, using a stable stance and avoiding twisting movements.
Mechanical aids must be used where provided, and loads must not exceed recommended limits. Employees must request assistance when handling bulky, heavy or awkward items. Unsafe lifting practices are not acceptable under any circumstances.
Vehicles, Loading and Removals
Vehicle movements in and around our premises, and during removal services, are controlled to minimise risk. Drivers must follow speed limits, observe signage and use designated routes. Loading and unloading operations must be planned to maintain stability of vehicles and loads.
During removal work, staff must secure items properly, distribute weight evenly and ensure that access routes at collection and delivery locations are safe. Where access is restricted or presents a specific risk, additional precautions or equipment may be required, and work may be postponed until it is safe to proceed.
Equipment, Maintenance and Housekeeping
All equipment used for storage and removals, such as trolleys, sack trucks, lifting aids and security devices, must be regularly inspected and maintained. Defective equipment must be taken out of service and reported immediately.
Good housekeeping is essential for safety. Aisles, stairwells, loading areas and fire exits must be kept clear of obstruction. Spills and debris must be dealt with promptly to prevent slips and trips. Waste materials must be disposed of in a safe and orderly manner.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Fire safety measures include appropriate detection and alarm systems, clearly marked escape routes, fire doors and firefighting equipment. Employees receive information on emergency procedures, including evacuation routes and assembly points.
Customers and visitors must familiarise themselves with the nearest exit routes and follow staff instructions in an emergency. Obstructing fire exits, tampering with fire safety equipment or ignoring alarm signals is strictly prohibited.
Training, Information and Supervision
We provide employees with training appropriate to their roles, including induction training, manual handling, safe use of equipment, fire safety and site-specific procedures. Refresher training is provided when necessary, particularly when new equipment or processes are introduced.
Information on hazards, safe practices and emergency procedures is communicated through briefings, notices and signage. Supervisors monitor compliance and provide guidance, coaching and corrective feedback where required.
Incident Reporting and Continuous Improvement
All accidents, injuries, near misses and hazardous situations must be reported as soon as possible. We investigate incidents to understand root causes and implement corrective measures to prevent recurrence. Lessons learned are shared with relevant staff and, where appropriate, incorporated into training and procedures.
This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective and reflects current operations, industry standards and legal requirements. Storage Oakleigh Park is committed to continual improvement in health and safety performance and expects the cooperation of everyone involved with our storage and removal services.
