Health and Safety Policy for Self Storage Bermondsey
Self Storage Bermondsey is committed to providing a safe, healthy and secure environment for our customers, visitors, contractors and team members. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles, responsibilities and procedures that guide how we manage safety throughout our storage facilities and related services, including loading, unloading and support for removal activities.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, property damage and environmental harm arising from activities on our premises. We aim to achieve this by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing effective control measures for all aspects of storage and associated handling operations. We will comply with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry practices, and we will continually seek to improve our standards.
Health and safety is a shared responsibility. We expect everyone using our facilities, including those involved in collection, delivery and removal of goods, to cooperate with our procedures and to take reasonable care of their own safety and the safety of others.
Management Responsibilities
The management of Self Storage Bermondsey is responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that adequate resources are provided to maintain safe operations. Management will:
Regularly review health and safety performance and update procedures where necessary. Provide staff with appropriate information, instruction and training relevant to storage, manual handling and interaction with customers and removal operatives. Ensure that equipment, plant and facilities, such as trolleys, lifts and access routes, are maintained in a safe condition. Investigate accidents, near misses and safety concerns, and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees are required to:
Follow all health and safety procedures and safe working practices. Use equipment and safety devices correctly and report any defects immediately. Cooperate with training and instruction, especially in relation to manual handling and assisting customers with the safe use of loading areas. Report accidents, incidents, hazards or near misses to management as soon as possible.
Customer and Visitor Responsibilities
Customers, visitors and third-party removal teams have an important role in maintaining a safe storage environment. When using our facilities, they are required to:
Follow all safety signage and instructions issued by staff. Use access routes, loading bays and parking areas responsibly, paying particular attention to reversing, manoeuvring and shared traffic areas. Operate trolleys and handling aids carefully, avoiding overloading and ensuring clear visibility while moving goods. Refrain from bringing prohibited, dangerous or illegal items into storage, including flammable, explosive or corrosive substances.
Safe Use of Storage Units
To ensure the safety of all users and the protection of property, the following rules apply to storage units:
Goods must be stacked safely, with heavier items at the bottom and lighter or fragile goods on top, to reduce the risk of collapse. Aisles and access routes inside units must be kept clear to allow safe entry and exit. Storage of perishable goods, live animals, and items that may emit fumes, leak or deteriorate in a way that could create a hazard is not permitted. Customers must not tamper with fire detection, alarm or security systems within the facility.
Manual Handling and Removals
Many activities at our facility involve lifting and moving items, whether by customers, removal companies or our staff. To reduce the risk of injury:
We encourage the use of trolleys, pallet trucks and other handling equipment instead of lifting by hand where possible. Loads must be kept within the safe capacity of handling aids and vehicles. Safe lifting techniques should be used at all times, including keeping the load close to the body, avoiding twisting and seeking assistance with heavy or awkward items. Staff will provide guidance on safe loading practices for customers and removal operatives using our bays and access points.
Traffic Management and Loading Areas
Our loading and unloading areas can be busy, particularly when removal vehicles are present. To manage vehicle and pedestrian movements safely:
Vehicles must follow site speed limits and any one-way or designated routing systems. Parking is only permitted in designated areas and must not obstruct emergency exits, fire lanes or pedestrian walkways. Engines should be switched off when vehicles are stationary for loading or unloading, unless otherwise required for safe operation. Pedestrians should use marked walkways where provided and avoid passing behind reversing vehicles.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Fire safety and the ability to respond effectively to emergencies are essential. To support this:
Fire exits and escape routes must remain unobstructed at all times. Customers and visitors should familiarise themselves with the location of fire exits, alarm points and assembly areas on arrival. In the event of a fire alarm, everyone must leave the building immediately and follow the instructions of staff and emergency services. Firefighting equipment and alarm systems are provided for emergency use only and must not be misused or interfered with.
Hazardous Substances and Prohibited Items
To protect the safety of all users, hazardous and prohibited items must not be stored at our facility. These include, but are not limited to:
Explosives, fireworks and ammunition. Flammable liquids and gases such as petrol, diesel, propane or solvents. Toxic, corrosive or oxidising chemicals. Compressed gas cylinders, unless expressly authorised by management. Waste, contaminated materials or items that may present a biological or environmental hazard.
Incident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, injuries, near misses, damage to property or unsafe conditions must be reported to a member of staff as soon as possible. This allows us to record the incident, provide appropriate assistance and take steps to prevent recurrence. We will conduct proportionate investigations and, where needed, update our risk assessments and procedures.
Training, Communication and Review
We will provide ongoing training and information for our employees, tailored to their roles and responsibilities within the storage environment. Safety information will be communicated clearly to customers and visitors through signage, verbal guidance and written materials where appropriate.
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when there are significant changes in our operations, facilities, legislation or best practice. We welcome feedback from customers, visitors, employees and contractors to help us continuously improve our standards and maintain a safe and efficient storage facility.
