Self Storage Finchley Health and Safety Policy
Self Storage Finchley is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all customers, visitors, contractors, and employees. This Health and Safety Policy explains our approach to managing risks on our premises, including the safe use of storage units, loading areas, and access points that may be used by individuals, families, businesses, and removal companies.
Our Health and Safety Commitment
We aim to prevent accidents and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and putting appropriate control measures in place. We will review this policy on a regular basis to ensure that it remains effective and reflects current best practice for the self storage and removals support sector.
All users of our facilities are expected to cooperate with this policy, follow site rules, and act responsibly to protect their own safety and the safety of others.
Management Responsibilities
The management of Self Storage Finchley is responsible for the overall implementation of this Health and Safety Policy. This includes:
Ensuring the premises, including corridors, stairwells, storage units, loading bays, and vehicle access points, are maintained in a safe condition. Identifying potential hazards, such as trip risks, insufficient lighting or unsafe stacking of goods, and taking timely action to control or remove them. Providing information and guidance to customers, staff, and removal companies regarding safe loading, unloading, and storage practices. Ensuring that emergency procedures are in place, clearly communicated, and regularly reviewed. Monitoring the effectiveness of health and safety measures and making improvements where necessary.
Customer and Visitor Responsibilities
Customers, visitors, and any removal operatives acting on their behalf share responsibility for maintaining a safe environment on site. All users of the facility must:
Follow all instructions, signage, and guidance provided by Self Storage Finchley. Use loading areas, lifts, trolleys and other equipment safely and only for their intended purpose. Take reasonable care when handling goods, especially heavy, bulky or awkward items. Avoid obstructing corridors, fire exits, doors or access routes with vehicles, trolleys or stored items. Report any accidents, near misses, damage or hazards to a member of staff as soon as possible.
Customers are responsible for ensuring that their goods are packed, transported, and stored in a manner that does not present a risk to themselves or others.
Use of Removal Companies
Self Storage Finchley works regularly with customers who use professional removal companies or independent movers. To maintain a safe operating environment, we expect all removal companies using our facility to:
Comply with this Health and Safety Policy and with any site-specific instructions given by our staff. Supervise their own staff and ensure that they use safe manual handling techniques and appropriate equipment. Load and unload vehicles only in designated areas, taking care not to block access routes or create avoidable risks to pedestrians or other vehicles. Securely stack and store items within units, ensuring stability and avoiding overloading.
We may refuse access or stop any activity that we consider unsafe or likely to cause injury or damage.
Safe Use of Equipment
We provide equipment such as trolleys, sack trucks and pallet movers to assist with the movement of goods. Users must:
Check equipment before use and not use it if it appears damaged or unsafe. Use equipment only for its intended purpose and within its capacity. Operate equipment carefully, particularly on inclines, in confined spaces and when near doors, ramps or vehicle access points. Return equipment to the designated storage areas after use, keeping walkways clear.
Powered equipment, where provided, may only be used by authorised and trained personnel.
Manual Handling and Working Practices
Moving and lifting goods, whether for storage or during removals, can present a risk of injury if not performed safely. To reduce these risks:
We encourage all users to plan lifts, split heavy loads into smaller parts where possible and use mechanical aids where available. Users should bend their knees, keep the back as straight as possible and avoid twisting while lifting. Large or heavy items should be lifted and moved by more than one person where necessary. Customers and removal operatives should allow sufficient time for loading and unloading to avoid rushing or unsafe short cuts.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Self Storage Finchley maintains fire safety arrangements appropriate for our premises. This includes:
Clearly marked fire exits, escape routes, and assembly points. Fire detection and alarm systems, checked and tested at appropriate intervals. Firefighting equipment located at strategic points within the facility.
All users must familiarise themselves with the location of exits and follow staff instructions in the event of an alarm. Corridors, stairwells, exits, and access routes must be kept clear at all times. Storing flammable, explosive, corrosive or otherwise hazardous materials is strictly prohibited unless specifically agreed in writing and stored in accordance with applicable safety requirements.
Housekeeping and Site Standards
Good housekeeping is essential to maintaining a safe self storage environment. We will:
Keep common areas, reception, corridors and loading bays as clear and tidy as is reasonably practicable. Arrange for regular cleaning and inspection of public areas. Repair or isolate damaged surfaces, doors, or fixtures that present a risk.
Customers and removal operatives must not leave waste, discarded packaging, pallets or other debris in corridors, loading bays or car parking areas. All waste must be disposed of in accordance with site instructions.
Accident Reporting and Investigation
Any accident, injury, near miss, fire incident or significant property damage on our premises must be reported to a member of staff as soon as possible. Where appropriate, details will be recorded and investigated so that we can understand the causes and put in place any necessary preventive measures.
We may request written statements or further information from those involved or from witnesses to help improve safety for all users.
Policy Review
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, industry standards, or the way our facilities are used. By using our storage units, loading areas and associated services, customers, visitors and removal operators accept and agree to comply with this policy and any future revisions that may be introduced.
Self Storage Finchley is committed to working with all users of our facility to maintain a safe, efficient and well-managed environment for storage and removals support.
