Self Storage Soho Health and Safety Policy
Self Storage Soho is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our customers, visitors, contractors, and employees. This policy sets out how we manage health and safety risks across our storage facilities and associated services, including activities related to moving, handling, and storage that may be carried out by customers, removal companies, and other third parties.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
We aim to prevent accidents, injuries, and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing appropriate control measures. We seek to maintain premises, storage units, access routes, loading areas, and equipment in a safe condition so that all users, including those involved in removals and transport of goods, can operate with confidence.
We comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and continually review our procedures to improve standards. Health and safety performance is considered in all business decisions and is an integral part of our operational planning.
Management Responsibilities
The management of Self Storage Soho has overall responsibility for health and safety at our premises. This includes:
Ensuring suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for the site, including loading bays, corridors, stairways, lifts, storage units, and external areas used for vehicle manoeuvring and unloading.
Providing and maintaining safe access and egress, appropriate lighting, and clearly marked routes for pedestrians and vehicles.
Ensuring that emergency procedures, including fire evacuation and first aid arrangements, are in place, communicated, and regularly reviewed.
Providing staff with appropriate information, instruction, and training to carry out their duties safely, particularly when interacting with customers, removal teams, and contractors.
Monitoring compliance with this policy, investigating accidents and near misses, and taking corrective action where required.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. Employees must:
Follow the site rules, safe systems of work, and instructions provided by management.
Use any equipment and personal protective equipment provided by the company correctly and report defects immediately.
Report accidents, incidents, unsafe conditions, and near misses to management without delay.
Cooperate with any health and safety investigations, risk assessments, and training requirements.
Not interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety, and welfare.
Customer and Visitor Responsibilities
Customers and visitors, including those using removal services or transporting goods to and from our facility, share responsibility for maintaining a safe environment. All customers and visitors must:
Observe site signage, lane markings, and staff instructions, particularly in loading areas and vehicle access routes.
Ensure that items brought into the facility are safe, secure, and do not present undue risk to others, such as sharp, unstable, excessively heavy, or hazardous items.
Load and stack goods safely inside storage units, ensuring stability and avoiding overloading shelves or stacking items in a way that could lead to collapse.
Refrain from bringing prohibited or dangerous goods onto the premises, including flammable materials, explosives, illegal substances, and any items identified in our terms and conditions as restricted.
Supervise children and any vulnerable persons at all times while on the premises.
Removal and Contractor Activities
We recognise that many customers use professional removal companies or other contractors to transport and handle goods. While these third parties are responsible for their own health and safety practices, Self Storage Soho:
Requires all contractors to follow our site safety rules and cooperate with our staff at all times.
May request evidence of appropriate insurance and safe working practices from removal companies and other contractors operating on our premises.
Reserves the right to refuse access or stop any activity that is considered unsafe or that may endanger people, property, or the environment.
Encourages customers to choose reputable removal providers who follow safe manual handling, lifting, and loading procedures to reduce the risk of injury and damage.
Safe Use of Premises and Equipment
We maintain the premises to promote safe use by customers and removal teams. This includes:
Regular inspection and maintenance of lifts, trolleys, doors, lighting, and security equipment.
Clear marking of emergency exits, fire points, and restricted areas.
Provision of guidance on safe manual handling, stacking of goods, and use of trolleys and lifting aids.
Prompt response to identified hazards such as spills, damaged flooring, or faulty equipment.
Emergency Procedures
Emergency procedures are in place to safeguard all persons on site in the event of fire, accident, or other serious incidents. These include:
Clearly displayed fire action notices and evacuation routes.
Designated assembly points outside the building.
Regular testing and maintenance of fire detection and firefighting equipment.
Training for staff in emergency response and communication with the emergency services.
All persons on site must follow staff instructions immediately in any emergency situation and must not re-enter the building until it is declared safe.
Monitoring, Review, and Policy Availability
This health and safety policy is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to reflect changes in operations, legislation, or identified risks. Lessons learned from incidents, customer feedback, and staff observations are used to improve safety performance.
The policy is available to customers, employees, contractors, and any other interested parties on request. By using our storage facility or providing services on our premises, you agree to cooperate with the health and safety measures described in this policy.
Self Storage Soho is committed to continual improvement in health and safety standards and to providing a safe environment for storage, moving, and related activities carried out at our site.
