Health and Safety Policy for Neweltham Storage

Neweltham Storage is committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and well-managed environment for employees, customers, contractors, and visitors. This health and safety policy sets out the principles and practices that support safe operations across all areas of the business. Our approach is based on prevention, clear responsibilities, proper training, and continuous improvement. We recognise that effective storage safety depends on everyone understanding the risks and acting responsibly at all times.

The purpose of this policy is to reduce the likelihood of injury, ill health, damage, and disruption. It applies to all activities connected with the handling, movement, access, and maintenance of storage areas. Neweltham Storage will take reasonable steps to ensure that the workplace remains safe, clean, and organised, and that hazards are identified and addressed quickly. Safety is not treated as a separate task; it is part of everyday working practice.

Our Safety Commitment

We are committed to meeting relevant legal and operational obligations, but our standards go beyond minimum compliance. The storage environment can involve manual handling, vehicle movement, restricted access, and the presence of goods with different shapes, weights, and packaging. For that reason, our storage health and safety practices focus on control measures that are practical, consistent, and easy to follow. Everyone on site is expected to act with care, report concerns promptly, and follow safe systems of work.

Responsibilities and Expectations

Management is responsible for implementing this policy, providing suitable resources, and reviewing safety performance. This includes making sure that equipment is maintained, signage is clear, emergency arrangements are available, and staff receive appropriate instruction. Team leaders must encourage safe behaviour, monitor compliance, and respond to hazards without delay. Employees and contractors must cooperate with procedures, use equipment correctly, and avoid actions that could place themselves or others at risk.

All persons on site must:

• follow site rules and instructions;
• use personal protective equipment where required;
• keep walkways and access routes clear;
• report spills, faults, incidents, and unsafe conditions;
• avoid unsafe lifting or carrying practices;
• respect security controls and restricted areas.

By sharing responsibility, Neweltham Storage supports a culture where safety is normal, expected, and continually reinforced. This culture is especially important in a storage setting, where small failures can quickly create larger risks.

Risk Assessment and Control

Risk assessments are carried out to identify foreseeable hazards and decide on suitable controls. These assessments are reviewed when conditions change, after incidents, and at planned intervals. Typical risks may include slips, trips, falls, manual handling injuries, unstable stacking, poor lighting, fire hazards, and unauthorised access. Controls may involve housekeeping standards, load limits, safe storage arrangements, maintenance schedules, and emergency procedures. Where possible, hazards are removed at source; where not possible, exposure is reduced as far as reasonably practicable.

Training is a key part of the storage safety policy. Staff are provided with induction information and ongoing instruction relevant to their duties. This may include manual handling, safe use of equipment, fire awareness, incident reporting, and emergency response. Training is refreshed when procedures change or when additional support is needed. We believe that informed staff make safer decisions, and that consistency in training helps protect the whole site.

Operational procedures are designed to reduce avoidable risk. Goods should be stored in a stable manner, with heavier items positioned appropriately and access kept clear. Boxes, pallets, and containers must not obstruct exits, extinguishers, or emergency equipment. Housekeeping is essential: waste should be removed regularly, spilled materials should be dealt with promptly, and damaged items should be isolated until they can be assessed. Safety is strengthened when the storage area remains tidy and controlled.

Emergency arrangements are maintained so that people can respond quickly and calmly if something goes wrong. This includes fire precautions, evacuation routes, first-aid support, and incident escalation procedures. Drills and checks are used to ensure that arrangements remain effective. Where an incident occurs, it will be recorded, investigated, and reviewed so that lessons can be learned and future risk reduced. We encourage a reporting culture that values early action over delay.

Safe Working Practices

The handling of goods is a major part of everyday activity, so safe methods are essential. Employees should assess loads before moving them, use mechanical aids where appropriate, and ask for assistance when weight, size, or shape creates difficulty. Rushing, overreaching, and lifting with poor posture are not acceptable. Equipment such as trolleys, pallets, ladders, and lifting aids must only be used by trained or authorised persons and inspected before use where necessary.

Fire safety remains a priority. Combustible materials should be managed carefully, ignition sources controlled, and access to emergency equipment preserved at all times. Any defects in alarms, lighting, doors, or safety equipment should be reported immediately. Security also supports health and safety by reducing the chance of unauthorised entry, tampering, or interference with stored goods. A secure site is generally a safer site.

Contractors and visitors must comply with site instructions and are expected to behave safely while on the premises. They should be made aware of relevant hazards before work begins and supervised where necessary. Vehicles entering the site must be managed carefully to avoid collisions, congestion, and pedestrian conflict. Clear separation of people and vehicles is an important part of our storage operations safety approach.

Monitoring and review ensure that this policy remains effective. Inspections, audits, maintenance records, incident trends, and staff feedback are used to identify improvements. Where deficiencies are found, corrective action will be taken and responsibility assigned for completion. Neweltham Storage is committed to continuous improvement and to learning from both incidents and near misses. Safety performance will be reviewed regularly so that standards remain practical and strong.

This policy reflects our belief that a responsible storage business must protect people as well as property. Every task, from receiving goods to maintaining the premises, should be completed with care and attention. By following this health and safety in storage policy, we reduce risk, support legal and ethical duties, and create a better working environment for everyone. Neweltham Storage expects all individuals to contribute to that goal through safe behaviour, clear communication, and steady awareness.