Self Storage Facility Operations SWMS

Self-storage facility operations covers the operation of a self-storage facility — managing the storage units, the movement of goods by customers and staff, and the facility itself, including the use of trolleys, lifts and any plant. The hazards are the manual handling of goods, the traffic and movement of vehicles and customers, the facility and unit conditions, and any hazardous goods stored. This document is written on the basis that self-storage facility operations are carried out with the manual-handling, traffic, facility and stored-goods controls in place.

Self-storage facility operations are carried out in connection with the manual handling and general WHS requirements, with the manual handling of goods managed, the traffic and movement of vehicles and customers managed, the facility and unit conditions maintained, and any hazardous or prohibited goods controlled. The manual handling, the traffic, the facility conditions, and the stored goods are the considerations. This document coordinates the manual-handling, traffic, facility and stored-goods controls so the self-storage facility operations are carried out safely.

Hazards identified

9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.

1. 1Engineering: use mechanical aids — trolleys, dollies, stair-climbers, pallet jacks and lifting equipment — and team lifting for the heavy and awkward loads, and manage the manual-handling and awkward-posture hazard with correct technique and the hierarchy of controls for hazardous manual tasks.
2. 2Engineering: manage the traffic and vehicle movement at the facility with traffic routes, speed management and separation of vehicles, customers and staff.
3. 3Administrative: manage the interaction with customers and members of the public, and maintain the facility and unit conditions against slips and trips.
4. 4Engineering: use the lifts, trolleys and equipment safely, and manage the roller doors and unit access.
5. 5Administrative: control hazardous or prohibited goods stored — prohibiting dangerous and prohibited goods in the storage terms and managing any identified — to prevent fire and exposure.
6. 6Engineering: manage working at height accessing high or stacked units with safe access and fall prevention.
7. 7Administrative: manage security and lone working with appropriate arrangements.
8. 8Administrative: all workers must hold the competencies and licences required for the work, including a High Risk Work Licence for forklift operation, a heavy vehicle driver licence for heavy vehicles, and any dangerous goods or other training required.
9. 9Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, traffic and plant movements, required PPE and emergency procedures, and record attendance in the consultation section.
10. 10Administrative: consult workers and any health and safety representatives on the work and its risks, record the consultation, and keep this document available at the workplace.
11. 11PPE: high-visibility clothing, eye protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, hearing protection where required, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
12. 12Administrative: review and update this SWMS whenever the work scope changes, after any incident or near miss, when a worker or health and safety representative raises a concern, when new hazards are identified, or at minimum every 12 months.

Applicable Codes of Practice

Worked example

Staff are engaged to operate a self-storage facility. The manual handling of goods is managed with mechanical aids — trolleys and lifting equipment — and correct technique. The traffic and vehicle movement at the facility are managed with traffic routes, speed management and separation of vehicles, customers and staff. The interaction with customers and members of the public is managed, and the facility and unit conditions maintained against slips and trips. The lifts, trolleys and equipment are used safely, and the roller doors and unit access managed. Hazardous or prohibited goods stored are controlled — dangerous and prohibited goods are prohibited in the storage terms and any identified managed — to prevent fire and exposure. Working at height accessing high or stacked units is managed with safe access and fall prevention. Security and lone working are managed with appropriate arrangements. The facility operations are carried out safely, and the records retained.

Related legislation

• Model Work Health and Safety Act — primary duty of care; the duty to consult workers; the reckless-conduct offence; and notifiable-incident provisions, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations — the plant, hazardous manual tasks, hazardous chemicals and High Risk Work Licence provisions, and the Section 291 high risk construction work and SWMS duties where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• The Heavy Vehicle National Law and the Chain of Responsibility, the National Transport Commission Load Restraint Guide 2018, and the Australian Dangerous Goods Code, apply to heavy vehicles and the transport of dangerous goods, alongside the model WHS framework, and are administered by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and the state and territory dangerous goods regulators.
• Forklift operation requires a High Risk Work Licence (LF or LO class) under each state and territory's licensing scheme, and heavy vehicle driving requires the appropriate heavy vehicle driver licence; dangerous goods drivers require dangerous goods licensing and training.
• Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the plant, manual handling, hazardous chemicals and high risk construction work provisions applying in place of the model instruments, alongside the Dangerous Goods Act 1985.

Frequently asked questions