Health And Safety Policy

Cleaner Tooting Health and Safety Policy

Cleaner Tooting is committed to providing cleaning services in a way that protects the health, safety and welfare of our staff, clients, visitors and the wider public. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks in all domestic and commercial cleaning environments where we operate within our service area.

We aim to prevent accidents, work-related ill health and unsafe conditions by maintaining high standards of cleanliness, careful planning of our work and consistent staff training. Health and safety is an integral part of the way we deliver all cleaning services.

Policy Aims and Objectives

The main aims of this Health and Safety Policy are to:

Identify and control hazards associated with cleaning activities in homes, offices and other premises within our operating area.

Provide safe systems of work, suitable equipment and appropriate protective clothing for cleaning tasks.

Ensure our staff receive suitable training, supervision and information to work safely and confidently.

Promote a culture where health, safety and welfare are actively supported and continuously improved.

Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice as it relates to cleaning services.

Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety within Cleaner Tooting rests with the company management. Management will ensure that this policy is implemented, communicated, monitored and reviewed on a regular basis.

Management responsibilities include:

Providing adequate resources to implement this policy, including training, equipment and supervision.

Ensuring risk assessments are carried out, documented and reviewed for all key cleaning activities.

Maintaining suitable insurance cover relevant to our operations and staff.

Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses to identify underlying causes and introduce improvements.

Individual cleaners and supervisors are responsible for:

Taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work.

Following company procedures, instructions and training at all times.

Using cleaning products and equipment correctly and safely.

Reporting hazards, defects, accidents, incidents and near misses to management without delay.

Co-operating with management to enable all legal duties and company standards to be met.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Cleaner Tooting conducts risk assessments for typical cleaning activities undertaken in properties across our service area. These risk assessments identify potential hazards, evaluate the level of risk and determine suitable control measures.

Safe systems of work are put in place for tasks such as floor cleaning, bathroom and kitchen sanitising, window cleaning, high and low level dusting and waste handling. Staff are trained in these procedures to ensure they understand how to perform tasks safely and consistently.

Risk assessments are reviewed periodically and whenever circumstances change, such as new equipment, products or methods being introduced, or when working in unfamiliar or higher risk environments.

Use of Cleaning Chemicals

Cleaning agents and disinfectants are selected carefully to balance cleaning effectiveness with safety. Safety data information is obtained and kept for all products used. Before use, hazards such as skin irritation, respiratory effects or risks from mixing chemicals are assessed.

Control measures for safe use of chemicals include:

Using the correct dilution ratios as instructed by the manufacturer.

Decanting chemicals safely and never mixing incompatible products.

Ensuring good ventilation where spray or strong products are used.

Wearing appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks or eye protection when required.

Storing chemicals securely, upright and clearly labelled, away from children, pets and food preparation areas at client premises wherever practical.

Equipment Safety

Cleaner Tooting ensures that vacuum cleaners, mops, buckets, steam cleaners and any powered equipment are maintained in a safe and serviceable condition. Damaged or defective equipment is taken out of use immediately and either repaired by a competent person or replaced.

Where equipment such as step stools or small ladders is used for higher level cleaning, staff are trained in correct positioning and use. Staff are instructed never to overstretch or use unsafe surfaces to gain height.

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment is provided where risks cannot be eliminated by other means. This may include protective gloves, masks, aprons or eye protection, depending on the task and products used.

Staff are required to use the personal protective equipment provided, to look after it properly and report any loss or damage. Cleaner Tooting will replace worn or damaged equipment promptly to ensure protection is maintained.

Safe Working Practices at Client Premises

When working at client properties, our cleaners will respect the premises and take care to protect the safety of occupants, including children, older persons and pets.

Safe working practices at client premises include:

Placing warning signs or informing occupants where floors are wet or surfaces may be slippery.

Managing trailing leads and cleaning tools to minimise trip hazards.

Keeping chemicals and sharp tools out of reach of children and pets at all times.

Checking access routes, stairs and workspaces before starting work and highlighting any hazards to the client where appropriate.

Training and Competence

All staff receive induction training that covers company health and safety procedures, safe use of equipment, handling of chemicals and emergency arrangements. Additional task-specific training is provided where needed, such as for deep cleaning, end of tenancy work or commercial premises.

Training is refreshed periodically and whenever new products, equipment or working methods are introduced. Cleaner Tooting keeps records of training provided and expects all staff to apply what they have learned at all times.

Accidents, Incidents and First Aid

All accidents, incidents and near misses occurring during cleaning work must be reported to management as soon as possible. This includes incidents at client premises or while travelling between jobs.

Details are recorded and investigated so that root causes are identified and any necessary corrective actions can be implemented. Lessons learned are shared with staff where relevant to prevent recurrence.

Cleaner Tooting ensures that appropriate first aid provisions are available and that staff know how to access assistance in an emergency.

Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures

Where our work involves regular attendance at specific premises, we familiarise ourselves with the fire and emergency procedures in place at those locations. Staff are instructed to follow house or building procedures at all times, including evacuation routes and assembly points.

Cleaners are trained to keep exits and routes clear of cleaning equipment and to avoid creating fire risks, for example by leaving cloths on hot surfaces or blocking ventilation.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Cleaner Tooting monitors the effectiveness of this Health and Safety Policy through regular review of risk assessments, incident reports, staff feedback and client comments. Where improvements are identified, procedures, training or equipment are updated accordingly.

This policy is reviewed periodically to ensure it remains relevant to our cleaning services and the environments in which we operate. Updated versions are communicated to all staff so that health and safety standards are maintained and improved over time.

By implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy, Cleaner Tooting aims to provide a consistently safe, reliable and responsible cleaning service across our service area.