Health And Safety Policy

Health and Safety Policy for Cleaners in St. John's Wood

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and procedures that guide safe working practices for cleaners operating in St. John's Wood and nearby areas. The aim is to protect our staff, clients, visitors, contractors, and the general public from injury, ill health, or damage to property arising from our cleaning activities.

Policy Statement and Objectives

We are committed to providing a clean and healthy environment while maintaining the highest standards of safety. Our objectives are to prevent accidents and work-related ill health, identify and control risks associated with cleaning tasks, provide appropriate information, instruction, and training, ensure the safe use, handling, storage, and transport of work equipment and substances, and review our Health and Safety arrangements regularly to ensure continual improvement.

Roles and Responsibilities

Health and Safety is a shared responsibility throughout the company.

Management is responsible for providing and maintaining a safe system of work, ensuring risk assessments are completed and updated, supplying appropriate equipment and personal protective equipment, arranging training and supervision, and monitoring compliance with this policy, taking corrective action where necessary.

Supervisors are responsible for implementing safe working procedures on site, checking that equipment and products are used correctly, reporting and recording accidents, incidents, and near misses, and liaising with clients regarding any on-site hazards that could affect cleaning staff.

Cleaning staff are responsible for taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions, following the training and instructions provided, using personal protective equipment correctly, reporting hazards, defects, or unsafe practices immediately, and cooperating with any investigation into accidents or incidents.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Before cleaning work begins at any property, relevant risks are assessed, including slips, trips and falls, manual handling, working at height on steps, exposure to cleaning chemicals, electrical hazards from equipment, and security and access issues at client premises.

Based on these assessments, safe systems of work are developed and communicated to staff. These may include designated walkways and clear storage areas, safe lifting and carrying techniques, guidelines for the use of step ladders or small access equipment, procedures for working alone or out of hours, and emergency and evacuation arrangements.

Use of Cleaning Chemicals and Substances

Cleaning products and substances are selected with regard to safety and effectiveness. All products are handled and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and relevant safety data. Each product is assessed to understand potential hazards and necessary control measures.

Control measures include ensuring cleaning chemicals remain in their original, clearly labelled containers, providing adequate ventilation when using products that may produce fumes, avoiding mixing chemicals under all circumstances, and using appropriate gloves and other protective equipment as required.

Staff receive training on safe handling, correct dilution rates, safe storage away from children, pets, and food, and the action to take in the event of spills, splashes to the eyes or skin, or inhalation of fumes.

Equipment Safety

All cleaning equipment, including vacuum cleaners, floor machines, tools, and electrical leads, is selected, maintained, and used with safety as a priority. Equipment is inspected regularly for signs of damage or defects, and any item that appears unsafe is removed from service immediately.

Safe practices include using only equipment suitable for the task, ensuring electrical cables are kept clear of walkways wherever possible, unplugging equipment safely and not pulling by the cable, never using damaged plugs, sockets, or cables, and keeping tools and equipment stored securely when not in use.

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment is provided when risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means. This may include gloves suitable for chemical use or general cleaning, eye protection where splashes are possible, masks or respirators for particular tasks if required by risk assessment, and non-slip, closed footwear to reduce the risk of slips and foot injuries.

Staff must use the equipment as instructed, report any defects, and store it appropriately after use.

Manual Handling and Work at Height

Many cleaning tasks involve manual handling. Staff are trained to evaluate the load, plan the lift or move, use correct posture and techniques, and use handling aids where available. Heavy or awkward items should not be moved alone and must be reported for further guidance.

Work at height is limited to low-level tasks such as reaching high shelves, ledges, or fittings using appropriate step ladders or platforms. Improvised access, such as standing on chairs, boxes, or unstable surfaces, is strictly forbidden. Step ladders must be checked, placed on firm, level ground, and used in accordance with training.

Slips, Trips, and Housekeeping

Clean, orderly work areas reduce the risk of slips and trips. Staff must keep walkways clear of equipment, bags, and trailing leads, use wet floor signs where floors are damp or freshly cleaned, promptly clear up spills and splashes, and store materials safely and neatly at the end of each task.

Health, Welfare, and Lone Working

The health and welfare of cleaners is taken seriously. Work schedules and cleaning tasks are planned to avoid excessive physical strain. Staff are encouraged to report any health issues that may affect their work, especially conditions that could be aggravated by manual handling, repetitive movements, or exposure to cleaning products.

Where cleaners are working alone or outside normal hours, additional controls may be implemented, such as agreed check-in arrangements, secure access procedures, and clear instructions on what to do in an emergency.

Training, Communication, and Monitoring

All staff receive initial Health and Safety training relevant to their role, as well as ongoing refresher training. Training covers hazard awareness, correct use of equipment and chemicals, emergency procedures, and client-specific site rules where applicable.

Health and Safety performance is monitored through site visits, incident reporting, and discussion with staff. Lessons learned from accidents, near misses, or feedback are used to improve our procedures and reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Accidents, Incidents, and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, and near misses must be reported to a supervisor as soon as possible and recorded. Appropriate first aid should be sought without delay. Serious incidents will be investigated to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.

Staff are instructed to familiarise themselves with the emergency arrangements at each property, including escape routes and assembly points, location of first aid supplies, and procedures for summoning emergency services. In any emergency, staff must prioritise personal safety and the safety of others over property or equipment.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, legislation, or identified risks. Updated versions are communicated to all staff, and compliance with the policy is a condition of working with the company.