Health and Safety Policy for Cleaners Stockwell

Cleaners Stockwell is committed to providing professional cleaning services in a safe, responsible and compliant manner. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to protecting the wellbeing of our employees, contractors, clients and members of the public who may be affected by our activities across our service area.

Our objective is to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, managing risks and promoting a strong safety culture in all cleaning operations.

Management Responsibilities and Commitment

Senior management at Cleaners Stockwell accepts overall responsibility for health and safety within the company. We ensure that health and safety considerations are integrated into our planning, decision-making and daily operations.

Management will provide, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe systems of work, adequate information, instruction, supervision and training, and will allocate appropriate resources to maintain and improve health and safety standards. We are committed to continual improvement and to reviewing this policy regularly.

Employee Responsibilities

Every cleaner and member of staff has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. All employees are required to:

Follow company procedures, safe working practices and instructions provided during training. Use personal protective equipment correctly and look after any equipment issued. Report accidents, incidents, near misses, hazards and unsafe conditions promptly. Cooperate with management on all matters relating to health and safety and attend scheduled training sessions. Refrain from misusing or interfering with anything provided for health, safety or welfare.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Cleaners Stockwell assesses the risks associated with our cleaning tasks and the environments in which we operate. Risk assessments are carried out for routine and non-routine cleaning activities, including commercial and domestic work.

From these assessments, we develop safe systems of work, including specific procedures for handling cleaning chemicals, using equipment, working at height, and operating in occupied premises. These procedures are communicated to all relevant staff, and compliance is monitored and reviewed.

Use of Cleaning Chemicals

The safe use, storage and disposal of cleaning agents is essential in preventing harm to cleaners, clients and the environment. We ensure that:

Only approved cleaning products are used by our staff. Safety information and instructions provided by manufacturers are followed. Chemicals are correctly labelled and stored securely when not in use. Appropriate personal protective equipment, such as gloves and eye protection, is provided and worn where required. Staff are trained to avoid mixing incompatible substances and to deal with spills safely.

Equipment Safety and Maintenance

We provide suitable equipment for cleaning tasks, including vacuums, mops, cloths, machines and any specialised tools required for specific services. All equipment is maintained in good working order and inspected regularly.

Employees are instructed in the correct use of equipment to prevent injuries such as strains, cuts, trips or electric shock. Any defects or faults must be reported immediately and faulty equipment must not be used until it has been repaired or replaced.

Manual Handling and Ergonomics

Cleaning work can involve repetitive movements, lifting and carrying equipment or materials. To reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries, Cleaners Stockwell provides training in safe manual handling techniques and encourages the use of mechanical aids where possible.

Staff are advised on correct posture, how to avoid over-reaching, and the importance of taking reasonable breaks during prolonged tasks. Where practical, work is organised to minimise the need for heavy lifting and awkward movements.

Slips, Trips and Falls

Slips and trips are common hazards in cleaning activities. We take reasonable steps to minimise these risks by:

Using appropriate signage to highlight wet floors. Planning work to keep walkways clear of obstacles, cables and equipment. Using suitable cleaning methods and products that reduce residue and drying time. Encouraging staff to wear appropriate, slip-resistant footwear.

Working in Client Premises

Many of our services are delivered in homes, offices and other client sites. Our cleaners are required to respect client property and follow any site-specific rules that support health and safety.

Before commencing work, staff must familiarise themselves with access routes, emergency exits and any known hazards. We aim to cause minimal disruption and to ensure the safety and privacy of clients and occupants during cleaning activities.

Incident Reporting and Investigation

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported as soon as possible to a supervisor or manager. Cleaners Stockwell records and investigates incidents to identify causes and implement corrective actions.

Learning from incidents is central to our approach. We use this information to update risk assessments, refine safe working practices and improve training.

Training, Information and Supervision

Health and safety training is provided to all new starters as part of their induction and refreshed as necessary. Training covers topics such as general safety awareness, safe use of chemicals, equipment handling, manual handling and emergency procedures.

Supervisors are responsible for monitoring working practices, offering guidance and ensuring that staff understand and follow the company’s safety requirements. Additional task-specific training is provided when new methods, equipment or products are introduced.

Emergency Preparedness

Cleaners Stockwell ensures that staff know how to respond in the event of an emergency such as fire, serious injury, chemical spill or sudden illness. Employees are instructed to follow site-specific emergency procedures, raise the alarm and contact the appropriate emergency services when needed.

First aid arrangements are reviewed to ensure that assistance is available where reasonably practicable and that employees know how to obtain help quickly.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly and updated when there are significant changes in legislation, industry best practice, our services or the nature of risks encountered in our work. We welcome feedback from employees and clients as part of our commitment to continuous improvement.

By working together and following this policy, Cleaners Stockwell aims to deliver reliable, high-quality cleaning services while maintaining a safe and healthy environment for everyone involved.