Cleaner Bermondsey Health and Safety Policy

Cleaner Bermondsey is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, clients, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our cleaning activities. This policy outlines our approach to managing health and safety across all locations where we operate, including homes, offices, and commercial premises.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing sensible, proportionate control measures. We will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry guidance, and we will review this policy regularly to ensure it remains effective and appropriate for our cleaning services.

Management at Cleaner Bermondsey accepts overall responsibility for health and safety performance and is committed to continuous improvement through monitoring, consultation, and training.

Responsibilities for Health and Safety

Management is responsible for providing clear instructions, information, and supervision to ensure safe working practices. This includes ensuring that appropriate cleaning materials, equipment, and personal protective equipment are supplied and maintained in safe condition.

Supervisors, where appointed, are responsible for overseeing day-to-day health and safety arrangements, checking that procedures are followed and reporting any concerns or incidents to management so that corrective action can be taken.

All employees have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Staff must cooperate with Cleaner Bermondsey on all health and safety matters, follow training and instructions, correctly use equipment and protective gear, and report hazards, near misses and accidents without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Cleaner Bermondsey will identify and assess risks arising from our cleaning work, including those associated with chemicals, equipment, manual handling, slips and trips, lone working, and work in client premises. Risk assessments will be carried out by competent persons and reviewed periodically or after any significant change in working practices.

On the basis of these assessments, we will develop safe systems of work and method statements that outline how tasks should be completed safely. These procedures will be communicated to employees and, where appropriate, to clients so that everyone understands their role in maintaining a safe environment.

Chemical Safety and COSHH

The safe use, storage and disposal of cleaning chemicals is a key priority. Cleaner Bermondsey will use appropriate cleaning products and will obtain and keep safety information for all substances used in the course of our work. Where required, assessments will be carried out to control exposure to hazardous substances.

Employees will receive training on correct dilution, application and disposal methods, as well as the importance of never mixing incompatible products. All chemicals will be clearly labelled and stored securely when not in use. Personal protective equipment such as gloves, eye protection or masks will be provided where necessary and must be worn as instructed.

Equipment, Maintenance and Safe Use

Cleaning equipment, including vacuum cleaners, floor machines, ladders and other tools, will be selected for suitability and safety. All items will be regularly inspected, maintained and replaced when defective. Electrical equipment will be visually checked before use, and any item showing signs of damage will be taken out of service immediately.

Employees will be trained in the correct use of all equipment they are required to operate, and must follow manufacturer guidelines and company procedures. Equipment must only be used for its intended purpose and stored safely to avoid creating tripping or fire hazards.

Manual Handling and Ergonomics

Many cleaning tasks involve lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling. Cleaner Bermondsey will minimise manual handling risks by using trolleys, extendable tools, and lightweight equipment where practicable. Staff will be trained in safe lifting techniques, posture, and ways to reduce strain while performing repetitive tasks.

No employee should attempt to lift or move loads they consider too heavy or awkward. Any concerns about manual handling or physical discomfort must be reported so that adjustments can be made.

Slips, Trips, Falls and Site Safety

We recognise that wet floors, trailing leads and cluttered spaces can create slip and trip hazards. Our staff will use appropriate signage when floors are wet, maintain tidy work areas, and route cables safely. When working at height, such as on steps or small ladders, employees will use suitable equipment and follow specific guidance to prevent falls.

Particular care will be taken in shared corridors, entrances and stairwells to ensure that cleaning activities do not create unnecessary risks for building users.

Lone Working and Security

Cleaning services may be delivered outside normal working hours or by staff working alone. Cleaner Bermondsey will assess lone working risks and implement measures such as check-in procedures, agreed contact arrangements, and clear instructions on what to do in case of emergencies or concerns about personal safety.

Employees must follow security procedures on client premises, including locking doors where required and not permitting unauthorised persons to enter secure areas.

Training, Information and Supervision

All employees will receive appropriate health and safety induction when joining Cleaner Bermondsey, and further training relevant to their role, such as chemical handling, equipment use, manual handling and emergency procedures. Training will be refreshed periodically or when new risks, equipment or methods are introduced.

Written guidance and instructions will be made available, and supervisors or managers will provide ongoing support and supervision to check that safe methods of work are being followed.

Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported promptly so that they can be recorded, investigated and, where necessary, action taken to prevent recurrence. First aid arrangements will be agreed with clients where required, and employees will be informed of the procedures to follow in the event of injury, fire or other emergencies on each site.

Cleaner Bermondsey will cooperate with clients and relevant authorities when investigating incidents and will learn from these events to improve our health and safety performance.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

We will monitor compliance with this policy through regular supervision, inspections and feedback from staff and clients. Findings will be reviewed by management and used to update procedures, training and risk assessments as needed.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains aligned with current legislation, best practice in the cleaning sector and the evolving needs of our service areas. All staff are expected to familiarise themselves with its contents and to contribute to a culture of safety and responsibility in every location where Cleaner Bermondsey operates.