Cleaner Richmond Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out how Cleaner Richmond manages health, safety, and welfare in all cleaning activities. Our aim is to prevent accidents, protect health, and provide safe working conditions for our staff, clients, visitors, and members of the public who may be affected by our work.

Policy Statement

Cleaner Richmond is committed to maintaining high standards of health and safety across all cleaning services. We will identify and control risks arising from our operations, provide clear procedures and training, and review our practices regularly so that health and safety performance continually improves.

Health and safety responsibilities apply at every level of the business. Management provides leadership, supervision, and resources. Employees are required to follow safe systems of work and to take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others.

Objectives

Our main health and safety objectives are to:

Reduce the risk of accidents, incidents, and work-related ill health arising from cleaning activities. Provide and maintain safe equipment, substances, and working methods. Ensure staff are competent and receive appropriate health and safety training. Keep workplaces, access routes, and work areas clean, tidy, and free from avoidable hazards. Encourage a positive safety culture where concerns can be raised and addressed quickly.

Responsibilities

Senior management is responsible for setting overall health and safety standards, approving procedures, and ensuring sufficient resources are available. Supervisors must implement this policy at each site, carrying out checks, monitoring performance, and reporting issues so that corrective action can be taken.

Employees must cooperate with all safety requirements, use cleaning products and equipment as trained, wear any required personal protective equipment, report hazards and unsafe conditions, and participate in training and instruction. Everyone has a duty not to misuse or interfere with anything provided in the interest of health and safety.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Before starting or significantly changing any cleaning contract, Cleaner Richmond will carry out a risk assessment. We identify significant hazards, evaluate who may be harmed and how, and decide on control measures. These assessments are reviewed periodically and whenever there is a change in work methods, equipment, or site layout.

Findings from risk assessments are used to develop safe systems of work. These include task-specific procedures such as safe use of ladders and access equipment, correct handling and dilution of cleaning agents, safe machine use, and secure storage of tools and substances. Staff are briefed on these procedures and are expected to follow them at all times.

Chemical Safety and COSHH

Cleaning products can present risks if not handled correctly. Only approved products supplied or authorised by Cleaner Richmond may be used on site. Safety data and product instructions are obtained from suppliers and used to guide safe handling and use. Products are clearly labelled and stored securely so that unauthorised persons, including children and vulnerable individuals, cannot access them.

Staff must use correct personal protective equipment when required, follow manufacturer guidance on dilution and contact times, avoid mixing chemicals, and clean up any spills safely and promptly. Empty containers and waste materials are disposed of responsibly in line with our procedures.

Manual Handling and Ergonomics

Many cleaning tasks involve lifting, carrying, or moving equipment and materials. Cleaner Richmond reduces manual handling risks by selecting lightweight and ergonomic equipment where reasonably practicable, planning tasks to minimise unnecessary lifting, and training staff in safe lifting techniques and the use of trolleys and other aids.

Employees must avoid twisting while lifting, overreaching, or attempting to move loads that are too heavy or awkward. Any pain, discomfort, or injury that may be related to manual handling must be reported without delay so that adjustments or medical advice can be arranged.

Slips, Trips, and Falls

Wet floors, trailing leads, and poor housekeeping are common causes of accidents in cleaning environments. To reduce these risks, warning signs are used whenever floors are wet or being cleaned, methods and timings are planned to reduce disruption and exposure to wet surfaces, and leads, tools, and equipment are kept as tidy as possible.

Staff are required to check walkways, stairs, and access routes, remove obstructions where safe to do so, and report damaged flooring, poor lighting, or other hazards. When working at height, only approved and checked access equipment may be used, and staff must follow training and instructions carefully.

Training, Information, and Supervision

Cleaner Richmond provides health and safety induction training to all new employees and site-specific training before work begins at any new location. Ongoing instruction covers topics such as safe use of cleaning equipment, chemical safety, personal protective equipment, manual handling, emergency procedures, and incident reporting.

Supervisors monitor working practices, correct unsafe behaviour, and provide additional guidance as required. Refresher training is arranged when procedures change or when monitoring indicates that additional support is needed.

Accidents, Incidents, and Near Misses

All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported to a supervisor as soon as possible. Cleaner Richmond maintains records of such events so that causes can be investigated and suitable preventative measures introduced. Workers must cooperate fully with investigations and provide accurate information.

Where required, incidents will be escalated in accordance with legal and contractual obligations. Lessons learned will be shared with staff and, where appropriate, integrated into training, risk assessments, and safe systems of work.

Consultation and Communication

Cleaner Richmond encourages open communication on health and safety matters. Employees are invited to raise any concerns or suggestions for improvement with their supervisor or management. We will consult with staff regarding significant changes to procedures or equipment that may affect their safety.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains suitable and effective. The review will consider changes in legislation, industry best practice, client requirements, and feedback from staff and incident investigations. Updated versions will be communicated to all relevant parties and implemented across our cleaning services.

By working together and following this policy, Cleaner Richmond aims to maintain safe, healthy workplaces and deliver cleaning services that protect people, property, and the environment.