Health and Safety Policy for Cleaners Lambeth

Cleaners Lambeth is committed to providing professional cleaning services in a manner that protects the health, safety, and welfare of our employees, clients, contractors, visitors, and members of the public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our objectives, responsibilities, and procedures for maintaining a safe working environment across all locations in which we provide cleaning services.

Policy Statement and Objectives

The management of Cleaners Lambeth recognises its duty of care under relevant health and safety legislation and industry standards. Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and property damage arising from our activities. We aim to achieve continual improvement in our health and safety performance and to integrate safety considerations into all planning and decision-making relating to our cleaning operations.

To meet these objectives, we will identify hazards, assess risks, implement appropriate controls, provide suitable training, and review this policy regularly to ensure its ongoing effectiveness and relevance to our cleaning services.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management is responsible for establishing and maintaining safe systems of work for all cleaning tasks carried out by Cleaners Lambeth. This includes ensuring that risk assessments are completed and reviewed, safe methods of work are documented and communicated, and appropriate resources are provided to implement this policy.

Management will monitor compliance with health and safety procedures, investigate accidents and near misses, and act promptly to correct any unsafe conditions or practices. Supervisors are responsible for day-to-day implementation of the policy, including overseeing staff, checking that equipment and cleaning products are used safely, and ensuring that any concerns are reported and addressed.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees of Cleaners Lambeth have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Employees must cooperate with all health and safety instructions, training, and procedures, and must not misuse or interfere with anything provided for their protection.

Staff are required to use personal protective equipment as instructed, follow safe work practices, report hazards, accidents, and near misses immediately, and notify management of any health condition that may affect their ability to work safely. Employees must also ensure that cleaning activities are conducted in a considerate way that minimises risk to clients, their staff, and visitors.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Cleaners Lambeth will carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments for all significant hazards associated with our cleaning services. These assessments will consider factors such as slips and trips, manual handling, exposure to chemicals, use of electrical equipment, lone working, and work in client premises.

Based on the findings of these assessments, we will implement control measures and safe working procedures, such as clear walkways, proper cable management, correct lifting techniques, safe storage of materials, and established emergency procedures. Risk assessments will be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to tasks, equipment, or work locations.

Chemical Safety and COSHH

Where cleaning involves the use of chemical products, Cleaners Lambeth will assess and control the risks associated with exposure to these substances. Only approved cleaning products will be used, and they will be stored, handled, and disposed of in accordance with manufacturer instructions and legal requirements.

Safety data information will be made available to all relevant staff, and training will be provided in the correct dilution, application, and use of personal protective equipment. Staff are required to avoid mixing chemicals, ensure adequate ventilation where necessary, and report any spills or adverse reactions without delay.

Equipment, PPE and Maintenance

Cleaners Lambeth will provide appropriate equipment and personal protective equipment to enable work to be carried out safely and efficiently. This includes vacuum cleaners, floor machines, mops, buckets, signage, gloves, eye protection, and other items as required for specific tasks.

All equipment will be maintained in a safe condition, inspected regularly, and removed from service if found to be defective. Electrical equipment will be checked at suitable intervals to ensure it remains in a safe working order. Employees must use equipment only for its intended purpose, follow training and instructions, and report any faults immediately.

Training, Information and Supervision

Cleaners Lambeth will ensure that all employees receive adequate health and safety induction and task-specific training before carrying out cleaning duties. This training will cover safe use of equipment, chemical safety, manual handling, emergency procedures, and site-specific rules relevant to the areas in which we operate.

Ongoing training and refresher sessions will be provided as needed, and supervisors will monitor staff performance to confirm that safe procedures are being followed. Clear information on hazards and precautions will be communicated in a way that is understandable to all employees.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, and near misses that occur during the provision of cleaning services must be reported promptly to management. Cleaners Lambeth will investigate these events to identify root causes and implement corrective and preventive actions to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Employees will be made aware of site emergency procedures, including fire evacuation routes, assembly points, and arrangements for first aid. Where we work on client premises, our staff will cooperate with the client’s emergency arrangements and follow instructions from authorised persons in the event of an incident.

Lone Working and Security

Where cleaning activities are undertaken outside normal working hours or in isolated areas, Cleaners Lambeth will assess the risks related to lone working and implement appropriate controls. This may include check-in procedures, communication arrangements, and restricted tasks for lone workers.

Employees must follow security procedures for accessing and leaving client premises, ensure doors and windows are secured as required, and protect client property from damage or loss while carrying out cleaning tasks.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

Cleaners Lambeth encourages active participation from employees and clients in identifying opportunities to improve health and safety. Staff are invited to raise any concerns or suggestions about working conditions, equipment, or procedures so that these can be reviewed and addressed.

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, industry best practice, or our cleaning operations across the areas we serve. The policy is communicated to all employees and is available to clients and other interested parties upon request.

Policy Review and Approval

The management of Cleaners Lambeth is responsible for ensuring that this Health and Safety Policy is implemented and maintained. The policy will be formally reviewed at regular intervals, and whenever significant changes occur in our business activities, to confirm it remains suitable, sufficient, and effective in supporting safe and reliable cleaning services.