Health and Safety Policy for Hammersmith Cleaners

Hammersmith Cleaners is committed to providing professional cleaning services while protecting the health, safety and welfare of our employees, clients, contractors and members of the public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risk, preventing accidents and promoting a positive safety culture across all cleaning activities carried out on client premises.

Policy Statement

The management of Hammersmith Cleaners recognises its duty to comply with relevant health and safety legislation and to take all reasonably practicable steps to:

Identify and control hazards associated with cleaning tasks and equipment.

Prevent injury, ill health and damage to property or the environment.

Provide safe systems of work, clear instructions and appropriate supervision.

Ensure employees are competent, informed and trained for their roles.

Consult with employees on health and safety matters and encourage active participation.

Continually review and improve our health and safety performance.

Responsibilities

Health and safety is a shared responsibility. The company, its managers, supervisors, cleaners and clients all play a part in maintaining safe working conditions.

Senior management is responsible for establishing and reviewing this policy, providing suitable resources, setting objectives and leading by example in all health and safety matters.

Managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing the policy on a day-to-day basis. This includes planning work safely, carrying out and updating risk assessments, providing training, monitoring working practices and ensuring that staff use equipment, materials and personal protective equipment correctly.

Employees are responsible for taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work. They must follow safety procedures, use protective equipment as instructed, report hazards, near-misses, accidents and any concerns to their supervisor without delay, and refrain from interfering with or misusing anything provided for health, safety or welfare.

Clients have a responsibility to provide accurate information about their premises, notify us of any known hazards, maintain safe access and egress and cooperate with our staff in implementing safe working practices.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Hammersmith Cleaners will assess the risks associated with cleaning tasks carried out in offices, homes, communal areas and other premises. Risk assessments will identify hazards such as slips and trips, manual handling, use of chemicals, work at height, electrical equipment and lone working.

On the basis of these assessments, we will implement safe systems of work, including safe use and storage of cleaning products, procedures for handling waste, arrangements for working in occupied premises and restrictions on high-risk activities. Staff will be briefed on site-specific risks and control measures before work begins, and procedures will be updated if the nature of the work or workplace conditions change.

Chemicals and Cleaning Products

Chemicals and cleaning agents will be selected and used so as to minimise risk to health and the environment. We will ensure that safety data sheets are available for all substances used, that staff are trained in safe handling, dilution, application and disposal and that suitable personal protective equipment is provided where required.

Chemicals will be clearly labelled and stored securely, away from children, vulnerable persons and sources of heat. Staff will never mix products unless specifically instructed by the manufacturer and will ventilate areas adequately when using substances that can produce vapours or strong odours.

Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

All cleaning equipment, including vacuum cleaners, floor machines, carpet cleaners and other tools, will be purchased, maintained and used in accordance with manufacturers' instructions. Equipment will be inspected regularly for damage or faults and taken out of service immediately if unsafe.

Hammersmith Cleaners will provide appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, eye protection and footwear where required by risk assessment. Employees must use this equipment correctly, look after it with reasonable care and report any defects or loss at once.

Manual Handling and Work at Height

Many cleaning tasks involve lifting, carrying and moving equipment or materials. We will minimise manual handling by using trolleys, extendable tools and other mechanical aids where possible, and we will train staff in safe lifting techniques and good posture.

Work at height, such as using steps or small ladders for dusting or window cleaning, will be kept to the minimum necessary and carried out only with suitable equipment on stable, even surfaces. Improvised platforms, standing on furniture or unsafe access methods are strictly prohibited.

Lone Working and Security

Certain cleaning duties may be carried out by staff working alone or outside normal office hours. In such cases, we will implement appropriate procedures, which may include check-in arrangements, clear instructions on site security, restricted access areas and emergency contact guidance.

Employees must follow client security procedures, ensure doors and windows are left secure as instructed and never allow unauthorised persons access to client premises.

Training, Information and Supervision

Hammersmith Cleaners will provide induction training for all new employees, covering general health and safety, emergency procedures, safe use of equipment and handling of cleaning chemicals. Ongoing training will be provided when new products, equipment or methods are introduced, or when risk assessments identify specific training needs.

Supervisors will monitor working practices, provide guidance and correct unsafe behaviour. We encourage staff to raise questions and suggestions about safety so that knowledge can be shared and improvements made.

Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, near-misses and cases of work-related ill health must be reported promptly to a supervisor or manager. Records will be kept and reviewed to identify patterns and opportunities for prevention. Where required, incidents will be reported to the relevant authorities in accordance with legal obligations.

Staff will be informed of emergency arrangements on each site, including fire exits, assembly points and procedures for dealing with spills, breakages and other unexpected events. Where first aid is available on a client site, employees will be told how to access it.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes in our operations, legislation or best practice. We will monitor performance through inspections, audits, incident analysis and feedback from employees and clients. Findings from these activities will be used to update procedures, improve training and enhance the overall safety of our cleaning services.

By working together and following this policy, Hammersmith Cleaners aims to deliver high-quality cleaning while maintaining a safe and healthy environment for everyone affected by our work.