Chiswick Cleaners Health and Safety Policy
Chiswick Cleaners is committed to providing professional cleaning services while maintaining the highest standards of health, safety, and welfare for our employees, clients, visitors, and the wider public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to preventing accidents, injuries, and work-related ill health across all locations where we operate.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Our primary objectives are to prevent harm, promote safe working practices, and ensure full compliance with relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards. We aim to:
Identify and control risks associated with cleaning tasks and environments.
Provide and maintain safe systems of work, tools, and equipment.
Deliver appropriate training, information, and supervision for all staff.
Promote a culture of safety awareness and responsibility.
Review and improve our health and safety performance on a regular basis.
Management Responsibilities
The management team at Chiswick Cleaners holds overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this policy. Management will ensure that:
Risk assessments are carried out for all relevant tasks, sites, and equipment.
Safe working procedures are developed, communicated, and enforced.
Employees receive suitable training and instruction for the work they undertake.
Cleaning equipment, substances, and personal protective equipment are appropriate, safe, and properly maintained.
Accidents, incidents, and near-misses are recorded, investigated, and used to improve safety measures.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee 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 staff are required to:
Follow all safety instructions, training, and procedures provided by Chiswick Cleaners.
Use equipment, tools, and cleaning products only as directed and for their intended purpose.
Wear personal protective equipment as instructed and maintain it in good condition.
Report hazards, defects, accidents, incidents, and near-misses to their supervisor as soon as possible.
Refrain from any behaviour that could compromise safety, including horseplay or misuse of equipment.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Chiswick Cleaners conducts risk assessments for cleaning activities and environments to identify potential hazards and determine appropriate control measures. These assessments consider factors such as:
Slip, trip, and fall risks, particularly on wet or contaminated floors.
Manual handling of equipment, supplies, and waste.
Use, storage, and disposal of cleaning chemicals.
Working at height for tasks such as window or high-level surface cleaning.
Electrical safety when using powered cleaning equipment.
Risks associated with working alone or outside normal hours.
Based on these assessments, we implement safe systems of work and provide site-specific instructions where required.
Chemical Safety and COSHH
Cleaning chemicals are managed carefully to protect staff, clients, and the environment. We:
Use suitable products and follow manufacturer instructions at all times.
Maintain and comply with relevant safety data and control measures for substances hazardous to health.
Ensure chemicals are correctly labelled and stored safely when not in use.
Provide training on safe handling, dilution, application, and disposal of cleaning solutions.
Require the use of appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, or eye protection where necessary.
Personal Protective Equipment
Personal protective equipment is supplied based on risk assessments and the nature of the work. Depending on the task, this may include items such as gloves, aprons, masks, or eye protection. Employees must:
Wear the appropriate equipment as instructed.
Inspect protective equipment before use and report damage or defects immediately.
Use and store protective equipment correctly to ensure it remains effective.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
To reduce the risk of injury from manual handling, Chiswick Cleaners:
Provides training on safe lifting, carrying, and pushing techniques.
Encourages the use of trolleys, carts, and other aids to minimise strain.
Ensures equipment such as vacuum cleaners, floor machines, and other tools are maintained in safe working order.
Requires that any faulty equipment is taken out of use and reported without delay.
Working on Client Premises
Our teams work in a variety of settings, including domestic properties, offices, and commercial premises. When working on client sites, we will:
Respect and comply with local site rules and safety procedures.
Carry out visual checks for hazards on arrival and report any concerns to the client or site contact where appropriate.
Use signage, such as wet floor notices, where necessary to warn others about temporary hazards created by cleaning activities.
Take reasonable steps to protect client property and prevent damage or disruption.
Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, injuries, near-misses, and dangerous occurrences must be reported to management as soon as possible. Chiswick Cleaners will:
Record and investigate incidents to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.
Provide guidance to staff on responding to emergencies, including fire, spills, or sudden illness.
Cooperate with clients and relevant authorities in any investigations where required.
Training, Information, and Supervision
We recognise that effective training and supervision are vital to maintaining safe working practices. Chiswick Cleaners will:
Provide induction training for new employees, including health and safety expectations and procedures.
Deliver task-specific training for particular equipment, chemicals, or cleaning methods.
Offer ongoing refresher training where needed to maintain competence and awareness.
Ensure that less experienced staff receive suitable supervision until they are competent to work independently.
Health, Welfare, and Wellbeing
We are committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of our employees. Where possible, we will:
Encourage safe working patterns and responsible workloads.
Provide guidance on maintaining good hygiene and safe working habits.
Respond promptly to concerns about work-related stress, fatigue, or ill health.
Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement
Chiswick Cleaners regularly reviews this Health and Safety Policy to ensure it remains effective, up to date, and appropriate to our operations. We monitor performance through incident reports, staff feedback, and site observations, and we update procedures where necessary to reflect changes in legislation, industry best practice, or the nature of our services.
This Health and Safety Policy is communicated to all employees and is available to clients and other interested parties on request. Everyone engaged with Chiswick Cleaners is expected to support and uphold the principles set out in this policy.
