Twickenham Cleaners Health and Safety Policy

Twickenham Cleaners is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, clients, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our cleaning activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks, preventing accidents and maintaining high standards of safety across all domestic and commercial cleaning operations.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to conduct all cleaning work in a manner that minimises risk to people, property and the environment. We will manage health and safety as an integral part of our business and continuously seek to improve our performance.

To achieve this, Twickenham Cleaners will identify and assess risks arising from cleaning tasks, implement effective control measures, comply with applicable health and safety legislation and industry guidance, provide employees with appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision, and consult with staff on matters affecting their health, safety and welfare.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Twickenham Cleaners has overall responsibility for ensuring this policy is implemented and reviewed regularly. Management duties include planning safe systems of work for all contracted cleaning services, ensuring risk assessments and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health assessments are carried out, providing suitable equipment, materials and personal protective equipment, monitoring compliance with procedures and taking corrective action where necessary, and reviewing the policy and related procedures at regular intervals or after significant changes.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees, contractors and temporary workers have 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. They must follow company procedures and safe working methods, use equipment, chemicals and personal protective equipment as instructed, report accidents, incidents, near misses or hazards promptly to a supervisor, and participate in training and cooperate with any health and safety initiatives.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Twickenham Cleaners will identify hazards associated with cleaning activities, including manual handling, slips, trips and falls, use of cleaning chemicals, working at height such as using step ladders, and use of electrical equipment. Suitable and sufficient risk assessments will be completed before work commences at new or significantly changed sites.

On the basis of these assessments, safe systems of work will be developed and communicated to all relevant staff. These procedures will be designed to protect employees, clients and others who may come into contact with our cleaning operations.

COSHH and Use of Cleaning Chemicals

We recognise our responsibilities under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations. Twickenham Cleaners will ensure that all cleaning chemicals and substances are assessed for risk before use, stored securely and in original labelled containers, used strictly in accordance with manufacturer instructions, and handled only by trained and authorised personnel.

Where possible, we will select low hazard products and environmentally considerate solutions that are appropriate for the surfaces and premises being cleaned. Safety Data Sheets will be available to employees, and clear guidance will be provided for safe dilution, application and disposal.

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal Protective Equipment will be provided where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means. This may include protective gloves, eye protection, safety footwear, high-visibility garments and respiratory protection where required.

Employees must use the PPE provided, keep it in good condition, report any defects and store it in accordance with guidance. Management will ensure suitable PPE is available, correctly fitted and replaced when worn or damaged.

Training, Information and Supervision

Twickenham Cleaners will ensure all staff receive appropriate induction and job-specific health and safety training before carrying out cleaning tasks alone. Training may cover safe handling of chemicals and COSHH, manual handling techniques for moving equipment and waste, safe use of electrical cleaning machinery, personal hygiene and infection control, and procedures for working on client premises, including site-specific rules.

Supervisors will monitor working practices, provide guidance on safe behaviour and address any unsafe acts or conditions without delay. Refresher training will be provided where required, and training records will be maintained.

Equipment Safety and Maintenance

All cleaning equipment, including vacuum cleaners, floor machines, steam cleaners and other powered devices, will be selected with safety in mind and maintained in a safe condition. Portable electrical equipment will be visually checked by staff before use and removed from service if damaged or defective.

Management will ensure appropriate maintenance arrangements are in place, that defective equipment is promptly repaired or replaced, and that only trained personnel use specialist machinery.

Housekeeping, Access and Site Safety

Good housekeeping is essential to safe cleaning operations. Work areas will be kept as clear as reasonably practicable, with waste removed promptly and equipment stored safely when not in use. Warning signs and barriers will be used where necessary, especially during floor cleaning, to reduce slip risks for clients, employees and visitors.

Staff will familiarise themselves with site-specific emergency procedures, including fire exits and assembly points, and follow any reasonable safety rules set by clients while working on their premises.

Accidents, Incidents and Near Misses

All accidents, incidents and near misses involving Twickenham Cleaners personnel or arising from our work must be reported as soon as possible to a supervisor or manager. Details will be recorded, investigated and used to identify underlying causes and implement improvements.

Where required by law, incidents will be reported to the appropriate authorities. We will cooperate fully with clients and regulators during any investigation.

Health, Welfare and Wellbeing

We will consider the health and welfare of our staff in the way work is organised, including managing workload, minimising lone working where reasonably practicable and providing appropriate rest breaks. Reasonable adjustments will be considered for employees with health conditions or disabilities, subject to the requirements of the role.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Twickenham Cleaners is committed to continual improvement in health and safety performance. We will monitor compliance with this policy through supervision, inspections and incident data, review the policy and associated procedures regularly or following significant changes, and update our arrangements to reflect new legislation, guidance and best practice.

This Health and Safety policy applies to all cleaning services delivered under the Twickenham Cleaners name and forms part of our wider commitment to professional, reliable and safe cleaning for every client.