Health And Safety Policy

Wandsworth Cleaner Health And Safety Policy

This Health and Safety policy sets out how Wandsworth Cleaner manages the wellbeing of employees, contractors, clients, and members of the public while providing professional cleaning services. Our aim is to prevent accidents, work-related illness, and unsafe practices across all locations where we operate.

We are committed to complying with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards. This policy applies to all cleaning activities, whether carried out on client premises, in shared buildings, or within any property where our teams are assigned to work.

Health And Safety Objectives

Wandsworth Cleaner will actively promote a safe and healthy working environment by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing appropriate control measures. Our core objectives are to:

Prevent injury and ill health associated with cleaning activities.

Provide and maintain safe equipment, substances, and systems of work.

Ensure that all staff receive adequate information, instruction, training, and supervision.

Continuously improve our health and safety performance through monitoring and review.

Encourage a positive safety culture where everyone takes responsibility for safe working practices.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management has overall responsibility for implementing this policy and ensuring that health and safety considerations are integrated into business planning and operational decisions. Management will:

Allocate appropriate resources to support safe working practices.

Ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for all cleaning tasks and locations.

Provide safe equipment, including cleaning machinery, tools, and personal protective equipment.

Establish procedures for reporting, investigating, and responding to incidents, near misses, and hazards.

Review this policy regularly and update it when significant changes occur in operations or legislation.

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 work. All staff must:

Follow the training, instructions, and safe systems of work provided.

Use cleaning products, machinery, and equipment only as directed and for their intended purpose.

Wear and properly maintain any personal protective equipment issued, such as gloves, masks, or safety footwear.

Keep work areas tidy, manage trailing cables, and display warning signs, such as wet floor signage, where needed.

Report any accident, injury, near miss, defective equipment, or hazardous condition to management without delay.

Risk Assessment And Safe Systems Of Work

Wandsworth Cleaner carries out risk assessments for typical cleaning tasks and for site specific conditions at client premises. These assessments identify significant hazards, such as slips and trips, manual handling, use of chemicals, electrical equipment, working at height on step stools or small ladders, and security risks when working in occupied or shared buildings.

Based on these assessments, we implement safe systems of work that may include task checklists, method statements, use of appropriate signage, and restrictions on certain activities unless specific training and equipment are provided. Staff are required to follow these procedures at all times and to participate in periodic reviews when work practices or premises change.

Chemical Safety And COSHH

Cleaning activities may involve the use of substances that could be hazardous if not handled correctly. Wandsworth Cleaner will:

Use cleaning products that are suitable for professional use and, where possible, lower risk formulations.

Maintain information on the safe use, storage, and disposal of cleaning substances.

Provide clear instructions so that staff understand proper dilution, application, ventilation, and emergency procedures.

Ensure chemicals are stored securely when not in use and never left unattended in public or vulnerable areas.

Prohibit the mixing of cleaning chemicals unless explicitly stated as safe by the manufacturer.

Equipment, Plant, And Personal Protective Equipment

All equipment used by Wandsworth Cleaner, including vacuum cleaners, floor machines, steam cleaners, and other tools, must be kept in safe working order. We will:

Inspect and maintain equipment at regular intervals.

Remove from service any defective or damaged items until they are repaired or replaced.

Ensure that electrical equipment is suitable for the task and used in accordance with manufacturer instructions.

Provide personal protective equipment where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means, and ensure that staff are trained in its correct use and limitations.

Training, Supervision, And Competence

Wandsworth Cleaner recognises that competent staff are essential to maintaining high safety standards. We provide induction and ongoing training on topics such as safe cleaning techniques, manual handling, chemical safety, equipment use, hazard awareness, and emergency procedures.

Supervisors monitor working practices, provide guidance, and address unsafe behaviour or conditions. Employees are encouraged to raise concerns and suggestions about safety improvements at any time.

Accidents, First Aid, And Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, and near misses that occur during our cleaning activities must be reported as soon as possible. We keep appropriate records and investigate incidents to understand root causes and prevent recurrence.

Where required, suitable first aid arrangements are identified for the premises in which we work, in coordination with the client or building management. Staff are briefed on emergency procedures, including fire evacuation routes, assembly points, and any site specific requirements communicated by the client.

Working At Client Premises

When working at client locations, Wandsworth Cleaner staff will cooperate with the health and safety arrangements in place at those premises. This includes following site rules, observing access controls, respecting restricted areas, and taking additional precautions in shared or high traffic environments.

Before commencing services at a new site, relevant information on site specific hazards, emergency procedures, and building security will be obtained and communicated to the cleaning team.

Monitoring, Review, And Continuous Improvement

Compliance with this Health and Safety policy is monitored through supervision, inspections, and review of incident reports and feedback. Where shortcomings are identified, corrective actions will be implemented and communicated to staff.

This policy will be reviewed at regular intervals and whenever significant changes occur in the nature of our work, our service area, or applicable legislation. Updated versions will be communicated to employees and made available to clients on request.

By following this Health and Safety policy, Wandsworth Cleaner seeks to deliver reliable cleaning services while safeguarding the wellbeing of everyone affected by our work.