Health And Safety Policy

Hackney Cleaner Health and Safety Policy

Hackney Cleaner is committed to maintaining the highest standards of health, safety and welfare for our employees, clients, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our cleaning activities. This policy sets out our overall principles and approach to managing health and safety across all services and premises where we operate.

Policy Aims and Objectives

The aim of this policy is to prevent accidents, injuries, ill health and damage to property arising from our cleaning work. Our objectives are to:

Identify, assess and control risks associated with cleaning tasks and environments.

Provide safe systems of work, suitable equipment and appropriate personal protective equipment.

Ensure all staff receive adequate health and safety training, instruction and supervision.

Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards.

Promote a positive safety culture where everyone shares responsibility for safe working.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management has overall responsibility for ensuring that effective arrangements are in place to manage health and safety. This includes:

Setting clear health and safety standards and communicating them to staff.

Providing resources for training, supervision, equipment and maintenance.

Ensuring suitable and sufficient risk assessments are completed and regularly reviewed.

Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses and implementing corrective actions.

Reviewing the effectiveness of this policy and updating it as necessary.

Employee Responsibilities

All Hackney Cleaner employees have a legal and moral duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions at work. Employees must:

Follow all safety instructions, procedures and training provided.

Use equipment, materials and personal protective equipment correctly and for their intended purpose.

Report accidents, incidents, hazards or concerns to their supervisor without delay.

Refrain from any act or omission that could put themselves or others at risk.

Cooperate fully with health and safety arrangements and attend required training.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We conduct risk assessments for our cleaning activities and for specific client premises where required. These assessments identify potential hazards, evaluate the risk and set out control measures. Based on these findings, we implement safe systems of work that cover:

Safe use, transport and storage of cleaning chemicals.

Manual handling of equipment, containers and waste.

Use and movement of steps, ladders and other access equipment.

Safe working in occupied premises, including homes, offices and commercial sites.

Specific tasks such as floor cleaning, high dusting, kitchen and bathroom deep cleaning.

Chemicals and COSHH

Cleaning products and substances are selected and used in line with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health principles. For each hazardous substance we:

Obtain and review safety data information from the manufacturer.

Complete appropriate assessments and define safe handling procedures.

Provide staff with information on correct dilution, application and disposal.

Ensure appropriate labelling and secure storage in designated areas.

Provide and enforce the use of suitable personal protective equipment where necessary.

Personal Protective Equipment

Hackney Cleaner provides personal protective equipment appropriate to the tasks performed. This may include gloves, masks, eye protection, aprons and non-slip footwear. Employees are required to:

Wear the protective equipment as instructed for relevant tasks.

Check items before use and report any defects or damage immediately.

Store equipment properly and keep it clean and in good condition.

Equipment Safety and Maintenance

Cleaning machinery and tools are selected, used and maintained with safety in mind. We ensure that:

All equipment is suitable for its intended purpose and used only by trained personnel.

Electrical equipment is visually checked before use and removed from service if damaged.

Routine maintenance and inspection schedules are followed.

Users follow manufacturers instructions and our internal procedures.

Manual Handling

Many cleaning tasks involve lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling. To reduce the risk of injury we:

Assess manual handling tasks and redesign work where possible to minimise heavy lifting.

Provide training on safe lifting techniques and posture.

Use trolleys and other handling aids where practical.

Encourage employees to work within their capabilities and to ask for assistance when needed.

Working in Client Premises

Our teams often work in occupied spaces, including residential and commercial environments. To protect clients, visitors and staff, we:

Agree access arrangements and any site-specific safety rules in advance.

Maintain clear walkways and display warning signs where floors may be slippery.

Secure cables, equipment and materials to reduce trip hazards.

Respect client property and maintain confidentiality and professionalism at all times.

Accidents, First Aid and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported to Hackney Cleaner management as soon as possible. We maintain procedures covering:

Initial response and first aid arrangements suitable for our work activities.

Recording and investigating incidents to identify root causes.

Implementing corrective and preventive actions where needed.

Emergency arrangements for fire, spills, injuries and evacuation when working at client sites, following site-specific rules where applicable.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide ongoing health and safety training relevant to each role and level of responsibility. This includes induction training for new starters, task-specific instruction, refresher sessions and updates when procedures or products change. Supervisors are responsible for monitoring work practices, correcting unsafe behaviour and supporting staff in applying their training.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

Hackney Cleaner encourages employees to contribute ideas for improving health and safety. We consult with staff on matters that affect their safety and take account of feedback from clients and colleagues. This policy and its associated procedures are reviewed regularly to ensure they remain effective, appropriate and aligned with current legislation and good practice.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy is approved by the management of Hackney Cleaner and will be reviewed periodically, and sooner if there are significant changes in our operations, legislation or identified risks. Updated versions will be communicated to all employees and made available to clients on request.