Cleaners Tufnell Park Health and Safety Policy

Cleaners Tufnell Park is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, clients, visitors and contractors. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with professional cleaning services in homes, offices and commercial premises across our service area.

Policy Aims and Responsibilities

Our aim is to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing effective control measures. We seek continuous improvement in our health and safety performance and expect all team members to contribute to maintaining the highest standards.

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who ensure that adequate resources, training and supervision are provided. Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for the day-to-day implementation of this policy and for monitoring safe working practices on site.

Each cleaner and member of staff 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 must cooperate with management by following safety procedures, using protective equipment correctly and reporting any hazards or incidents without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for all regular tasks and locations, considering the nature of the premises, the cleaning methods, equipment used and any specific client requirements. These risk assessments are reviewed periodically and whenever there are changes to work processes, products or environments.

Safe working procedures are developed from these assessments and communicated clearly to staff through training, written instructions and on-site supervision. Cleaners must always follow these agreed procedures, avoid taking shortcuts and ask for guidance if they are unsure how to carry out a task safely.

Chemicals and Cleaning Products

The safe use of cleaning chemicals is a core part of our health and safety approach. All substances are assessed in line with best industry practice, and only approved products are used on client premises. We ensure that product labels and safety information are available and understood by staff.

Cleaners must use chemicals only for their intended purpose, at the correct dilution and following manufacturer instructions. Containers must always be labelled properly and never decanted into unmarked bottles. Chemicals are stored securely, upright and away from food preparation areas, children and pets.

Where necessary, suitable personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks or eye protection is provided and must be worn as instructed. Staff are trained to deal with accidental spillages and to seek prompt assistance if exposure occurs.

Equipment, Tools and Electrical Safety

All cleaning equipment, including vacuum cleaners, floor machines and other electrical tools, is selected, maintained and inspected to ensure it is safe to use. Any item found to be faulty or damaged must be taken out of service immediately and reported to management.

Cleaners are trained in the correct and safe operation of each piece of equipment they use. Cables must be routed to reduce the risk of trips, and equipment must be disconnected from the power supply before cleaning or maintenance. Staff may not attempt repairs unless authorised and competent to do so.

Manual Handling and Ergonomics

Manual handling tasks such as lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling are common in cleaning work and can present risks if performed incorrectly. We provide training on safe manual handling techniques, including correct posture, working at a comfortable height and avoiding unnecessary strain.

Heavy items are avoided wherever possible through the use of trolleys, extension tools and ergonomic equipment. Staff are instructed not to lift loads that feel too heavy or awkward and to request assistance when needed. Regular breaks and sensible work patterns are encouraged to reduce fatigue and musculoskeletal issues.

Slips, Trips and Falls

Slips, trips and falls are among the most frequent causes of workplace injury in cleaning. To minimise these risks, floors are cleaned in sections, appropriate warning signs are used, and staff are instructed to keep walkways clear of tools, bags and cables.

Wet floor signs must be placed in clearly visible positions and removed promptly once the area is dry. Any damaged flooring, loose carpets, poor lighting or other hazards identified by cleaners must be reported promptly so that suitable action can be taken.

Personal Protective Equipment and Hygiene

Cleaners Tufnell Park provides appropriate personal protective equipment based on risk assessments, including gloves, masks, aprons and eye protection where relevant. Staff must use and care for this equipment correctly and report any loss or damage for prompt replacement.

Good personal hygiene is essential, especially when dealing with sanitary areas, waste or potentially contaminated materials. Handwashing or sanitising facilities should be used regularly, particularly before breaks, after using the toilet and after handling waste or chemicals.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, near misses, injuries and unsafe conditions must be reported as soon as possible to a supervisor or manager. This allows us to investigate, take corrective action and update risk assessments where necessary. Staff are encouraged to report hazards without fear of blame.

Emergency procedures, including fire evacuation routes, first aid arrangements and specific client site instructions, are explained to cleaners before work begins. Staff must familiarise themselves with exits, assembly points and any particular site rules when working at new locations.

Training, Communication and Review

Health and safety training is provided as part of induction for new staff and refreshed at regular intervals. Additional task-specific training is arranged where work involves specialised equipment or higher-risk activities. Training records are maintained and used to ensure that only competent staff undertake particular tasks.

This Health and Safety Policy is communicated to all employees and made available to clients who wish to understand how we manage safety within our cleaning services. The policy is reviewed regularly to reflect developments in legislation, industry guidance and our own experience on site.

By working together, following agreed procedures and maintaining a culture of awareness and responsibility, Cleaners Tufnell Park aims to deliver reliable cleaning services while protecting the wellbeing of everyone involved.