Surrey Cleaner Health and Safety Policy

Surrey Cleaner is committed to providing professional cleaning services in a way that protects the health, safety, and welfare of our employees, clients, visitors, contractors, and the wider public. This Health and Safety policy sets out our principles, responsibilities, and working practices to ensure that all cleaning activities are carried out safely and responsibly at all times.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property arising from our work. We will take all reasonably practicable steps to:

Identify and control risks associated with cleaning activities.
Provide safe systems of work, equipment, and materials.
Ensure that staff receive appropriate information, instruction, and training.
Promote a culture of safety, awareness, and continuous improvement.
Comply with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards.

This policy applies to all areas where we provide cleaning services, including residential, commercial, and communal premises.

Management Responsibilities

Company management is responsible for implementing this Health and Safety policy and for ensuring that adequate resources are available to support it. Management will:

Assess health and safety risks associated with our cleaning operations and review them regularly.
Establish safe working procedures and communicate them to all staff.
Provide suitable products, tools, equipment, and personal protective equipment and ensure they are properly maintained.
Investigate accidents, incidents, and near-misses to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.
Regularly review this policy to reflect changes in operations, legislation, or best practice.

Employee Responsibilities

Every member of Surrey Cleaner’s team has a duty to take responsible care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. All employees are required to:

Follow company procedures, training, and safety instructions at all times.
Use equipment, cleaning agents, and personal protective equipment correctly and only for their intended purpose.
Report hazards, defects, spills, or unsafe conditions immediately to a supervisor or manager.
Report all accidents, injuries, and near-misses, no matter how minor, as soon as possible.
Refrain from any behaviour that could put themselves or others at risk, including working under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for typical cleaning tasks and, where required, for specific locations or activities. Risks considered include slips, trips and falls, manual handling, work at height, use of cleaning chemicals, electrical safety, lone working, and security risks.

Based on these assessments, we establish safe systems of work that describe how tasks must be carried out to minimise risk. Employees are trained in these procedures and are expected to follow them at all times. Where conditions or client requirements change, we review and update our risk assessments and procedures accordingly.

Use of Cleaning Chemicals

Cleaning agents, detergents, and disinfectants are handled with care and in accordance with manufacturer instructions and recognised safety guidelines. To protect staff, clients, and building occupants, we:

Use only approved products suitable for the intended surface and environment.
Store chemicals securely and clearly label all containers.
Provide information and training on correct dilution, application, and disposal.
Ensure appropriate personal protective equipment is worn when required.
Avoid decanting products into unmarked containers or mixing chemicals.

Equipment Safety and Maintenance

All equipment used in the course of our cleaning services, such as vacuum cleaners, steam cleaners, floor machines, and ladders, is selected to meet safety standards and is maintained in safe working order. We:

Inspect equipment regularly and remove from use anything found to be defective.
Ensure electrical equipment is visually checked prior to use and used with care around moisture.
Provide staff with training on the safe operation of all equipment they may be required to use.
Ensure that any work at height, such as using steps or small ladders, is carried out only where it can be done safely.

Slips, Trips, Falls and Housekeeping

Cleaning activities can increase the risk of slips, trips, and falls, particularly where floors are wet, obstructed, or uneven. To manage these risks, we:

Use appropriate signage or verbal warnings when floors are wet or being cleaned.
Manage trailing cables, hoses, and equipment to keep walkways clear.
Maintain good housekeeping, ensuring that tools and materials are stored tidily and safely.
Take particular care in high traffic areas, entrances, staircases, and hard floor surfaces.

Manual Handling and Ergonomics

Manual handling tasks such as lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling can pose a risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Surrey Cleaner seeks to reduce the need for heavy or awkward manual handling and to ensure that, where it cannot be avoided, it is carried out safely. We:

Provide training in safe lifting and carrying techniques.
Use trolleys or other aids where practical to move equipment and materials.
Encourage staff to assess the load and environment before lifting and to ask for help with heavy or bulky items.
Advise staff to take regular short breaks when performing repetitive tasks.

Lone Working and Security

Some cleaning work may be carried out by individuals working alone or outside normal business hours. To protect our staff and clients, we:

Assess the risks associated with lone working and put control measures in place.
Use agreed check-in procedures where appropriate.
Ensure that staff are briefed on site-specific security arrangements and emergency procedures.
Instruct staff never to put themselves at risk in the event of confrontation or suspected criminal activity.

Health, Welfare and Occupational Hygiene

We recognise the importance of protecting the general health and wellbeing of our staff and clients. To support this, we:

Encourage good hand hygiene and provide or request access to suitable washing facilities.
Provide appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, or eye protection where required for certain tasks.
Advise staff to report any health conditions that could be affected by cleaning duties or exposure to particular products.
Promote safe and respectful behaviour in all client premises.

Emergency Procedures and First Aid

Our staff are instructed in the basic actions to take in emergency situations, including fire, medical emergencies, and significant spills. We:

Follow site-specific emergency arrangements, including evacuation routes and assembly points.
Ensure staff know how to summon emergency services promptly when needed.
Encourage staff to familiarise themselves with the location of first aid facilities at client premises where available.
Report significant incidents to management so that they can be recorded and assessed.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Surrey Cleaner monitors health and safety performance through regular communication with staff, incident reporting, and periodic reviews of working practices. This policy is reviewed at regular intervals, or sooner if there are significant changes in our operations or in applicable requirements. Staff feedback is encouraged as part of our commitment to continual improvement in health and safety.

By working together and following this Health and Safety policy, Surrey Cleaner aims to provide a consistently safe and reliable cleaning service for all clients and a healthy working environment for all employees.