Lambeth Cleaners Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy explains how Lambeth Cleaners manages the safety and wellbeing of employees, contractors, clients and members of the public during the delivery of our cleaning services. Our aim is to prevent accidents, protect health and ensure that all cleaning activities are carried out safely and professionally.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Lambeth Cleaners is committed to providing and maintaining a safe and healthy working environment. We seek to identify, control and where possible eliminate risks that arise from our cleaning operations in offices, residential properties, commercial premises and communal areas.

The objectives of this policy are to:

Promote a positive health and safety culture across all areas of our business.
Comply with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards.
Assess risks associated with cleaning tasks and implement effective control measures.
Provide suitable information, instruction, training and supervision for all staff.
Continuously improve our health and safety performance through regular review.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management at Lambeth Cleaners has overall responsibility for health and safety. Management will allocate appropriate resources to implement this policy and will ensure that health and safety considerations are integrated into operational planning and decision making.

Management responsibilities include:

Ensuring that risk assessments and safe working procedures are in place for all cleaning tasks.
Providing and maintaining safe equipment, tools and materials.
Ensuring staff receive relevant induction and ongoing training.
Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses and implementing corrective actions.
Reviewing this policy regularly and updating it when necessary.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee of Lambeth Cleaners has a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Employees are expected to:

Follow all safety instructions, training and company procedures.
Use personal protective equipment correctly and look after it properly.
Report hazards, defects, accidents and near misses to their supervisor without delay.
Cooperate fully with management on health and safety matters.
Refrain from horseplay or unsafe behaviour that could put themselves or others at risk.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Before starting cleaning work, Lambeth Cleaners carries out risk assessments to identify potential hazards such as slips and trips, manual handling, use of chemicals, work at height and electrical equipment.

From these assessments we develop safe systems of work that detail the correct methods, equipment and controls to be used. Staff are informed of the findings of relevant risk assessments and trained in the safe systems that apply to their tasks and locations.

Use of Cleaning Chemicals

Cleaning chemicals can pose risks to health if they are not used safely. Lambeth Cleaners ensures that all such products are assessed for risks and used in accordance with manufacturer instructions and safety data information.

Key controls include:

Storing chemicals securely and in clearly labelled containers.
Never mixing chemicals unless specifically directed by the manufacturer.
Providing appropriate gloves, eye protection and other personal protective equipment where required.
Ensuring good ventilation when using strong cleaning agents.
Training staff in safe handling, dilution, application and disposal procedures.

Equipment and Electrical Safety

Lambeth Cleaners provides suitable equipment for cleaning tasks, including vacuum cleaners, floor machines, extension poles and other tools. All equipment must be inspected regularly, used only for its intended purpose and taken out of service if defective.

When using electrical equipment, employees must:

Check cables, plugs and casings before use.
Avoid using equipment with obvious damage.
Keep cables away from water and walkways where they could cause trips.
Switch off and unplug equipment before cleaning or maintenance.

Slips, Trips and Housekeeping

Many accidents in cleaning arise from poor housekeeping. Lambeth Cleaners requires high standards of orderliness at all times. Staff must:

Use warning signs where floors are wet or being cleaned.
Clean up spills promptly and thoroughly.
Keep walkways and stairs clear of equipment, bags and waste.
Use appropriate methods and equipment to minimise water and residues on floors.

Manual Handling and Working Posture

Cleaning work can involve lifting, carrying and repetitive movements. To reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries, Lambeth Cleaners trains staff in safe manual handling techniques and the use of equipment such as trolleys and extension tools.

Staff should:

Avoid lifting loads that are too heavy or awkward to manage alone.
Use correct posture, bending knees and keeping the load close to the body.
Break down loads into smaller, manageable parts where possible.
Vary tasks and take appropriate breaks to reduce strain from repetitive movements.

Personal Protective Equipment

Lambeth Cleaners provides personal protective equipment where risk assessment shows it is necessary. This may include gloves, masks, eye protection, footwear and other items appropriate to the task and environment.

Employees must use the equipment provided, keep it in good condition and report any defects or losses. Personal protective equipment is a last line of defence and does not replace the need for safe systems of work and good housekeeping.

Welfare, Health and Wellbeing

We recognise that health and safety includes physical and mental wellbeing. Lambeth Cleaners aims to schedule work considerately, provide access to welfare facilities where possible and support staff in raising any concerns about workloads, stress, or fitness for work.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and hazardous situations must be reported as soon as possible. Lambeth Cleaners records and investigates incidents to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

Employees must familiarise themselves with emergency procedures for the premises where they are working, including fire evacuation routes, assembly points and first aid arrangements. Staff must follow the instructions of emergency services and site representatives at all times.

Training, Consultation and Policy Review

Lambeth Cleaners provides initial and refresher training relevant to each role and task, including safe equipment use, chemical handling, manual handling and site-specific procedures. We consult with employees on health and safety matters and encourage feedback to improve our practices.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, legislation or industry guidance. Updated versions will be communicated to all staff and made available to clients on request.