Cleaner Merton Health and Safety Policy

Cleaner Merton is committed to providing professional cleaning services in a manner that safeguards the health, safety, and welfare of our employees, clients, visitors, contractors, and the wider public. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety across all cleaning activities carried out at client premises, communal areas, and other locations where we operate.

Policy Aims and Objectives

The purpose of this Health and Safety Policy is to prevent accidents, work-related ill health, property damage, and environmental harm. We aim to achieve this by identifying and managing risks, promoting safe systems of work, and maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene in all service areas.

Our objectives include:

Conducting suitable and sufficient risk assessments for all significant activities and updating them when working practices or locations change. Providing information, instruction, and training so employees can work safely and competently. Supplying appropriate personal protective equipment and ensuring it is used and maintained correctly. Ensuring safe use, handling, storage, and disposal of cleaning chemicals and materials. Regularly reviewing our health and safety performance and implementing improvements where required.

Responsibilities for Health and Safety

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who will ensure that adequate resources, time, and support are allocated to implement this policy. Management will:

Establish and maintain safe working procedures that are appropriate to our cleaning operations. Ensure that staff receive relevant induction and ongoing training related to their roles. Monitor compliance with health and safety procedures and take corrective action when necessary. Review this policy periodically and when legislation or operational circumstances change.

Employees also have important responsibilities. All employees must:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Follow all safety instructions, procedures, and training provided. Use equipment, chemicals, and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects or concerns. Report accidents, incidents, near misses, and hazards promptly to their supervisor or manager.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Cleaner Merton undertakes risk assessments for typical cleaning tasks and for specific client premises where required. These assessments identify hazards, evaluate the risks, and specify control measures. Safe systems of work are then developed based on these findings.

Employees are briefed on relevant risk assessments and method statements before starting work at new sites or when tasks significantly change. Supervisors and managers will review risk assessments regularly to ensure they remain appropriate and effective.

Use of Cleaning Chemicals and Substances

Our teams use cleaning products suitable for professional cleaning work. We assess substances for potential health risks and ensure that any necessary control measures are implemented.

Employees are trained to:

Read and follow instructions and safety information supplied with products. Use the correct dilution rates and application methods. Avoid mixing incompatible chemicals. Store cleaning products safely and securely in designated areas. Dispose of waste products in a safe and lawful manner.

Where exposure to substances may pose a risk, additional controls such as ventilation, protective gloves, or eye protection will be provided as necessary.

Personal Protective Equipment

Cleaner Merton provides personal protective equipment appropriate to the tasks performed. This may include items such as gloves, masks, aprons, protective footwear, and eye protection.

Employees must wear and use personal protective equipment as instructed, keep it in good condition, and report any loss or damage immediately so that replacements can be arranged.

Safe Use of Equipment and Manual Handling

We ensure that all equipment used in our cleaning services is suitable, maintained, and used correctly. This includes vacuum cleaners, floor machines, and other mechanical or electrical items.

Only trained personnel are permitted to operate specific machinery where specialist skills are required. Equipment is inspected regularly and removed from use if found to be faulty until repaired or replaced.

Manual handling tasks, such as moving bins, furniture, or cleaning materials, are assessed to reduce the risk of injury. Staff receive guidance on correct lifting techniques, use of handling aids where reasonably practicable, and the need to avoid unnecessary or excessive lifting.

Workplace Environment and Welfare

When working on client premises, employees are required to cooperate with on-site rules to maintain a safe and healthy environment. This includes observing access controls, fire safety arrangements, and local emergency procedures.

We work with clients to ensure that our cleaning activities do not introduce additional risks and that workflows are organised to minimise disruption and hazards, for example managing wet floors, trip hazards, and safe cord management.

Accident, Incident, and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported to a supervisor or manager as soon as reasonably possible. Cleaner Merton keeps records of such events and, where necessary, undertakes an investigation to identify underlying causes.

Findings from investigations are used to improve procedures, update risk assessments, and provide additional training if required. We encourage open reporting and do not tolerate any form of victimisation related to accident or hazard reporting.

Training, Information, and Supervision

Cleaner Merton provides appropriate training for all employees according to the tasks they carry out. This includes induction training, task-specific training, refresher sessions, and toolbox talks where relevant.

Information on health and safety procedures is communicated through briefings and written guidance. Supervisors monitor day-to-day work to ensure that tasks are undertaken safely and in accordance with this policy.

Review of Policy

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed at regular intervals and whenever there are significant changes to our operations or to applicable legal requirements. Updated versions are communicated to employees and implemented across all relevant sites.

By working together and following this policy, Cleaner Merton aims to maintain a safe and healthy working environment for all involved in or affected by our cleaning services.