Deep Cleaning Greenwich Health and Safety Policy

Deep Cleaning Greenwich is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all employees, subcontractors, clients, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our cleaning operations. We recognise our responsibility to manage health and safety risks arising from our work activities and to comply with all relevant legislation, standards and industry best practice.

This Health and Safety policy outlines our approach to managing risks associated with professional cleaning services, including domestic and commercial deep cleaning, end of tenancy cleaning, office and communal area cleaning, specialist sanitisation and other related services within our operating area.

Health and Safety Objectives

Our key health and safety objectives are to prevent injury and ill health, protect property and the environment, and continually improve our health and safety performance. We aim to identify hazards, assess risks and implement proportionate control measures for all tasks we undertake. We support a positive health and safety culture where hazards are reported promptly and improvements are encouraged.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management at Deep Cleaning Greenwich has overall responsibility for implementing this policy and ensuring adequate resources are provided. Management will:

Ensure that health and safety considerations are integrated into planning, decision-making and daily operations.

Provide suitable and sufficient risk assessments and safe systems of work for all cleaning tasks.

Supply appropriate equipment, cleaning products and personal protective equipment that are safe, maintained and suitable for the task.

Arrange appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision for employees and subcontractors.

Regularly review incident reports, near misses and feedback to identify trends and take corrective action.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and subcontractors have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They must:

Follow company procedures, risk assessments, method statements and instructions provided by management or supervisors.

Use equipment, cleaning chemicals and personal protective equipment correctly and for the intended purpose.

Report accidents, incidents, near misses, unsafe conditions and defects in equipment immediately to management.

Cooperate with the company in ensuring compliance with legal and policy requirements, including attending training.

Refrain from working while unfit due to illness, alcohol, drugs or any other condition that could compromise safety.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Deep Cleaning Greenwich conducts risk assessments for its cleaning services, taking into account the nature of the premises, client requirements, equipment used and specific tasks. These risk assessments are used to develop safe systems of work and method statements that cover, as appropriate:

Manual handling of equipment, furniture and materials.

Use of ladders, steps and access equipment.

Working in confined or poorly ventilated areas.

Use, storage and disposal of cleaning chemicals and solutions.

Electrical safety for powered cleaning machines and equipment.

Slip, trip and fall prevention during and after cleaning activities.

Where required, site-specific assessments are undertaken before work starts. Staff are briefed on any special hazards and controls relevant to the location.

Chemical Safety and COSHH

Cleaning chemicals can pose risks if not handled correctly. Deep Cleaning Greenwich ensures that:

All cleaning products are assessed in accordance with relevant regulations on hazardous substances.

Safety data information is obtained from suppliers and used to guide safe handling, storage and use.

Chemicals are clearly labelled, stored securely and kept in original containers wherever possible.

Only trained staff use specialist or high-strength products, following specified dilution and application instructions.

Staff are instructed never to mix incompatible chemicals and to avoid decanting products into unlabelled containers.

Personal Protective Equipment

Appropriate personal protective equipment is provided where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means. This may include gloves, eye protection, masks or respirators, aprons and protective footwear. Staff are required to:

Wear the PPE specified in the relevant risk assessment or method statement.

Look after PPE, check it before use and report any damage or defects immediately.

Store PPE correctly and not misuse or alter it.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling tasks such as moving machines, waste bags or furniture are assessed to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury. Staff receive guidance on lifting techniques, use of trolleys and safe team handling when necessary. All cleaning equipment is selected, maintained and used in accordance with manufacturer instructions and company procedures. Defective or damaged equipment is taken out of service and reported.

Control of Slips, Trips and Falls

Cleaning activities can increase the risk of slips and trips, especially on wet flooring. To control this risk, Deep Cleaning Greenwich:

Uses appropriate warning signs in areas where floors are wet or cleaning is in progress.

Plans work to minimise disruption to occupants and traffic through cleaned areas.

Ensures cables, hoses and equipment are positioned to avoid trip hazards wherever practicable.

Encourages good housekeeping practices, including prompt clean-up of spillages and safe storage of materials.

Training, Supervision and Communication

All cleaning staff receive an appropriate level of health and safety induction, as well as task-specific training relevant to their duties. Training may include safe use of chemicals, manual handling, equipment operation, use of PPE, emergency procedures and infection control measures. Supervisors monitor working practices and provide ongoing guidance. Health and safety information is communicated through briefings, instructions and updates when procedures change or new risks are identified.

Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported and recorded. Where necessary, investigations are carried out to identify root causes and prevent recurrence. Staff are instructed in the basic actions to take in an emergency, including raising the alarm, evacuating if required, contacting emergency services through the client or building procedures, and isolating affected areas where safe to do so. First aid arrangements are made according to the nature and location of the work.

Welfare, Health and Wellbeing

Deep Cleaning Greenwich recognises the importance of worker welfare and wellbeing. We seek to ensure that staff have access to basic welfare facilities while working on client premises, such as handwashing, toilet facilities and drinking water where available. We take account of working hours, rest breaks and the physical demands of cleaning tasks, and encourage staff to report any work-related health concerns.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, company activities or identified risks. Feedback from employees, clients and other stakeholders is welcomed as part of our commitment to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. All staff are made aware of the latest version of this policy and are expected to support its implementation in their day-to-day work.