Lambeth Cleaners Health and Safety Policy
This Health and Safety Policy sets out how Lambeth Cleaners manages health, safety and welfare for employees, clients, contractors and members of the public. Our aim is to provide cleaning services in a safe, responsible and professional manner, preventing injury, ill health and damage to property.
Health and Safety Objectives
Lambeth Cleaners is committed to continual improvement in health and safety performance. Our key objectives are to identify and reduce risks associated with cleaning activities, comply with applicable health and safety legislation and industry standards, provide clear information, instruction and training to our staff, and promote a positive health and safety culture throughout the company.
We expect all managers, supervisors, cleaners and support staff to take ownership of health and safety and to integrate safe working practices into daily operations at every client site.
Responsibilities
The company management holds overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this policy. Management will ensure that adequate resources are provided for health and safety, that risk assessments are completed and kept up to date, and that safe systems of work are developed for all cleaning tasks.
Supervisors are responsible for communicating safe working procedures to staff, monitoring standards on site, reporting hazards and incidents, and ensuring that cleaning tasks are carried out in accordance with company guidelines.
Employees are responsible for following training and instructions, using equipment and personal protective equipment correctly, reporting hazards, accidents and near misses, and cooperating fully with all health and safety measures.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Before work is undertaken at client premises, Lambeth Cleaners carries out risk assessments that consider the nature of the premises, the tasks to be performed, cleaning chemicals and equipment used, and any vulnerable individuals who may be affected.
Based on these assessments, we develop safe systems of work for routine and non-routine cleaning tasks. These include correct manual handling techniques, safe use of ladders and access equipment, safe operation of electrical machinery such as vacuums and floor scrubbers, and measures to control slips, trips and falls.
Risk assessments are reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to work processes, equipment or client requirements.
Use of Chemicals and COSHH
Chemicals used by Lambeth Cleaners are selected to be effective for cleaning tasks while minimising risks to health and the environment. All products are controlled under relevant hazardous substances regulations.
We obtain and maintain safety data sheets for all chemical products. COSHH assessments are completed to identify hazards, exposure routes and appropriate control measures. Staff receive training on dilution, application, storage, labelling and disposal of chemicals, and are instructed never to mix cleaning products.
Chemicals are kept in secure containers, stored safely when not in use, and transported carefully between locations to avoid leaks, spills and unauthorised access.
Personal Protective Equipment
Where risks cannot be eliminated by other means, appropriate personal protective equipment is provided. This may include gloves, eye protection, masks, safety footwear, high visibility garments or other protective clothing depending on the task.
Employees are instructed on when and how to use personal protective equipment and how to maintain it in good condition. Damaged or defective equipment must be reported immediately so that it can be replaced.
Training, Information and Supervision
All employees receive an induction that covers company health and safety rules, emergency procedures and safe working methods for cleaning activities. Task-specific training is provided for the use of machinery, chemicals and specialist cleaning techniques.
Refresher training is delivered periodically and whenever there are changes in equipment, products or work processes. Supervisors monitor performance on site, provide guidance and feedback, and take prompt action where unsafe practices are observed.
Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting
Lambeth Cleaners encourages prompt reporting of all accidents, incidents and near misses, regardless of severity. This allows us to investigate the causes, take corrective action and prevent recurrence.
Records are kept of incidents and any resulting injuries or property damage. Where required, incidents are reported to the appropriate authorities. Lessons learned are shared with relevant staff and may lead to updates in risk assessments, procedures or training.
Welfare, Health and Wellbeing
The company recognises that the health and wellbeing of employees is essential to providing reliable, high quality cleaning services. We will take reasonable steps to ensure that working hours and workloads are managed fairly, that staff have access to suitable welfare facilities at client premises where reasonably practicable, and that employees are supported in raising any health, safety or wellbeing concerns.
We do not tolerate bullying, harassment or discrimination and will act promptly to investigate and address any concerns raised by staff or clients.
Emergency Procedures
Before commencing work at new sites, Lambeth Cleaners identifies local emergency arrangements including fire evacuation routes, assembly points and first aid provisions. Staff are briefed on these procedures and are required to follow client site rules at all times.
In the event of a fire, spill, injury or other emergency, employees must prioritise their own safety and that of others, raise the alarm, and contact emergency services via the client or designated site contacts as appropriate.
Consultation and Continuous Improvement
Lambeth Cleaners values feedback from employees and clients in improving health and safety performance. Staff are encouraged to propose safer working methods, identify hazards, and participate in discussions about risk control measures.
This policy is reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, industry best practice, company operations and the results of audits or incident investigations. The latest version is made available to all employees and to clients on request.
By following this Health and Safety Policy, Lambeth Cleaners aims to deliver reliable, high quality cleaning services while protecting the health, safety and welfare of everyone affected by our work.
