Health And Safety Policy

Bromley Cleaners Health and Safety Policy

Bromley Cleaners is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, clients, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our cleaning activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks, complying with relevant health and safety legislation, and promoting best practice in all cleaning services we deliver.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing effective control measures. We aim to continuously improve our health and safety performance through regular monitoring, staff consultation and review of our procedures.

Health and safety are integral to the way we plan and deliver cleaning services. We require all employees, contractors and supervisors to cooperate fully with this policy and to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Bromley Cleaners has overall responsibility for ensuring that this policy is implemented and maintained. Management will provide adequate resources, information, instruction, training and supervision to enable employees to carry out their work safely and competently.

Managers and supervisors are responsible for:

Ensuring that risk assessments are completed and reviewed for all sites and cleaning tasks.

Providing appropriate personal protective equipment and ensuring it is used correctly.

Maintaining safe systems of work and ensuring staff follow agreed procedures.

Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses, and implementing corrective actions.

Reviewing health and safety performance and updating this policy when required.

Employee Responsibilities

Employees of Bromley Cleaners have a duty to safeguard their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work. All staff are expected to:

Follow training, instructions, method statements and risk assessments.

Use equipment, cleaning machines and chemicals in accordance with guidance provided.

Wear and look after personal protective equipment supplied for their role.

Report any hazards, defects, near misses or incidents to their supervisor without delay.

Cooperate with management in implementing this policy and attend required training.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Bromley Cleaners conducts risk assessments for all regular and specialist cleaning activities, including office cleaning, domestic cleaning, end of tenancy cleaning, commercial premises, communal areas and other contracted sites. These assessments identify significant hazards such as slips and trips, manual handling, exposure to cleaning chemicals, electrical equipment use and lone working.

Based on the findings, we develop safe systems of work and method statements tailored to each task and environment. These are communicated to employees during induction and ongoing training. Risk assessments are reviewed regularly or when there are changes in work processes, equipment, chemicals or site conditions.

Chemical Safety and COSHH

Cleaning products and chemicals are selected to achieve effective results while minimising risk to health and the environment. We follow applicable regulations on the control of substances hazardous to health and ensure that data sheets and instructions are available and understood by our staff.

All chemicals are labelled, stored securely and used only for their intended purpose. Employees receive training on dilution ratios, contact times, ventilation requirements, skin protection, eye protection and safe disposal of containers and residues. Where possible, we use low hazard and environmentally considerate products without compromising cleaning standards.

Equipment, Machinery and Maintenance

All cleaning equipment and machinery, including vacuum cleaners, floor machines, carpet extractors and electrical tools, are selected, inspected and maintained to ensure safe operation. Defective or damaged equipment is taken out of service immediately and reported to management.

Employees receive training in the correct use, transport and storage of equipment, including cable management, safe lifting, plug and socket checks, and use of warning signs around work areas. Routine maintenance and testing are carried out in line with manufacturer guidance and regulatory requirements.

Manual Handling and Working Practices

Manual handling tasks such as moving cleaning equipment, waste bags or furniture are assessed to reduce strain and risk of injury. Staff are trained in safe lifting techniques, team lifting where appropriate, and the use of trolleys or other aids to minimise physical effort.

Work is organised to avoid unnecessary reaching, stretching or awkward postures, and employees are encouraged to take reasonable breaks from repetitive tasks. Where work at low or high levels is required, appropriate tools and stable access equipment are provided.

Slips, Trips, Falls and Site Safety

To protect staff, clients and visitors, we use suitable warning signs, barriers and cordoned areas when floors are wet or cleaning is in progress. Our teams keep cables, equipment and materials tidy to reduce tripping hazards, and ensure that access routes, stairways and exits remain clear at all times.

Site-specific instructions, security arrangements and emergency procedures are followed on every client premises. Any damage, faulty lighting or unsafe conditions noted by our staff are reported promptly to the relevant contact so that remedial actions can be taken.

Lone Working and Personal Security

Many cleaning tasks may take place outside normal working hours or with limited supervision. Bromley Cleaners assesses lone working arrangements and adopts measures to protect staff, including check-in procedures, clear communication arrangements and awareness of site security rules.

Employees are encouraged to remain vigilant, avoid confrontation, and report any concerns about personal safety or security issues to management without delay.

Training, Information and Supervision

Health and safety training is provided to all employees as part of their induction and is refreshed at appropriate intervals. Training covers topics such as safe use of chemicals, manual handling, equipment operation, personal protective equipment, emergency procedures and site-specific rules.

Supervisors monitor working practices to ensure that procedures are followed and that standards are maintained. Additional coaching, toolbox talks or refresher sessions are arranged where necessary to support safe and efficient working.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported to a supervisor or manager as soon as possible. Accurate records are kept to help identify trends and to inform improvements in our health and safety arrangements.

Employees are instructed in the emergency procedures relevant to each site, including fire evacuation routes, assembly points, location of first aid facilities and how to summon assistance when needed. First aid arrangements are checked and maintained in cooperation with clients where appropriate.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Bromley Cleaners monitors health and safety performance through site visits, audits, incident reviews and feedback from employees and clients. We use this information to improve our procedures, update training and enhance control measures.

This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly and revised as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, best practice, company operations or identified risks. The current version of the policy is communicated to all employees and is available for clients to review on request.