Highbury Cleaner Health and Safety Policy

Highbury Cleaner is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, contractors, 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 associated with cleaning services, including work on client premises, use of cleaning chemicals, equipment handling, and lone working.

Our Commitment

We will take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent injury and ill health arising from our operations. Health and safety considerations are central to the planning and delivery of all cleaning services, including domestic, commercial, and specialist cleaning. We aim to continuously improve our health and safety performance through effective risk management, staff training, and regular policy review.

Management at Highbury Cleaner is responsible for ensuring that suitable resources are made available so that this policy can be fully implemented and maintained.

Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who will:

Ensure that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for cleaning tasks and working environments. Provide appropriate information, instruction, supervision, and training to all staff. Supply and maintain suitable work equipment, including cleaning machines, tools, and personal protective equipment. Monitor compliance with this policy and take action where health and safety standards are not met.

Employees and contractors working on behalf of Highbury Cleaner 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, training, and procedures provided by the company. Use equipment and personal protective equipment correctly and report defects immediately. Report accidents, incidents, near misses, and hazards promptly to management.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Highbury Cleaner conducts risk assessments for cleaning tasks to identify potential hazards, evaluate risk levels, and implement controls. These assessments cover, where relevant, slips, trips and falls, manual handling, use of ladders and access equipment, electrical equipment use, exposure to cleaning chemicals, contact with biological contaminants, lone working, and work in occupied premises.

Findings from risk assessments are used to develop safe systems of work. Staff are required to follow these systems and any method statements issued for particular activities or client sites.

Chemical Safety and COSHH

Chemicals used by Highbury Cleaner are selected to minimise risk while delivering effective cleaning results. All cleaning agents are stored, handled, and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidance and applicable safety requirements.

Where required, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health assessments are completed and communicated to staff. Employees must:

Use only approved chemicals supplied by Highbury Cleaner or authorised suppliers. Never mix chemicals unless specifically instructed and trained to do so. Wear the personal protective equipment specified for the product and task. Store chemicals securely and keep them away from children, pets, food, and heat sources.

Personal Protective Equipment

Highbury Cleaner provides personal protective equipment free of charge where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means. This may include gloves, masks or respirators, eye protection, footwear, and protective clothing, depending on the task.

Employees must use the protective equipment provided, keep it in good condition, and report any defects or losses so that replacements can be arranged promptly.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Staff are trained to handle loads safely, including moving cleaning machines, vacuum cleaners, waste bags, and supplies. Wherever possible, manual lifting is reduced by the use of trolleys, wheeled containers, and suitable equipment.

All cleaning equipment is maintained in a serviceable condition. Employees must carry out pre-use checks, use equipment only for its intended purpose, and remove from service and report any defective or damaged items.

Working on Client Premises

Highbury Cleaner recognises that most cleaning services are delivered on client premises, including homes and workplaces. Our staff must respect client environments and follow any site-specific procedures provided by the client, in addition to this policy.

Employees will ensure that warning signs, such as wet floor signs, are placed where needed, that access routes are kept clear of equipment and trailing leads, and that doors, windows, and security measures are properly managed in line with client instructions.

Lone Working and Personal Security

Many cleaning tasks involve working alone or outside normal working hours. Highbury Cleaner assesses lone working risks and implements measures to protect staff, which may include check-in procedures, clear job schedules, and agreed communication methods.

Employees must follow the lone working guidance issued by the company, remain aware of their surroundings, and leave any situation where they feel unsafe, reporting the circumstances as soon as practicable.

Welfare, Hygiene, and Housekeeping

Highbury Cleaner promotes good hygiene and housekeeping practices at all work locations. Staff are expected to maintain personal cleanliness, use handwashing or sanitising facilities where available, and dispose of waste correctly, especially waste that may be contaminated.

Work areas must be left clean, tidy, and free from unnecessary hazards at the end of each job. Materials and equipment should be stored safely so they do not create risks to clients, visitors, children, or pets.

Accidents, Incidents, and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, near misses, and dangerous occurrences must be reported to management as soon as possible. Highbury Cleaner will investigate incidents, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Employees must familiarise themselves with emergency arrangements relevant to their work locations, including fire evacuation routes, assembly points, and procedures for raising the alarm.

Training, Communication, and Review

Highbury Cleaner provides initial and ongoing health and safety training for all employees appropriate to their roles. This includes induction training, task-specific training, refresher sessions, and updates when new equipment or substances are introduced.

This Health and Safety policy is communicated to all staff and made available to clients on request. The policy is reviewed regularly, and at least annually, to ensure it remains effective and reflects changes in legislation, industry standards, and company operations.