Dulwich Cleaners Health and Safety Policy

Dulwich Cleaners is committed to providing professional cleaning services in a manner that protects the health, safety and welfare of our employees, clients, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our work. We recognise our responsibilities under relevant health and safety legislation and aim to continually improve our standards through effective planning, communication and review.

Policy Aims and Scope

This Health and Safety Policy applies to all employees of Dulwich Cleaners, including permanent, temporary and contract staff, as well as any subcontractors engaged to perform work on our behalf. It covers the planning and delivery of all cleaning activities carried out at client premises, residential properties, commercial buildings and shared spaces, including routine cleaning, deep cleaning, end of tenancy cleaning and specialist tasks.

The aim of this policy is to prevent accidents, injuries, work-related ill health and damage to property by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing proportionate controls. Health and safety is a core management function and an integral part of our business decisions and day-to-day operations.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Dulwich Cleaners has overall responsibility for ensuring that this policy is implemented and maintained. Management will provide visible leadership on health and safety matters and will allocate appropriate resources to support safe working practices.

Management will ensure that:

Suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for all relevant activities and that findings are communicated to employees. Safe systems of work and method statements are developed where appropriate. All employees receive information, instruction, training and supervision needed to carry out their duties safely. Suitable cleaning products, tools, equipment and personal protective equipment are provided and maintained in a safe condition. Incidents, near misses and hazards are reported, recorded, investigated and acted upon to prevent recurrence. This policy is reviewed regularly, and at least annually, to reflect changes in legislation, guidance or the nature of our services.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Every member of staff is expected to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.

Employees must:

Follow all health and safety procedures, safe systems of work and instructions given by supervisors. Use cleaning materials, tools, machinery and personal protective equipment correctly and for their intended purpose. Report any accidents, incidents, near misses, hazards, defective equipment or dangerous situations to their supervisor without delay. Cooperate with management in the implementation of this policy and attend relevant training. Refrain from any behaviour that could put themselves or others at risk, including horseplay or misuse of equipment.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Risk assessments are carried out for the main types of cleaning tasks undertaken by Dulwich Cleaners. These assessments consider hazards such as slips and trips, manual handling, working at height, use of chemicals, electrical equipment and lone working.

Based on these assessments, safe working practices are established, including but not limited to:

Maintaining good housekeeping by keeping walkways clear, using warning signs where floors are wet and promptly cleaning up spillages. Using correct manual handling techniques when lifting, carrying or moving items and making use of trolleys or other aids where available. Ensuring safe use of steps or small ladders where required, with checks on their condition before use. Following instructions on cleaning products, diluting chemicals correctly and never mixing incompatible substances. Checking that electrical equipment is in good condition before use and not using damaged items.

Risk assessments and procedures are reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes to work practices or identified risks.

Chemicals and Hazardous Substances

Dulwich Cleaners recognises the potential risks associated with cleaning chemicals and other hazardous substances. Products are selected with regard to their effectiveness and their impact on health and the environment.

For all hazardous substances, information is obtained from suppliers and, where necessary, assessments are made to comply with the relevant regulations. Employees are trained in the safe storage, handling, dilution and disposal of cleaning products, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks or eye protection where required.

All chemicals are kept in clearly labelled containers. Unlabelled containers are not used. Substances are stored securely when not in use to prevent unauthorised access, particularly in locations where children or vulnerable people may be present.

Training, Information and Supervision

Effective training is essential to achieving high standards of health and safety performance. Dulwich Cleaners provides induction training for all new employees, covering company health and safety rules, emergency procedures, accident reporting and safe use of equipment and products.

Further task-specific training is provided as needed, for example in manual handling, safe use of machinery, handling of sharps or biohazards, and working safely in client premises. Refresher training is arranged at suitable intervals or when new risks are introduced.

Supervisors are responsible for monitoring work on site, checking that procedures are followed and providing guidance where needed. Where staff work alone or outside normal hours, additional controls are considered, such as regular check-ins, clear instructions and agreed emergency arrangements.

Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures

All accidents and incidents, no matter how minor, must be reported to management as soon as possible and recorded. This includes near misses, which may highlight underlying hazards and provide opportunities for improvement.

In the event of an accident, the first priority is to ensure the safety of those involved and others in the area, arrange first aid or medical assistance as required and make the area safe. Following an incident, an investigation may be undertaken to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.

Employees are briefed on emergency procedures for the premises in which they are working, including fire evacuation routes and assembly points. Staff must cooperate with client procedures while on site.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

Dulwich Cleaners values the input of employees and clients in improving health and safety performance. Staff are encouraged to raise concerns, make suggestions and participate in discussions about safer ways of working.

Management reviews health and safety performance, including accident records, training needs and feedback from staff and clients, to identify trends and opportunities for improvement. Actions arising from reviews are communicated to relevant parties and monitored for effectiveness.

Policy Review and Availability

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed at regular intervals and whenever there are significant changes in our operations, legal requirements or best practice guidance. Updated versions are communicated to employees and made available to clients on request.

Dulwich Cleaners is committed to working with employees, clients and other stakeholders to maintain a safe and healthy environment wherever our cleaning services are delivered.