Stockwell Cleaners Health and Safety Policy

Stockwell Cleaners is committed to maintaining the highest standards of health, safety, and welfare for our employees, clients, visitors, contractors, and members of the public who may be affected by our cleaning activities. This policy sets out the principles and procedures we follow to ensure our work is carried out safely and responsibly in all service areas.

Policy Statement and Objectives

The objective of this Health and Safety policy is to prevent injury, ill health, and property damage arising from our cleaning operations. We aim to achieve continual improvement in our safety performance by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing appropriate control measures for all tasks, from routine office cleaning to specialist and periodic work.

Senior management has overall responsibility for health and safety within Stockwell Cleaners and will provide the resources, training, supervision, and equipment necessary to support this policy and comply with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards.

Responsibilities

Management at Stockwell Cleaners is responsible for:

Ensuring that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are completed for all work activities. Providing safe systems of work, information, instruction, and training. Supplying and maintaining appropriate equipment, tools, and personal protective equipment. Monitoring compliance with this policy through inspections, audits, and performance reviews. Investigating accidents, incidents, and near misses and taking corrective action to prevent recurrence.

Employees are responsible for:

Taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Following all safety procedures, training, and instructions provided. Using equipment and personal protective equipment correctly and reporting any defects. Reporting hazards, unsafe conditions, accidents, incidents, and near misses without delay. Cooperating with management to enable Stockwell Cleaners to meet its health and safety responsibilities.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Stockwell Cleaners carries out documented risk assessments for all cleaning tasks and environments where we operate, including offices, residential premises, commercial properties, and shared spaces. These assessments consider hazards such as slips and trips, manual handling, working at height, electrical equipment, chemical use, lone working, and security.

On the basis of these assessments, we develop and implement safe systems of work. These include clear work instructions, use of warning signs, agreed access arrangements with clients, safe cleaning sequences, and specific controls for higher-risk activities such as ladder use or floor maintenance involving wet surfaces.

Training, Competence, and Supervision

All employees receive induction training that covers general health and safety requirements, emergency procedures, safe use of equipment and chemicals, and the specific risks associated with their role. Task-specific training is provided for specialist cleaning methods, machinery, and any high-risk activities.

Refresher training is delivered as needed, for example when introducing new equipment, materials, or procedures. Supervisors and managers are trained in hazard recognition, incident reporting, and monitoring safe working practices. No employee is permitted to undertake work for which they have not been adequately trained and deemed competent.

Chemical Safety and COSHH

Stockwell Cleaners manages the safe use, storage, and disposal of cleaning chemicals. Only approved products are used, and they are handled strictly in accordance with manufacturer instructions and relevant safety data information.

Control measures include clear labelling, secure storage, use of appropriate personal protective equipment, and provision of information on hazards and first aid. Staff are trained in dilution, application, and spill management procedures to minimise risk to themselves, clients, and the environment.

Personal Protective Equipment

Stockwell Cleaners provides suitable personal protective equipment such as gloves, eye protection, footwear, masks or respirators where required, and any specialist items needed for particular tasks. Employees must wear and use this equipment as instructed and report any damage or loss immediately so that replacements can be arranged.

PPE is considered a last line of defence. Wherever practicable, risks will be controlled through elimination, substitution, or engineering and organisational measures before reliance on personal protective equipment.

Workplace Safety, Equipment, and Vehicles

Equipment used by Stockwell Cleaners, including vacuum cleaners, scrubber dryers, polishers, and other machinery, is maintained in a safe condition, regularly inspected, and serviced according to manufacturer recommendations. Only trained personnel are authorised to use specific machinery.

Where vehicles are used for the transport of staff, equipment, and materials, they are maintained to a safe standard, and drivers are expected to follow safe driving practices and comply with road safety laws. Loads are secured to prevent movement or spillage during transit.

Accidents, Incidents, and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported promptly to a supervisor or manager. Stockwell Cleaners records and investigates these events to identify root causes and introduce improvements to prevent recurrence.

Employees are instructed in emergency procedures relevant to the sites where they work, including fire safety, evacuation routes, assembly points, and first aid arrangements. Where our teams work on client premises, they must familiarise themselves with, and follow, site-specific emergency and security rules.

Lone Working and Site Security

Cleaning work may sometimes be carried out outside normal business hours or by individuals working alone. Stockwell Cleaners assesses the risks associated with lone working and implements measures such as pre-agreed check-in arrangements, access controls, and clear instructions on what to do in the event of concerns or emergencies.

Employees must not allow unauthorised persons to access client premises or company equipment and must follow any security procedures agreed with the client, including the correct use of keys, alarms, and identification.

Consultation, Monitoring, and Review

Stockwell Cleaners encourages open communication on health and safety matters. Employees are invited to raise concerns, suggest improvements, and participate in assessments and reviews that affect their work. Feedback from clients is also valued and considered when reviewing our practices.

This Health and Safety policy is monitored and reviewed regularly, and at least annually, to ensure it remains suitable, effective, and aligned with current legislation, industry guidance, and the evolving nature of our cleaning services. Updates will be communicated to all employees and, where appropriate, to clients and other stakeholders.

By implementing this policy and working together, Stockwell Cleaners aims to provide a safe, healthy, and professional cleaning service throughout our service areas.