Bermondsey Cleaners Health and Safety Policy

Bermondsey Cleaners is committed to providing professional cleaning services in a manner that safeguards the health, safety, and welfare of our employees, clients, visitors, contractors, and members of the public who may be affected by our activities. This Health and Safety Policy explains the principles and procedures that guide our operations on every site where we work.

Policy Statement

Our aim is to prevent accidents, work-related ill health, and unsafe situations by managing health and safety risks in a systematic and proactive way. We comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and work to industry best practice for commercial and domestic cleaning services.

This policy applies to all Bermondsey Cleaners employees and to any contractors or temporary workers engaged to carry out services on our behalf.

Responsibilities and Management

The overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who ensure that effective arrangements, resources, and support are in place. Managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing this policy on site, including planning safe systems of work, monitoring standards, and addressing any issues that arise.

All employees have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Staff must follow training and instructions, use equipment correctly, wear any required personal protective equipment, and report hazards, incidents, and near misses without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our cleaning activities to identify potential hazards and implement appropriate control measures. These assessments cover, where relevant, the use of cleaning chemicals, manual handling, slips and trips, electrical equipment, lone working, working at height for tasks such as internal window cleaning, and any specific risks associated with client premises.

Safe working procedures are communicated to staff through training, written instructions, and on-site briefings. Employees are expected to follow these procedures at all times and raise concerns if they believe work cannot be carried out safely.

Chemical Safety and COSHH

Bermondsey Cleaners uses cleaning products that are appropriate for professional use and, where possible, environmentally considerate. All substances are assessed to ensure they are used and stored safely, and that any associated risks are controlled.

Staff receive guidance on dilution, application, ventilation, and safe disposal of chemicals. Cleaning materials are kept in labelled containers, stored securely, and never left unattended in areas accessible to children, pets, or vulnerable individuals. Safety data and instructions are available to employees undertaking cleaning tasks.

Equipment, Tools, and Personal Protective Equipment

We provide suitable and well-maintained equipment for all cleaning work, including vacuum cleaners, mops, cloths, and any specialist tools. Electrical equipment is inspected regularly and used only in accordance with manufacturer guidance and internal procedures.

Where necessary, staff are provided with personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, eye protection, and protective clothing. Employees are required to use this equipment as instructed, keep it in good condition, and report any defects or losses so that items can be repaired or replaced promptly.

Training, Information, and Supervision

All new employees receive an introduction to our health and safety standards before starting work on client premises. This includes safe handling of chemicals, correct use of equipment, manual handling techniques, and procedures for incident reporting and emergency response.

Ongoing training and refreshers are provided as needed, especially when new methods, products, or equipment are introduced. Supervisors monitor working practices, provide guidance, and support staff to maintain high standards of safety and cleanliness across all locations we serve.

Protecting Clients and the Public

We recognise our responsibility to protect clients, occupants, visitors, and the public from risks arising from our cleaning operations. Work areas are organised to minimise disruption and hazards such as trailing leads, wet floors, or temporarily obstructed access routes.

Where necessary, warning signs and barriers are used during tasks such as floor cleaning to alert people to potential slip risks. Staff are instructed to maintain good housekeeping standards, keep walkways clear, and leave areas safe and tidy on completion of work.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, and near misses, whether involving employees or others, must be reported to management as soon as reasonably practicable. We investigate these events to identify root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Employees are provided with guidance on what to do in the event of fire, serious injury, or other emergency situations while working on site. This includes cooperating with client procedures, following evacuation routes, and notifying the appropriate emergency services when required.

Health, Wellbeing, and Manual Handling

We are committed to promoting the health and wellbeing of our employees. Cleaning work can involve repetitive movements, bending, lifting, and carrying, so staff are trained in safe manual handling techniques and encouraged to use equipment such as trolleys or extendable tools to reduce strain.

Work is organised to limit excessive workloads and allow for appropriate breaks. Staff are encouraged to raise any health issues that may affect their ability to carry out certain tasks so that adjustments can be considered where reasonably practicable.

Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement

We monitor our health and safety performance through inspections, feedback from staff and clients, and the review of incident reports. Where improvements are identified, we update our procedures and provide additional training or resources as needed.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective, relevant, and aligned with current legislation and industry guidance. Any significant changes are communicated to employees and, where appropriate, shared with clients.

Employee Cooperation and Policy Acceptance

Every employee of Bermondsey Cleaners is expected to read, understand, and follow this Health and Safety Policy as a condition of their work. By cooperating fully and maintaining a strong safety culture, we can deliver reliable, high quality cleaning services while protecting everyone involved in or affected by our operations.