At Cleaning Direct we recognise that our duties under current health and safety legislation and we will endeavour to meet the requirements of this legislation and maintain a safe and healthy working environment. The Director has overall responsibility for the implementation of this policy.
Cleaning Direct recognises its duty to make regular assessment of the hazards and risks created in the course of the business.
Our Duty Where Reasonably Practicable
- to meet our legal obligations to maintain safe and healthy working condition
- to provide adequate control of the health and safety risks so identified
- to consult with our employees on matters affecting their health and safety
- to provide and maintain safe plant and equipment
- to ensure the safe handling and use of substances
- to provide information, instruction and training for our workforce, taking account of any who do not have English as a first language
- to ensure that all workers are competent to do their work
- to prevent accidents and cases of work related ill health
- to actively manage and supervise health and safety at work
- to have access to competent advice
- to seek continuous improvement in our health and safety performance and management through regular (at least annual) review and revision of this policy and statistics available
- to provide the resource required to make this policy and out Health and Safety arrangements effective.
We also recognise
- Our duty to co-operate and work with other employers when we work at premises or sites under their control to ensure the continued health and safety of all those at work; and
- Our duty to co-operate and work with other employers and their workers, when their workers come onto our premises or sites to do work for us, to ensure the health and safety of everyone at work.
As part of our health and safety policy Cleaning Direct commission health and safety consultants to observe our operations, premises and standard of health and safety management. This includes reviews of the premises fire risk assessment and review of workplace risk assessments. At this point an action plan is formulated, with person responsible identified and target dates for completion.
The following aspects of our operations have been identified as processes, tasks and locations requiring risk assessments.
- Cleaning of Carpets (Wet)
- Cleaning of carpets using upright (dry)
- Use of scrubber machine
- Cleaning of stairs and uneven surfaces
- Cleaning of hard floors using wet mop
- Use of pressure wash
- Manual handling of furniture
- Use of hand pressurized sprayer
- Use of step ladders
- Lone working and occupational driving
Initial risk assessments are carried out on the above and dates risk assessments are reviewed are recorded.
The following are control measures instigated for various risk assessments:
| Risk Assessment Numbers | Further Control Measures | Action Allocated To; |
| GR001, 002, 003, 004, 005,
006, 007, 008, 009, |
All relevant employees to be trainedin manual handling techniques. | Peter Hackney |
| GR001, 002, 003, 004, 006 | Inventory of all electrical equipment to be generated and test / inspection regime to be implemented. | Peter Hackney |
| GR009 | Step ladders numbered / identified,ladder log implemented and monthly inspection conducted / recorded. | Peter Hackney |
| GR009 | All relevant employees to be trainedin safe use of step ladders. | Peter Hackney |
| CO001 | Spill kit to be purchased and locatedwithin vehicle and a system of periodic checks to be implemented. | Peter Hackney |
| CO001, 002, 003 | Employees to receive training in COSHHawareness (safe handling, use and storage). | Peter Hackney |
| CO003 | Plastic lidded bin provided on vehiclefor holding waste materials in the event of a spillage. | Peter Hackney |
| CO004, 005 | Staff receive training in controlmeasures related to cross infection | Peter Hackney |
All risk assessment groups have had hazards identified, control measures put in place, and where appropriate any additional controls required have been identified. Responsibility for these risk assessments have been allocated appropriately.
COSSH Assessment Inventory Sheet
The following illustrates some of the COSSH assessment information available to clients as and when required.
| Substance Name/Activity | Risk Numbers | Hazard
classification |
Safety
Numbers |
Assessment
Required Yes/No |
Ref No |
| Dri Pro | R53,R65,R66 | Harmful | S2,S23,S24/25,S26,S37/39,S42,S51,S60,S62 | YES | CO001 |
| Double clean | R36/38. | Irritant | S2, S24/S25,S26,S28,S37 | YES | CO002 |
| Citrus Gel | R10,R38,R43,R52/53,R66. | Flammable/
Irritant |
S2, S24/25,S26,S37, | Yes | CO003 |
| General cleaning of areas contaminatedwith bodily fluids | N/A | Harmful | N/A | Yes | CO004 |
The following gives an example of the Risk Assessments carried out for chemicals and substances used in the course of our work.
| Risk Assessment Reference Number:CO001 | Date of Assessment: E.g. 14/07/11 | |
| Assessors: P Hackney | Name of Substance: DriPro | |
| Date of Safety Data Sheet (SDS):01/03/06 | Manufacturer: Prochem | |
| Use / Exposure (details of the way itis used):
Sprayed onto small areas using handpumped spray gun, brushed if required and blotted dry with cloth. |
||
| Potential Persons Exposed: Employees / Contractors /Visitors / Members of Public / Site Personnel | ||
| Hazard Warning Symbol on Containerlabel: | Irritant / Harmful | |
| Workplace exposure Limits (WEL’s):
Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL),Long Term Exposure Limit (LTEL) – 150ppm |
||
| Risk Phrases: R53, R65, R66 | Safety Phrases: S2, S23, S24/25, S26,S37/39, S42, S51, S60, S62 | |
| Hazards Identified: | Control Measures in Place | |
| Irritation to eyes | · When decanting, conducted at arm’s length
· Safety glasses or goggles to be worn whenhandling or spraying · In the event of contact immediately flush eyeswith water (available on site and in first aid kit) and seek medicalattention. |
|
The above is an illustration of some of the information available and is not intended to be comprehensive. For more detailed information on our COSHH and other health and safety information and procedures applied by Cleaning Direct please contact us.
Product specification and safety data sheets for the products we use in the course of our carpet cleaning, floor cleaning and other duties are available on request.
Safety records kept include accident or incident investigation report; contractor questionnaire; Electrical Appliance Register; Employee Training Record; Hazard/Report Log; Ladder Inspection and Maintenance Register and Vehicle Checklist.
Employee Safety Handbook
Our employee safety handbook has been produced to provide employees with Health and Safety information. It also includes information about your duties as an employee and will help employees to understand Health and Safety issues which affect you at work.
It contains the following:
General Policy
Organisation and responsibilities
Employees’ responsibilities, rules and procedures
What The Law Requires
Our organisation, under current legislation, has to have a written Health and Safety general Policy Statement for the protection of our employees and others who may be affected by our work activities. Our Health and Safety Policy and Arrangements reflect our commitment to the provision of a safe working environment. We are legally require to identify the duties and responsibilities for employees who have a specific role in managing health and safety in our workplace.
We also have a responsibility and duty to ensure that you are:
Aware of and understand the Health and Safety General Policy.
Aware of and understand the health and safety rules relating to your work.
Provided with adequate information, instruction, training and supervision.
Made aware of the significant risks associated with your work activities and how they may affect others.
Provided with Safe Systems of Work.
Provided with a safe and healthy working environment.
The policy is reviewed at regular intervals.
Employees are expected to sign a statement confirming that they have read, understood, accepted and will obey all rules in this handbook and will keep themselves aware of any changes that might occur to working practices and / or the working environment. We provide other documents containing relevant information in addition to training and instruction to help employees to carry out their work safely.
The handbook covers Key Personnel Health and Safety Responsibilities, employee legal responsibilities, safety rules, accident procedures, working practices, fire precautions, health and hygiene. Hazard reporting, consultation, occupational health, risk assessments and safety records are also covered together with general safety rules.
As employers, we have also had Health and Safety Awareness training.