HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY (V1.5)

Happy Homes Cleaning Company Ltd

Effective Date: 2 December 2025
Review Date: December 2026

1 - Statement of Intent

Happy Homes Cleaning Company Ltd is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of:

Our employees
Self-employed cleaners and subcontractors
Clients in domestic and office environments
Visitors and members of the public affected by our work

We recognise that cleaning activities present specific risks such as slips, chemical exposure, manual handling, and lone working. We will manage these risks effectively and comply with all relevant legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and supporting regulations.

We will achieve this by:

Providing safe systems of work for domestic and commercial cleaning
Carrying out suitable and sufficient risk assessments
Using safe cleaning products and equipment
Providing training, supervision, and clear instructions
Supplying appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Preventing accidents, injuries, and work-related ill health
Regularly reviewing and improving our safety performance

Signed: Richard Bland

R Bland

Position: Director

Date: 02/12/2025

2. Responsibilities

2.1 Director

The Director has overall responsibility for health and safety and will:

Ensure this policy is implemented and reviewed annually
Ensure risk assessments and cleaning procedures are in place
Provide adequate resources, equipment, and training
Ensure compliance with legal requirements
Investigate accidents and implement corrective actions

2.2 Employees and Cleaning Operatives

All employees and subcontractors must:

Take reasonable care of their own safety and others
Follow training, risk assessments, and company procedures
Use cleaning equipment and PPE correctly
Report hazards, faulty equipment, accidents, and near misses
Cooperate with management on all safety matters

Failure to follow safety procedures may result in disciplinary action.

3. Health & Safety Arrangements

3.1 Risk Assessments

We carry out risk assessments in line with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Assessments cover:

Domestic cleaning tasks (e.g. kitchens, bathrooms)
Office cleaning (e.g. desks, floors, shared areas)
Use of chemicals (COSHH)
Manual handling
Equipment use
Lone working

All staff will be informed of relevant control measures.

3.2 Cleaning Chemicals (COSHH)

In line with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002:

All cleaning products are assessed before use
Safer, low-hazard products are used where possible
Products must never be mixed unless authorised
COSHH information is available to all staff
Gloves and other PPE are provided as required
Staff must report any skin irritation or breathing issues

3.3 Training

All staff will receive training appropriate to their role, including:

Induction training
Safe cleaning techniques
Chemical safety (COSHH awareness)
Manual handling
Safe use of equipment (e.g. vacuums, mops)
PPE use

Refresher training will be provided when required.

3.4 Equipment Safety (PUWER)

Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998:

Equipment will be suitable, safe, and maintained
Staff must be trained before use
Equipment must be checked before use
Faulty equipment must not be used and must be reported immediately

3.5 Electrical Safety

In accordance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989:

Visual checks are carried out before use
Damaged plugs, cables, or equipment must not be used
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is carried out where required
Faulty items are removed from service immediately

3.6 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

In line with the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992:

PPE (e.g. gloves, aprons) is provided based on risk
Staff must wear PPE as instructed
PPE must be kept clean and in good condition
Defects must be reported

3.7 Manual Handling

In accordance with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992:

Avoid heavy lifting where possible
Use correct lifting techniques
Use equipment (e.g. trolleys) where available
Do not lift items that feel unsafe

3.8 Slips, Trips and Falls

Cleaning work presents a high risk of slips and trips. We will:

Use warning signs for wet floors
Clean spills promptly
Keep work areas tidy
Use appropriate footwear

3.9 Accident Reporting

All accidents and near misses must be reported immediately.

We comply with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), including reporting:

Serious injuries
Absences over 7 days
Work-related illnesses

3.10 First Aid

Basic first aid arrangements are in place
First aid kits are available where appropriate
Staff must report all injuries, however minor

3.11 Fire Safety

In line with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005:

Staff will follow client fire procedures at all times
Fire exits must never be blocked
Fire alarms and evacuation routes must be understood
No smoking policies must be followed

3.12 Lone Working

Many cleaning tasks are carried out alone (especially in homes or offices outside working hours):

Risks will be assessed before work begins
Staff must maintain communication (e.g. phone check-ins)
Emergency contact procedures will be in place

3.13 Working at Height

Avoid working at height where possible
Only use approved step stools or equipment
Do not stand on furniture
Do not overreach

3.14 Public and Client Safety

Work areas must be kept safe at all times
Warning signs must be used where necessary
Cleaning should minimise disruption and risk to clients
Extra care must be taken in domestic settings (children, pets, vulnerable individuals)

3.15 Welfare

Where reasonably practicable (including client premises), we will ensure access to:

Toilets and handwashing facilities
Drinking water
Rest breaks

3.16 Contractors

Contractors must provide appropriate insurance and safety documentation
Their work may be monitored to ensure compliance

4. Monitoring and Review

This policy will be:

Reviewed annually
Updated following significant changes, incidents, or legal updates
Communicated to all staff