Health and Safety Policy — Green Cleaners Richmond Upon Thames

Green Cleaners Richmond Upon Thames is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of all employees, contractors, clients and members of the public affected by our cleaning operations. This policy sets out the principles and expectations for safe working across our operations. Our aim is to prevent injury and ill health, promote wellbeing and to operate as a responsible, environmentally conscious cleaning provider. We apply a risk-based approach to safety and a practical, consistent management system. We will take all reasonably practicable measures to achieve these objectives.

The management team has overall responsibility for implementing this health and safety policy, ensuring adequate resources, training and oversight. Employees and subcontractors are required to follow safe systems of work, report hazards and take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others. Supervisors will provide induction, ongoing training and supervision. Accountability is supported through clear roles, documented procedures and periodic performance reviews to ensure compliance with safe work practices.

All cleaning activities are subject to risk assessment and documented safe working procedures tailored to the site, task and environment. We identify hazards such as slips, trips and falls, manual handling, exposure to cleaning products and waste handling. Controls include appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), safe lifting techniques, spill kits, signage and the use of low-toxicity cleaning agents. Maintenance schedules for equipment and electrical PAT testing are enforced to reduce mechanical and electrical hazards.

The policy covers all operations provided by Green Cleaners Richmond, including domestic and commercial premises, specialist cleaning and one-off deep cleans. Our objectives are to: prevent accidents, reduce occupational illness, comply with statutory obligations and continually improve our health and safety performance. The following controls form the backbone of our approach:

• Risk assessment: Systematic identification and control of hazards.
• Training and competence: Induction, refresher training and task-specific instruction.
• Safe products and equipment: Preference for green, low-emission cleaning solutions.
• Emergency preparedness: First aid, fire procedures and spill response plans.
• Incident management: Reporting, investigation and corrective actions.

Specific operational procedures include COSHH-style assessments for chemical safety, lockout/tagout where appropriate, and clear segregation of cleaning waste. We prioritise biodegradable and low-VOC products to protect both workers and clients. Supervisors will ensure PPE is available and properly used, and that signage and barriers are in place during high-risk tasks. Records of assessments, training and equipment checks are maintained to support transparency and traceability.

Implementation of this policy requires active worker participation and regular communication. All staff are encouraged to report near misses and unsafe conditions without fear of reprisal; constructive reporting drives improvement. Contractors must demonstrate equivalent health and safety standards before commencing work. We use routine inspections, safety walks and audits to identify opportunities for improvement and to check that controls are operating effectively.

Performance is measured using leading and lagging indicators, such as training completion rates, number of risk assessments completed, incident frequency and time to close corrective actions. Management review meetings evaluate these metrics and set priorities for improvement. Where incidents occur, prompt investigation establishes root causes and prevents recurrence through remedial actions and updated procedures.

This health and safety policy is a living document that will be reviewed at least annually and updated whenever there is significant change to operations, technology or legislation. Green Cleaners in Richmond Upon Thames commits to continuous improvement, ensuring safety considerations are integrated into procurement, scheduling and service delivery decisions. By combining proactive risk management with a culture of care and responsibility, we strive to provide safe, reliable and sustainable cleaning services.