Crystal Palace Cleaners Health and Safety Policy
Crystal Palace Cleaners is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, contractors, clients, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our cleaning activities. We recognise our duty of care and aim to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health through effective planning, communication and control of risks.
Policy Aims and Objectives
The purpose of this health and safety policy is to define how Crystal Palace Cleaners manages health and safety in all locations where we provide cleaning services. Our primary objectives are to:
Identify, assess and control hazards associated with cleaning tasks and environments.
Comply with all applicable health, safety and welfare legislation and relevant industry guidance.
Provide and maintain safe systems of work, safe equipment and suitable materials.
Ensure employees are competent to carry out their duties through training, instruction and supervision.
Consult with employees on health and safety matters and encourage active involvement and feedback.
Continuously improve our health and safety performance through regular review and monitoring.
Management Responsibilities
Management at Crystal Palace Cleaners holds overall responsibility for the implementation and maintenance of this policy. Management will:
Provide adequate resources to manage health and safety effectively across all cleaning contracts.
Set clear health and safety objectives and integrate them into business planning and decision making.
Ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for all tasks, premises and equipment.
Approve safe working procedures and ensure these are communicated and enforced.
Monitor health and safety performance through inspections, audits, incident reporting and reviews.
Lead by example, demonstrating visible commitment to safe working practices at all times.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee has an important role in maintaining a safe workplace. Employees of Crystal Palace Cleaners are required to:
Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.
Follow all safety instructions, training, risk assessments and safe working procedures provided.
Use equipment, tools, cleaning machines and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately.
Refrain from using machinery or substances for which they have not been trained or authorised.
Report accidents, near misses, hazards and unsafe conditions to their supervisor as soon as possible.
Cooperate fully with management, clients and other contractors on site in order to maintain safe working conditions.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Crystal Palace Cleaners will carry out risk assessments for cleaning activities including, but not limited to, floor cleaning, window cleaning, washroom servicing, waste handling and use of cleaning chemicals. These assessments will:
Identify hazards such as slips and trips, working at height, manual handling, exposure to substances, electrical equipment and lone working.
Evaluate risks and determine appropriate control measures to reduce risk to an acceptable level.
Form the basis of written safe systems of work and method statements where required.
Be reviewed regularly and following significant changes in work processes, locations, equipment or incidents.
Employees will be trained in the relevant risk assessments and procedures for their specific duties and service areas.
COSHH and Safe Use of Chemicals
The safe handling, storage and use of cleaning substances is a key priority. Crystal Palace Cleaners will:
Obtain and maintain up to date safety data sheets for all cleaning products and substances used.
Conduct Control of Substances Hazardous to Health assessments for all relevant materials.
Ensure products are labelled correctly and stored securely in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
Provide appropriate training on dilution, application, ventilation, contact times and emergency measures.
Prohibit the mixing of incompatible chemicals and discourage the use of unapproved or decanted products.
Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as gloves, eye protection and masks where required by assessments.
Personal Protective Equipment
Where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means, Crystal Palace Cleaners will provide personal protective equipment at no cost to employees. This may include gloves, protective footwear, high visibility garments, masks, goggles and other items as identified by risk assessment. Employees must:
Use PPE as instructed and only for its intended purpose.
Inspect PPE before use and report any damage or defects.
Store PPE correctly and keep it clean and in good condition.
Equipment, Machinery and Maintenance
All cleaning equipment, including vacuum cleaners, buffing machines, steam cleaners and portable electrical appliances, will be kept in safe working order. Crystal Palace Cleaners will:
Select equipment that is suitable for its intended use and environment.
Arrange regular inspection, testing and servicing in line with manufacturer recommendations and legal requirements.
Ensure only trained and authorised staff operate specialist machinery and access equipment.
Remove from service any item found to be defective until it has been repaired or replaced.
Training, Information and Supervision
Crystal Palace Cleaners recognises that competent and informed staff are essential to safe operations. We will:
Provide induction training for all new employees, covering general health and safety, company rules and site specific procedures.
Deliver task specific training, including manual handling, safe use of equipment, chemical safety, emergency procedures and site access controls.
Refresh training periodically and when new equipment, substances or procedures are introduced.
Provide supervision proportionate to the risks and the competence of staff, particularly for new or young workers.
Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, incidents, work related ill health and near misses must be reported promptly. Crystal Palace Cleaners will:
Maintain appropriate records of accidents and incidents and investigate where necessary to identify root causes.
Implement corrective and preventive measures following investigations to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
Ensure staff are familiar with emergency arrangements at each site, including fire evacuation routes, assembly points and first aid arrangements.
Cooperate fully with clients and relevant authorities in the reporting and investigation of serious incidents.
Consultation and Communication
Crystal Palace Cleaners encourages open communication about health and safety. Employees will be consulted on changes that affect their safety and are encouraged to suggest improvements. Safety information, updates and lessons learned from incidents will be communicated through briefings, toolbox talks and written instructions.
Policy Review
This health and safety policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner if there are significant changes in legislation, company structure, services, working practices or following a serious incident. Updated versions will be communicated to all employees and made available to clients upon request. Crystal Palace Cleaners is committed to ongoing improvement and expects all staff, managers and partners to contribute positively to maintaining safe and healthy cleaning operations.
