Marylebone Cleaner Health and Safety Policy

Marylebone Cleaner is committed to providing professional cleaning services in a manner that protects the health, safety, and welfare of our employees, clients, contractors, visitors, and members of the public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles, responsibilities, and procedures that guide our day-to-day work and ensure that safety is an integral part of every cleaning task we undertake.

Policy Objectives

The objectives of this policy are to prevent accidents, injuries, and work-related ill health, and to maintain safe, hygienic working conditions across all cleaning sites we service. We aim to identify and control hazards, promote safe systems of work, and foster a positive safety culture in which everyone understands their responsibilities and acts with care and consideration.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management at Marylebone Cleaner holds overall responsibility for implementing and monitoring this Health and Safety Policy. Management will ensure that appropriate resources, equipment, and training are provided so that all cleaning operations can be carried out safely and efficiently. This includes regularly reviewing risk assessments, updating procedures, and responding promptly to any concerns raised by employees or clients.

Managers are responsible for communicating safety information, enforcing safe working practices, and ensuring compliance with all relevant health and safety regulations that apply to professional cleaning services. Where necessary, management will seek advice from competent health and safety professionals to maintain best practice across our operations.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work. Staff must follow all safety instructions, use cleaning agents and equipment in line with training and manufacturer guidelines, and cooperate with management to achieve a safe working environment.

Employees are expected to report hazards, near misses, incidents, or defective equipment without delay so that corrective action can be taken. No worker will be penalised for raising genuine health and safety concerns or for stopping work if they reasonably believe there is a serious and imminent danger.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Before starting new cleaning contracts or tasks, Marylebone Cleaner will assess the associated risks and plan safe systems of work. This includes evaluating access routes, trip hazards, manual handling tasks, use of chemicals, operation of machinery, and any site-specific risks such as restricted spaces or shared areas with other occupants.

Where risks cannot be eliminated, they will be reduced to as low as reasonably practicable through appropriate control measures. These may include substitution of products, use of protective equipment, revised working methods, or additional training and supervision. Risk assessments will be reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes to the work environment or processes.

Training, Supervision and Competence

Marylebone Cleaner provides induction and ongoing training to ensure that all staff are competent to perform their duties safely. Training covers safe use of cleaning chemicals, colour coding systems, handling of equipment such as vacuum cleaners and floor machines, manual handling techniques, use of personal protective equipment, and emergency procedures.

New staff and those undertaking unfamiliar tasks receive appropriate supervision until they are able to work safely on their own. Refresher training is provided at regular intervals, and additional instruction may be given following incidents, changes in equipment, or revisions to procedures.

Use of Chemicals and Hazardous Substances

Cleaning chemicals and other hazardous substances used by Marylebone Cleaner are selected, stored, and used with care to minimise risks to health. Only approved products are used, and staff are trained to follow product instructions, safety data information, and relevant safety procedures.

Containers will be clearly labelled and kept in secure storage areas when not in use. Staff must never mix chemicals unless specifically instructed by manufacturer guidance, and must always use appropriate protective equipment when handling concentrated products or decanting solutions. Adequate ventilation is maintained wherever chemicals are in use.

Personal Protective Equipment

Where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means, Marylebone Cleaner will provide suitable personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, protective eyewear, or footwear. Staff are required to use this equipment correctly, keep it in good condition, and report any damage or loss so that replacements can be issued promptly.

Manual Handling and Equipment Safety

To reduce the risk of strain and injury, employees receive guidance on safe lifting and carrying techniques, and wherever possible, manual handling will be minimised through the use of appropriate tools and equipment. Cleaning machines, electrical appliances, and other work equipment are maintained in safe working order and inspected at appropriate intervals.

Faulty or damaged equipment must be taken out of service immediately and reported to management. Staff must never attempt to repair electrical or mechanical equipment unless they are expressly authorised and competent to do so.

Housekeeping, Slips and Trips

Good housekeeping is essential to safe cleaning operations. Work areas will be kept tidy, with trailing cables managed safely and equipment stored correctly when not in use. Wet floors will be clearly marked with warning signs and, where possible, cleaned at times that minimise risk to building users.

Spillages and other slip or trip hazards will be dealt with promptly. Staff must remain alert to conditions that could cause accidents, including uneven surfaces, cluttered corridors, and poor lighting, and must either correct these hazards or report them to the appropriate person on site.

Emergency Procedures and First Aid

Marylebone Cleaner ensures that employees are familiar with emergency procedures for the sites they work on, including fire evacuation routes, assembly points, and procedures for raising the alarm. Staff must comply with site-specific requirements and cooperate fully with building managers and emergency services.

Accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported as soon as reasonably practicable so that they can be recorded, investigated, and used to improve safety measures. First aid arrangements will be confirmed for each site, and employees will be informed of how to obtain assistance if an injury occurs.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Marylebone Cleaner monitors compliance with this Health and Safety Policy through supervision, site visits, incident reporting, and feedback from clients and staff. Where shortcomings are identified, corrective actions will be implemented, and procedures updated as necessary.

This policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective, relevant, and aligned with current legislation and industry standards for cleaning services. All staff are informed of changes, and copies of the policy are made available to employees and clients on request.

Policy Communication and Acceptance

This Health and Safety Policy reflects the commitment of Marylebone Cleaner to deliver cleaning services responsibly and with due regard for the wellbeing of everyone affected by our activities. Compliance with this policy is a condition of employment, and all employees, contractors, and managers are expected to uphold its standards at all times.