Clean Step Mats is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of our employees, contractors, customers, visitors and anyone who may be affected by our cleaning activities. We recognise that effective health and safety management is an essential part of providing reliable and professional cleaning services across the UK.
This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to identifying and controlling workplace risks, maintaining safe working practices and complying with applicable UK health and safety requirements.
Our Health and Safety Commitment
Clean Step Mats aims to maintain high standards of health and safety across all areas of our work, including domestic properties, commercial premises, new-build projects, construction sites and other locations where our cleaning services are provided.
We are committed to:
- Providing a safe working environment for employees, contractors and visitors.
- Identifying hazards and assessing risks associated with our cleaning activities.
- Taking reasonable and proportionate measures to eliminate or reduce workplace risks.
- Providing suitable information, instruction, training and supervision.
- Using cleaning equipment, machinery and products safely and responsibly.
- Providing appropriate personal protective equipment where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means.
- Maintaining equipment in a safe and serviceable condition.
- Keeping work areas orderly and taking appropriate precautions to prevent slips, trips and falls.
- Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses where appropriate.
- Reviewing our health and safety arrangements regularly and improving them where necessary.
Responsibilities
Health and safety is a shared responsibility. Clean Step Mats expects everyone involved in our operations to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Management is responsible for implementing this policy, providing appropriate resources and ensuring that suitable health and safety arrangements are in place. Employees and contractors are expected to follow established procedures, use equipment correctly, report hazards and cooperate with health and safety requirements.
Risk Assessment
Clean Step Mats considers the potential risks associated with the work we undertake and takes appropriate precautions to control them. Where required, suitable risk assessments and method statements will be prepared for specific activities or working environments.
Risk assessments may consider factors such as:
- Slips, trips and falls.
- Manual handling and lifting.
- Use of cleaning chemicals.
- Operation of electrical equipment and cleaning machinery.
- Working at height where applicable.
- Exposure to dust, dirt, waste or other contaminants.
- Contact with potentially hazardous substances.
- Interaction with members of the public, customers, contractors and other workers.
- Site-specific hazards on construction and new-build projects.
- Fire and emergency arrangements.
Control measures will be selected according to the nature and level of the risk and reviewed when circumstances change or when an assessment is no longer considered suitable.
Safe Working Practices
Employees and contractors must follow appropriate safe systems of work when carrying out cleaning activities. Work should be planned before it begins, particularly where there are unusual, complex or higher-risk conditions.
Cleaning areas should be kept as orderly as reasonably practicable, with equipment, materials and cleaning products positioned so that they do not create unnecessary hazards.
Where cleaning activities create temporary hazards, such as wet floors, suitable warning signs or barriers should be used where appropriate to help protect employees, customers, visitors and members of the public.
Cleaning Chemicals and Hazardous Substances
Cleaning products must be selected, stored, transported and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and relevant safety information.
Where substances present a risk to health, Clean Step Mats will take appropriate measures to control exposure. This may include suitable ventilation, safe storage, appropriate handling procedures and personal protective equipment.
Cleaning chemicals must never be mixed unless the manufacturer’s instructions specifically permit this. Employees should follow product labels and relevant safety data information and report any concerns about a substance before using it.
Where applicable, the company will consider the requirements of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations and implement suitable controls for hazardous substances used as part of our work.
Personal Protective Equipment
Where a risk assessment identifies a need for personal protective equipment (PPE), suitable equipment will be provided or required for the relevant activity. Depending on the task, this may include protective gloves, safety footwear, eye protection, protective clothing or other appropriate equipment.
Employees and contractors must use PPE correctly, maintain it in good condition and report damaged or unsuitable equipment. PPE is used as part of a wider risk-control approach and is not intended to replace other reasonably practicable measures for controlling workplace risks.
Equipment and Machinery
Cleaning equipment and machinery must be used only for their intended purpose and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Employees should receive appropriate instruction before using equipment where training or specific knowledge is required. Equipment should be checked before use, and defects or damage must be reported promptly.
Damaged or unsafe equipment should not be used until the necessary corrective action has been taken.
Electrical Safety
Electrical cleaning equipment must be used safely and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Cables, plugs and equipment should be checked for visible signs of damage before use.
Employees must take reasonable precautions to prevent electrical equipment or connections from creating additional risks, particularly when working around water or damp areas.
Electrical equipment will be maintained and inspected as appropriate to its use and the risks involved.
Manual Handling
Clean Step Mats recognises that cleaning work can involve lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling and moving equipment or materials. Manual handling activities should be assessed where there is a risk of injury.
Employees should avoid unnecessary lifting and use appropriate handling techniques and equipment where available. Heavy, awkward or difficult-to-handle items should be managed using suitable controls, including assistance from another person where appropriate.
Slips, Trips and Falls
Slips, trips and falls are common risks within cleaning environments. Clean Step Mats takes reasonable measures to reduce these hazards by keeping work areas organised and addressing spillages and obstructions promptly.
Wet floors and recently cleaned surfaces should be clearly identified where appropriate. Employees should also take care when working around cables, cleaning equipment, uneven surfaces, steps and other potential trip hazards.
Working at Height
Where cleaning activities involve working at height, Clean Step Mats will take appropriate precautions to prevent falls and reduce associated risks.
Work at height should be properly planned and carried out using suitable equipment and safe working practices. Employees must not use makeshift or unsuitable objects as access equipment.
Where applicable, work at height activities will be managed in accordance with the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
Construction and New-Build Sites
When Clean Step Mats provides cleaning services on construction or new-build projects, additional site-specific hazards may be present. These can include unfinished surfaces, construction materials, machinery, temporary access routes, dust, debris, other contractors and changing site conditions.
Employees and contractors must follow the relevant site rules, induction requirements, access arrangements and safety instructions provided by the site manager or principal contractor.
Where site conditions change or an unexpected hazard is identified, work should be paused where necessary and the appropriate person informed before continuing.
Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures
Clean Step Mats will take reasonable precautions to reduce fire risks associated with its activities. Cleaning products, equipment and other materials should be stored appropriately and kept away from sources of ignition where required.
Employees must familiarise themselves with emergency procedures applicable to the premises where they are working. In the event of an emergency, employees should follow the instructions of the responsible person or site management and evacuate using the designated route where required.
First Aid and Accidents
Appropriate first-aid arrangements should be available at the premises where Clean Step Mats operates, taking account of the nature of the work and the workplace arrangements.
Accidents, injuries and significant incidents arising during work should be reported promptly to the appropriate person. Where necessary, incidents will be reviewed to identify causes and determine whether additional control measures are required.
Reporting Hazards and Near Misses
Employees and contractors are encouraged to report hazards, unsafe conditions and near misses as soon as they become aware of them. Early reporting allows appropriate action to be taken before an incident occurs.
Examples may include damaged equipment, exposed electrical hazards, unsafe access routes, chemical concerns, spillages or other conditions that could cause injury or harm.
Training and Competence
Clean Step Mats recognises the importance of ensuring that employees and contractors have suitable knowledge and instruction for the work they undertake.
Relevant health and safety information, instruction, training and supervision will be provided where appropriate. Additional training or instruction may be required when new equipment, cleaning products, working methods or site conditions are introduced.
Employee and Contractor Responsibilities
Everyone working on behalf of Clean Step Mats is expected to:
- Take reasonable care of their own health and safety.
- Consider the health and safety of others who may be affected by their work.
- Follow relevant health and safety procedures and site rules.
- Use cleaning products, equipment and PPE correctly.
- Report hazards, defects, accidents and near misses promptly.
- Attend relevant training and follow reasonable safety instructions.
- Never deliberately interfere with safety equipment or protective measures.
- Stop and seek guidance where a task cannot be completed safely.
Customers, Visitors and Other Persons
Clean Step Mats will take reasonable steps to protect customers, visitors, members of the public and other persons who may be affected by our activities.
Where cleaning work creates a foreseeable risk to others, appropriate precautions will be taken. This may include restricting access to an area, displaying warning signage, separating work areas or coordinating activities with the customer or site management.
Monitoring and Review
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed periodically and whenever there is a significant change to our activities, working arrangements or relevant health and safety requirements.
Reviews will consider whether existing controls remain suitable and whether further measures are reasonably required to improve health and safety performance.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Clean Step Mats is committed to complying with applicable UK health and safety legislation and guidance relevant to its activities. Depending on the nature and location of the work, this may include requirements under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and Work at Height Regulations 2005.
Health and safety requirements will be considered alongside the specific risks and conditions of each workplace or project.
Policy Statement
Clean Step Mats is committed to maintaining safe and responsible working practices across all of our cleaning operations. We recognise that effective health and safety depends on suitable planning, risk control, competent working practices and cooperation between our company, employees, contractors, customers and other relevant parties.
We will continue to review our approach to health and safety and take appropriate steps to maintain safe working conditions for everyone affected by our services.
Policy owner: Clean Step Mats
Policy type: Health and Safety Policy
Review frequency: At least annually or following significant changes to operations or applicable requirements.