Greenwich Carpet Cleaners Health and Safety Policy
Greenwich Carpet Cleaners is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, visitors, and contractors. This Health and Safety policy explains how we manage risk, train our teams, and carry out carpet and upholstery cleaning services safely in homes, offices, and commercial premises.
Our Health and Safety Commitment
We recognise our responsibility to protect the health, safety, and welfare of everyone who may be affected by our activities. Our management team ensures that health and safety considerations are integrated into our planning, decision-making, and day-to-day operations.
We aim to identify and control risks associated with professional cleaning, including the use of machinery, chemical products, and working in customer properties. Continuous improvement in health and safety performance is a core objective of Greenwich Carpet Cleaners.
Responsibilities and Management
Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management. They ensure that appropriate resources, training, and supervision are provided so that work is carried out safely and in accordance with current legislation and industry best practice.
Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for implementing this policy on site, carrying out relevant checks, and making sure staff follow safe working procedures. All employees and contractors must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions, and must cooperate with Greenwich Carpet Cleaners in meeting our legal and moral obligations.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Before undertaking work, we assess the risks associated with the cleaning tasks to be carried out. This includes considering the type of property, the condition of floor coverings and furnishings, access routes, electrical supply, ventilation, and any specific customer requirements.
We develop and follow safe systems of work based on these assessments. Staff are trained to recognise hazards such as trip risks from hoses and cables, exposure to cleaning chemicals, manual handling of equipment and furniture, and the correct use of electrical appliances and machinery. Where necessary, we adapt our methods to suit the particular property and its occupants, including vulnerable people, children, older persons, and pets.
Chemical Safety and COSHH
Greenwich Carpet Cleaners uses professional cleaning solutions that are appropriate for carpets, rugs, upholstery, and hard floors. All chemicals are stored, transported, and used in line with manufacturer instructions and relevant safety data information.
We assess substances under Control of Substances Hazardous to Health requirements and take steps to minimise exposure. This may include dilution controls, use of personal protective equipment, ventilation, and clear labelling of containers. Employees are instructed never to mix incompatible products and to report any spills or accidental contact immediately so that appropriate first aid and cleaning can be carried out.
Equipment Safety and Maintenance
Our cleaning equipment, including hot water extraction machines, vacuum cleaners, agitation tools, and accessories, is maintained in good working order. Regular inspections and servicing are carried out to reduce the risk of electrical faults, leaks, or mechanical failures.
Only trained personnel are allowed to operate machinery. They are instructed in pre-use checks, safe cable management, correct positioning of machines, and the importance of disconnecting from power sources before cleaning or maintenance. Defective equipment is removed from use and clearly identified until it is repaired or replaced.
Personal Protective Equipment
Where risk assessments show that additional protection is required, Greenwich Carpet Cleaners provides suitable personal protective equipment. This may include gloves, masks or respirators, eye protection, and protective footwear, depending on the task.
Staff are trained to use personal protective equipment correctly, to store it safely, and to report any damage or defects. Personal protective equipment is considered a last line of defence and does not replace safer methods of work, but it forms an important part of our overall risk control measures.
Manual Handling and Working Practices
Our teams are trained in safe manual handling techniques to reduce the risk of injury from lifting or moving furniture, equipment, or heavy items. Wherever possible, we use handling aids, share loads between team members, and reorganise rooms to minimise unnecessary lifting.
Staff are instructed to assess the load, route, and environment before lifting, to avoid twisting while carrying, and to stop and seek assistance if an item is too heavy or awkward to move safely. When working in customers premises, we take care to move furniture carefully and to return it to its original position wherever possible, unless otherwise agreed with the customer.
Customer and Public Safety
We plan our work so that customers, building users, and members of the public are not put at risk. This includes managing trip hazards from hoses and cables, using warning signs for wet floors, and keeping access routes as clear as possible.
Where necessary, we may restrict access to specific areas while cleaning is in progress and during drying times. We also provide guidance on safe re-entry to cleaned areas, particularly where carpets or hard floors may remain slightly damp for a short period.
Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, incidents, or near-misses that occur during our work must be reported to management as soon as possible. We record these events and investigate them to understand causes and introduce measures to prevent recurrence.
Our teams are briefed on emergency procedures, including basic first aid responses, safe evacuation, and how to deal with chemical spills or equipment failure. Where incidents occur in customer properties, we communicate clearly with the customer and cooperate fully with any site-specific procedures in place.
Training, Communication, and Review
Health and safety training is provided to all new starters and refreshed periodically. Training covers safe use of equipment, handling of chemicals, manual handling, risk awareness, and customer care in a live environment. Site-specific instructions are given where needed.
We encourage open communication about health and safety concerns. Employees are expected to raise any issues, hazards, or suggestions for improvement with their supervisor or management. This policy is reviewed regularly and updated when changes in legislation, guidance, work practices, or equipment occur, or in response to incident investigations and staff feedback.
Policy Availability and Implementation
This Health and Safety policy is available to employees, customers, and other interested parties upon request. Greenwich Carpet Cleaners is committed to implementing the policy in full and ensuring that safe working practices remain central to how we deliver our carpet and upholstery cleaning services across our service area.
