Check your company vehicle as follows: oil, tires, MOT, road tax;

Check your working equipment and machinery;

Ensure you have a First Aid kit in your van;

You MUST NOT use your mobile phone whilst driving or engage your attention in any other activity but being safe and present on the road;

Should you need to establish contact with a client to notify them of any delays, pull over first and ensure the safety of yours and others;

You must wear a safety belt at all times;

No smoking is allowed whilst driving;

In the instance of a car accident you must have your insurance details and must contact the Head office/your employer immediately;

Wash hands upon arrival

Wash hands after using the toilet

Wash hands after wearing rubber gloves

Cuts and sores should be covered with a suitable dressing

Wash hands after cleaning operations

1. INHALATION (breathing in) Any substance that forms a dust, gas, vapour or mist can easily be breathed in. Once inside the body it will enter the lungs where it can cause serious damage or be passed into the bloodstream and poison the body.

2. INGESTION (eating and drinking) You may ask yourself why any sane person would wish to eat or drink a harmful substance, but how often have you seen someone eating or drinking in the same area as he is handling a harmful substance. In this way, those substances can accidentally enter our bodies. Serious ill health and death have also occurred after cleaning chemicals have been stored in drinking vessels and accidentally drunk.

3. ABSORPTION (through skin) The skin can easily become damaged by the irritant effect of some chemicals. They can also enter the bloodstream either through the skin itself or through any cuts or abrasions, causing damage to internal organs of the body.

Now that we know how harmful substances can enter the body, we can understand the importance of wearing protective equipment issued to us.

RUBBER GLOVES - must be worn at all times when carrying out cleaning tasks and handling chemicals. N.B. Hands must be clean and dry when wearing rubber gloves, otherwise skin problems may occur.

GOGGLES - must be worn when handling neat chemicals and /or where there is a particular risk of any chemicals coming into contact with the eyes; for example: where there is a risk of splashing when pouring chemicals from containers and working with chemicals at eye level.

MASKS - must be worn in dusty conditions; e.g. boiler rooms, pottery areas or where there are fumes, vapours or mists.

Overalls /Tabards - although overalls are not classed as protective equipment, they must be worn at all times when on duty. Sleeves should be kept rolled down to ensure minimum protection of lower arms.

PRODUCT LABELS - It is important that you take time to study the label on each chemical container, it will provide you with all the basic information you will require to use the substance safely. The most important Health and Safety information is written on the labels of cleaning products.

Under no circumstances must cleaning materials and chemicals be mixed as this could result in the generation of poisonous fumes.

All cleaning materials/chemicals must be securely locked away when not in use.

Before diluting cleaning chemicals always ensure you are wearing the appropriate protective clothing – goggles, overalls, gloves etc. Ensure the area is well ventilated and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Before decanting into a spray bottle always ensure it is appropriately labelled. If it isn’t, then label it yourself. When diluting cleaning chemicals, always add the chemical to the water to reduce the risk of splashing.

The storage of cleaning materials/chemicals should be kept to a minimum in order to reduce wastage, fire and other risks.

Keep chemicals out of direct sunlight, away from excess heat, and prevent them from freezing.

Electrical cleaning equipment is not dangerous if properly maintained and used. If used improperly, accidents may occur. There are some general safety rules which must be observed:

Only use machines which you have been trained and authorised to use.

Only use it for the task for which it has been designed.

Fit the machine with the correct size pad or brush, correctly fitted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions so that there is no danger of loss of control. Ensure the power cable is kept clear of the machine when in use.

Never allow cables to become fully extended or strained.

Damaged leads, loose plugs, strange noises or vibrations should be dealt with as follows:

Take the machine out of use.

Label the machine as needing repair and place in a secure store.

Immediately report the fault to the office.

NEVER try to repair the machine yourself.

DO NOT use the machine again until an authorised electrician has repaired it.

Ensure machines are cleaned, maintained and serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

The ratio of fatalities to injuries is greater from electrical accidents than almost all others. The consequences of contact with electricity can be death, electric shock, electrical burns and fires caused by overheating.

The measures that should be taken to avoid electrical injury are as follows:

1. Always turn off appliances before disconnecting.

. Always turn off and disconnect before servicing the machine in any manner whatsoever

3. Always disconnect from mains after use.

4. Never allow cables to trail in water.

5. Never pull a machine by its cable.

6. Never use electrical equipment with wet hands or gloves.

7. Never overload power outlets.

8. Never leave machines unattended and switched on.

9. Always use the correctly rated fuse.

10. Never use a machine if it has a faulty or damaged cable or plug.

The worker has a duty to ensure that nobody is exposed to noise levels which could damage hearing. Hearing damage includes noise induced hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), etc.

The main protective measure is to use equipment that does not generate noise levels which may be harmful. It is important to maintain equipment properly to prevent it produces excessive noise (e.g. regular lubrication, adjustments, replacing bearings, etc.).

Hearing protection is often used when workers are operating carpet cleaning machinery etc due to the high noise levels. The hearing protection must be suitable in that it:

1. reduces the damaging sound frequencies produced 2. fits the employee properly 3. fits correctly with any other personal protective equipment

Slips, Trips and Falls account for approximately 30 per cent of all accidents. It is essential, therefore, that we do all we can to eliminate as far as possible any potential risks which result either from faulty floor maintenance or a lack of due care and attention.

Adhere to the following rules to reduce the likelihood of accidents.

1. BEFORE WORK COMMENCES, ALWAYS PUT UP WARNING SIGNS. WHEN COMPLETED AND AREA IS DRY, PUT THEM AWAY.

2. Programme work to coincide with low levels of pedestrian use.

3. When wet or damp mopping, leave only an absolute minimum of water on the floor so that it will dry quickly. Leave warning signs in position until the floor is thoroughly dry and ‘lock-off’ the area if possible.

4. Clean up spillages immediately. Place warning signs and ‘lock-off’ the area if possible.

5. When water is brought into the building during wet weather, place warning signs and mop or wipe dry the floor as soon as possible.

6. Never leave cleaning machinery or equipment in places where they present a trip hazard or obstruction to passers by.

7. Control machine leads so that they do not create trip hazards, either for you or passers by. Place warning signs. 8. Immediately report unsafe floor conditions, e.g. damaged floor tiles or worn carpets, to the Client or the Office.

9. Take particular care when carrying machinery and equipment up or down stairs. Ask for help if you need it.

10. Never operate electrical equipment standing on wet floors.

11. When using furniture polish, always spray the polish on to the cloth. Wax polish sprayed directly from the can will cause a slip hazard if it falls on to emulsion polished floors.

12. Keep all floors clean and dust free. Dust on floors can be a major slip hazard, particularly in areas that are not regularly cleaned, e.g. Fire Exits.

13. Never rush around the building.

14. Use handrails where provided.

15. Avoid walking on wet or wet polished floors.

16. Always wear the appropriate footwear.

There may be circumstances when you will be required to work at height, e.g. window cleaning /high level wall cleaning. Every year many people are seriously injured, some fatally, whilst using step ladders, ladders and working platforms. Observing the following rules can prevent accidents:

1. Always assess the risks before you start work and whether the risks warrant another method.

2. Try to avoid working at heights when you are alone on site.

3. Never climb on furniture or window ledges; always use the appropriate access equipment.

4. Always ensure the equipment is in good condition and suited to its use before starting work.

5. Ensure ladders are the correct height for the job, are positioned on a firm, level surface and are set at the correct angle.

6. Avoid over-reaching when working at height and keep thighs between the uprights of the ladder.

7. Always ensure, wherever possible, that the ladder is fixed and secured at the top and bottom.

8. Make sure the ladder and soles of your feet are clean - wear appropriate footwear.

9. Never use ladders in the wind and rain, unless absolutely necessary.

10. Never stand on the top three rungs.

11. Always keep both hands free to grip the sides of the ladder. Tools and materials should be raised and lowered by rope if they can’t be carried in a belt.

12. Stepladders should always be extended and opened to their full spread.

13. Always take particular care when working near skylights or roof edges.

14. Always display warning signs when using ladders.

By manual handling we mean transporting or supporting of a load (including putting down, pushing, and pulling, carrying or moving) by hand or bodily force.

Why you should practice correct handling

1. Because the correct procedure helps to take the strain out of moving loads, making the job easier - sprains and strains account for well over half of all injuries reported nationally.

2. Because it helps to avoid injury - the most vulnerable part of the body is the back, and between two-thirds and three-quarters of all adults will suffer from back pain at some time during the course of their working lives.

DON’T be misled into thinking that it won’t happen to you because you don’t handle heavy loads on a regular basis.

REMEMBER - injuries can be the result of: 1. A single incident - these types of accident often result from a lack of familiarity with safety procedures and incorrect handling techniques.

2. Doing the same thing many times - never under- estimate the cumulative nature of injuries, back and repetitive strain injuries in particular. Conditions such as rheumatism and fibrosis are often attributed to poor manual handling techniques.

You must remember there are six basic principles of correct manual handling, which are:

1. Keep your back straight - lowering your head before lifting and raising it on lifting will help keep your back straight.

2. Bend your knees and use your leg muscles.

3. Keep the load close to your body.

4. Keep your elbows close to your side.

5. Use a palm grip.

6. Position your feet correctly

1. Always know where emergency phone and First Aid box are located.

2. Always report all accidents to the office personnel.

3. Always follow the evacuation procedures in the event of a fire or other emergencies. Make sure you know them!

4. Always wear correct protective clothing.

5. Always clear up spillages immediately.

6. Always site safety signs when cleaning is in progress.

7. Always follow manufacturer’s instructions when using machinery, equipment and chemicals.

8. Always take care when lifting/moving heavy or awkward loads.

9. Always use the access equipment provided. Never stand on chairs, tables or other objects.

10. Always ensure you have been trained in the use of machinery, equipment and chemicals.