H&S Policy 2021

General Statement of Intent

Extreme Clean (Bristol) Ltd believes that excellence in the management of health and safety is an essential element within its overall business plan – good health and safety record goes hand in hand with standards of service being provided.

Employees are the most important asset to Extreme Clean and therefore we are completely committed to ensuring their health, safety and welfare at all times.

From an economic view, the company believes prevention is not only better but cheaper than cure.

From a legal perspective, the company is committed to ensuring that it complies with all relevant health and safety legislation.  Where it is reasonably practicable to do so, the company will strive to go beyond requirements of legislation.

The company is committed to ongoing monitoring and review processes, so that continual improvement in the management of health and safety can be achieved.

Our overall intentions are:

• To provide adequate control of the Health & Safety risks arising from our work activities.

• To consult with employees on matters affecting their Health & Safety.

• To provide and maintain safe equipment.

• To ensure safe handling and use of substances.

• To provide information, instruction and monitor for employees.

• To ensure all employees are competent to do their daily tasks, and to give them adequate training.

• To prevent accidents and cases of work related ill health.

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1. Employee Duties:

All employees are required to:

• Co-operate with all colleagues & management on any health and safety matters;

• Not interfere with anything provided to safeguard company health and safety;

• Take reasonable care on the health and safety for themselves and others; and

• Report all health and safety concerns to a responsible person (as detailed in this policy statement).

Non-compliance with health and safety rules and procedures can result in disciplinary action, which may include immediate dismissal if appropriate.

1. Risk Assessment:

In accordance with the management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the company will carry out risk assessments of all activities that present a risk to employees and others.  Risk assessments will be carried out as and when required and may be duplicated for jobs that pose the same Hazards & Risks repeatedly. If there are any significant changes, an updated assessment will be produced:

• Identify the significant hazards involved in our activity.

• Decide who might be harmed and how.

• Evaluate the level of risk and decide if existing precautions are sufficient, or if more needs to be done.

• Record that significant finding of the assessment.

• Review the assessment when things change, or there is reason to believe that it is no longer valid.

1. Safe Equipment:

The company will ensure that all the equipment is suitable and without risks to health and safety, in accordance with legislation such as the Provision ad Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, the Lifting Operating and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

1. Safe Handling and Use of Substances:

The company will assess and control health risks from exposure to hazardous substances in accordance with Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002.

1. Manual Handling:

Statistics show that poor manual handling is one of the most common causes of injury at the workplace; these injuries often have long-term effects.  Company policy is to reduce the risk of manual handling injuries as far as is reasonably practicable and to provide guidance to employees on the measures that should be taken to ensure safe lifting and carrying.

In particular it the management responsibility to ensure that:

• A risk assessment of manual handling and lifting task are carried out.

• Operations which involve manual handling are eliminated, so far as is reasonably practicable, and where this is not reasonably practicable. That appropriate lifting aids are provided.

• The design and layout of the workplace is considered and changes are made where practicable.

1. New and Expectant Mothers:

The management of Health and Safety at work Regulations require all organisations to assess workplace risks for all employees.  Where women of childbearing age are employed the assessment must also cover risks specific to new and expectant mothers.

When and employee informs Extreme Clean that she is pregnant, it is the responsibility of the management team to ensure that an assessment of the safety implications of that persons work is carried out in full consultation with her, as soon as possible.  The results are to be recorded, copied to the individual and filed in the personnel file.  As the pregnancy progresses, and also at return to work, the assessment should be reviews with the person.

1. Slips, Trips and falls:

Inadequate provision of workspace can lead to increased risks of slip, trip and falling injury.  To minimise the possibility the following precautions will be followed.

• Ensuring that all potential slip and trips hazards in the workplace are identified.

• Cabling and wiring should be arranged in such a way as to eliminate, as far as possible, any potential trip hazards.

• Regular inspections should be carried out to ensure that good housekeeping standards are maintained.

1. Working alone:

Extreme Clean will assess the hazards and risks associated with lone-workers and take steps to minimise then so far as is reasonably practicable.

• Equipment used by lone workers is properly maintained.

• Communication is established with any lone worker, which is appropriate to the circumstances.

• All lone workers have contact numbers of directors for emergencies.

• We try to get 2 cleaners to work at each location where possible.

• Employee would be expected to inform a close relative their expected home return time.

1. Working at Height:

Falls from height are regular cause of fatal and serious injuries.  There are three main hazards associated with work at heights:

• Falls.

• Falling objects.

• Falls from collapsing structures.

The company will ensure that precautions are taken to avoid all three hazards;

Wherever reasonable practicable, any work at height will be avoided at all times.

In particular it is the responsibility of management to ensure that a risk assessment is carried out for all activities that involve working at height and that safe working procedures are identified and communicated to all employees before authorisation is given to proceed with the work.

Ladder safety checklist needs to be carried out to ensure the safety of our employees:

1. Position the leaning ladder at a 75-degree angle;

2. Maintain a firm handhold on the ladder. Only let go of a handhold briefly when it’s not possible to maintain it for the task in hand.

3. Make sure the ladder is long enough for the task;

4. Do not overload. Think about the worker’s weight as well as the equipment or materials being carried;

5. Consider overhead power lines when working.

6. Secure a leaning ladder wherever possible at both top and bottom. If that’s not possible, seek advice from the manufacturer on stabilization. As a last resort, ask someone to foot the ladder. Use a strong upper resting point rather than, for example, plastic gutters.

Inspection is also an important part of ladder safety. Maintaining ladders and stepladders in good working order requires pre-use checks by the user, detailed inspections and routine maintenance.

1. Drugs and Alcohol:

There are various legal reasons, as well as a moral duty which would compel Extreme Clean to take action against drug and alcohol abuse at work.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, every employer has a duty of care over their employees and anyone affected by their work activity.  The management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to ensure that they have assessed the risks to which employees and others are exposed to through the course of the work.

In addition it is an offence under the Misuse of Drug Act 1971 for any person to possess controlled substances, and for any person to knowingly permit the production, supply or use of controlled substances on their premises. 

1. Stress:

Extreme Clean have a general duty under section 2 of this act to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees.  A responsibility for health includes mental health i.e. ‘Managing Stress’.

The Health and Safety at Work Act requires employers to provide safe equipment and working environments, and provide adequate information, instruction and training, which is Extreme Cleans feels it adequately provides.

Inadequate provision of any of these areas can increase the risk of workplace stress.

The phrase ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’ means that employers can find a balance between the cost, time and trouble of making a job safe and the likelihood of that job causing injury or illness.

In order to make this process fair, an estimation must be made not just of the costs, but of the benefits of improved working conditions in terms of reduced sickness absence,  If any employee feels they have a problem with stress must contact the management asap.