Risk Assessment

• Read appropriate COSHH assessment and follow guidelines for its correct use, dilution rates, PPE and safe disposal.
• Chemicals must be stored within a secure cleaner’s room away from heat sources. Ensure cupboard(s) are secure at all times.
• Ensure work area is in a tidy condition. Good housekeeping is essential.
• Remove all rubbish and combustible materials.
• Never mix chemicals outside the approved methods.
• Always ensure that all bottles and containers are correctly labelled. If operative comes across an unlabelled bottle, dispose of contents immediately.
• Do not use aerosols in confined unventilated areas.
• Where cleaning at eye level, safety goggles should be worn or when COSHH assessment states that safety goggles should be worn.

• The employee shall receive a site induction before commencing work; this shall include emergency and first aid arrangements. A supervisor or manager should visit onsite for the first couple of shifts.
• Employees must familiarise themselves with the environment. Be aware that the environment can change at any-time.
• A health declaration should be completed by the operative and reviewed to ensure they are in suitable health.
• Ensure operatives have a suitable means of communication to contact emergency services/assistance at all times. This may involve out of hours “phone in”.

• No working at height should take place.
• Ensure suitable footwear is worn.
• Use warning signs when carrying out mopping, damp mop method should be used.
• Ensure cables are behind when vacuuming etc.
• Do not leave equipment lying about. Store appropriately.
• Clean up spillages and cordon off area from all exit/egress points.
• Use handrail when using stairs.

• Manual handling training to be provided to operatives before work activities commence.
• Never move unidentified objects. Assess whether the bag is strong enough or should the waste be double bagged before commencing activity.
• Ensure appropriate PPE is worn at all times when handling waste – Heavy duty gloves, suitable safety footwear and high visibility vest. Keep bags away from the body to reduce the chances of being in contact with sharps.
• If the load is too heavy or the operative is not physically capable of carrying out the manual handling activity, do not lift the load or carry out the activity. A team lift should be considered, or a mechanical aid should be introduced to carry out the activity.
• If a team lift is required ensure the operatives are roughly the same height, a leader should be agreed to lead the lift.
• Plan the route and assess the environment you will be working/moving in.
• Always assess the load before conducting any manual handling operations.

• Operatives should be trained in carrying out battery charging before work commences.
• Ensure that area is dry before commencing. No leaks.
• Electricity supply be isolated until battery is connected to power source, only once this has been set up and area is clear should the power be turned on.
• Prevent short circuits in a battery; overcharging and over discharging should be avoided at all costs.
• Ensure cable is connected adequately.
• Visually inspect cables and equipment to ensure there are no defects.
• Area should be well ventilated.
• Wear suitable protective gloves when handling batteries.
• Operatives must use appropriate equipment for the cleaning task.
• All equipment to be in good working order.
• Equipment must be subject to pre and post works checks.
• Faulty equipment to be reported as soon as fault is discovered.
• “Out Of Order” Sign to be displayed/ remove item from work area.
• Faulty Equipment not to be used until satisfactory repair has been undertaken by a competent person.
• See also electrical equipment.
• All users must be competent to use equipment required – provided with sufficient training.
• Equipment must be maintained according to manufacturer’s instructions.
• Monthly recorded inspections undertaken.

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• Employees should not engage with any persons exhibiting threatening behaviour.
• Walk away from irate members of the public and avoid confrontation.
• If the operative is exposed to verbal abuse, walk away, Do Not Engage directly with the abuser.
• Seek a safe place to retreat.
• Call Site Security / Police if physically assaulted and inform your manager.

• Assess the weather conditions before going into the outside environment.
• If there is thunder and lightning do not go outside until storm has passed.
• Avoid being outside in heavy rain and ensure appropriate safety shoes are worn along with a high visibility vest and protective rain gear.
• Take care in strong winds, especially when carrying loads.
• Beware in cold/icy conditions, ensure appropriate footwear is worn and be vigilant when placing feet on ground, ensure that you have a secure foothold. If there are objects on ground such as leaves, or litter avoid walking on these as they can become very slippery. Ensure where possible walkways are gritted.
• Certain activities should not take place when strong winds are about. Assess each situation individually.
• Wear appropriate protection on warm/sunny days, ensure fluids are consumed to avoid dehydration, protective clothing such as a hat and long sleeves is worn and finally sunscreen should be issued.

• Senior teams/responsible person(s) must undertake daily inspections of fire exits/equipment and ensure operatives are provided with full induction to include the fire and emergency information.
• Fire detection, alarm and suppression systems in place and maintained via the planned preventative monitoring system.
• Good housekeeping standards must be adhered to at all times.
• Emergency procedures must be clearly displayed for reference.
• Operatives to be made fully aware of all site-specific emergency procedures.

• Employees must receive training in cleaning up body spills from a competent trainer.
• Only those trained in cleaning up body spillages should carry out the work activity.
• No untrained person should clean up body spills.
• Rinse all heavy soiling off crockery / flatware before loading into dishwasher.
• Ensure that you wash your hands thoroughly before you unload the dishwasher/handle clean crockery/cutlery/glasses etc.
• All cuts and sores must be covered.
• Area must be cordoned off and signs displayed at all exit and egress points near the works being completed.
• Body Spillage Kit available on Site – and available at all times.
• PPE must be worn at all times during activity, at no times should the Employee use their unprotected hands to carry out activity.
• Waste should be sealed and disposed of in yellow bio-hazardous waste bag. They disposed of into the correct waste area.
• Always clean from the outside in.

DIRECT CONTACT WITH ANOTHER PERSON’S BLOOD/BODY FLUID AREA MUST BE WASHED WITH SOAP, WATER and DISINFECT AREA AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.

IF CONTAMINATION INVOLVES LIPS, MOUTH, TONGUE, EYES OR BROKEN SKIN CLEAN WITH COLD WATER & SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE.

• All employees to use the equipment for short periods of time (15 to 20 minutes) and take a break to perform other duties.
• Avoid gripping or forcing the handles more than you have to.
• Massage and exercise your fingers during work breaks.
• Check tools before using them to make sure they have been correctly maintained and repaired to avoid increased vibration caused by faults or general wear.
• Beware of any symptoms and stop work immediately.
• Learn to recognize the early signs and symptoms.
• Report any symptoms promptly to your employer.
• Operatives must contact their line manager/health and safety adviser should they feel unwell or have symptoms related to vibration at work.

• Employee should receive training in the use of diluting, handling, using and storage of chemicals.
• Ensure that they do not mix chemicals, and they are familiar with the COSHH Assessment.
• Ensure operatives wear the correct PPE which has been supplied.
• Employee should receive training in the correct colour coding procedures to prevent cross-contamination.
• Ensure correct dilution rates are used.
• Do not pick up a needle stick, cordon off the area and call your manager.
• Only clean a body spill if you have been trained. Otherwise, contact the manager.
• Dispose of all contaminated cleaning cloths/mops correctly by the site-specific procedure.

• Ensure lighting is suitable to carry out the task.
• Report defective lighting to the site manager.
• Be aware of surroundings.
• Operatives must only complete work tasks relating to the loading/unloading bays where there is suitable and sufficient lighting. Any issues or concerns relating to lighting must be reported directly to line management as soon as possible.

• Drivers to be instructed to switch off engines when stationary.
• Ensure correct effective signage is in place.
• Damp areas before sweeping.

• Ensure the battery is not overcharged; it should be switched off once charging has finished. Timer switches should be used where possible.
• Keep away from open flames such as sparks, burning cigarettes, or other ignition sources at all times. Batteries expel explosive gases. (Refer: Site-specific smoking policy)
• Ensure that there is an adequate level of battery fluid and an adequate cable connection before starting the charging process.
• Ensure the battery does not overheat when charging.

• Ensure only trained employees carry out work using equipment.
• Equipment shall be visually inspected before and after use to ensure that it is in good working order.
• Where equipment is damaged or faulty, the machine should be tagged and removed from the area. Faults should be reported to a supervisor, and the machine should not be used until repaired.
• No horseplay while using or around equipment.
• No repairs/servicing on any equipment.