Protecting your cleaning staff
Take care
Our risk assessment - cleaning business premises covers coronavirus along with the general hazards involved in cleaning a building (see The next step ). Amending and adding to it to suit your own circumstances will ensure that you’ve covered what’s required, complied with health and safety legislation and protected your staff.
How to use it
Our document begins with an introductory section with a number of blank spaces where you should write down the “Location” to which the risk assessment applies and the “Department/staff” it covers. Complete the document control section on page one with details of who has carried out the assessment and when, the planned review date, and a circulation list.
Protective clothing
On page two there’s an outline of the personal protective equipment (PPE) which should be worn. We’ve recommended that disposable gloves and aprons should be the normal apparel when cleaning.
Tip. A type of disposable respirator known as an FFP3, along with eye protection, should be worn as additional equipment when cleaning an area which has been used by someone with a known or suspected case of coronavirus.
Tip. We’ve recommended that after use all disposable PPE should be double-bagged and quarantined for 72 hours before disposal in the regular waste stream. You can choose a less onerous disposal process for aprons and gloves in general use if you prefer, but by applying this rule at all times you won’t need to change the regime when there has been a known or suspected coronavirus case.
Pandemic instructions
Our risk assessment describes how you will identify all frequently contacted surfaces such as door handles and stair rails, ensuring that these are regularly cleaned using standard cleaning products. It also looks at the cleaning requirements of an area where there has been a known or suspected case of coronavirus.
Tip. In addition to PPE, when cleaning these higher risk areas staff will need to cordon them off, clean first and then disinfect. Steam cleaning can be used where other methods are unsuitable. Create a list of the high contact surfaces that need cleaning every time and ask them to check it off on each visit.
General hazards
In addition to these special precautions, our risk assessment covers the usual hazards associated with the task of cleaning: (1) moving around the building including the risk of wet floors; (2) using chemical cleaning agents; (3) manual handling; (4) using floor machines and electrical hazards; (5) work at height; and (6) moving vehicles.
For a risk assessment - cleaning business premises, visit https://www.tips-and-advice.co.uk, Download Zone, year 19, issue 1.
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