When choosing a commercial cleaning service in London for your office, there are many factors to consider; and one of the most important is to check how they look after their own staff. Respect for clients, respect for employees and respect for the environment go hand in hand; but the health and wellbeing of cleaning staff is a factor which has often been overlooked in the past. As a manager, you understand how important complying with Health and Safety procedures in the workplace is for the benefit of your own employees and so you should expect the same high standards from your chosen cleaning firm.
Traditional methods of cleaning using strong chemicals can have a serious impact on the health of the people using them. The ingredients in some cleaning agents can cause asthma, allergies and contact dermatitis while certain corrosive chemicals can burn the skin, and all cleaning agents should be used only in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. However, the easiest way to avoid the health hazards associated with traditional cleaning methods is to use only green cleaning companies. These avoid the use of harsh chemical agents that are potentially dangerous to the environment and to the health both of the cleaning staff and the people who use the premises that are being cleaned. Choosing a cleaning contractor with ISO 14001 certification (Environmental Policy) means that you can be confident that they use only products that have a low impact on the environment and that will not cause harm to people using them.
To minimise the risk of accidents to their staff, a commercial cleaning service should make sure that employees are fully trained in the use of equipment such as sweeping machines, polishing machines and steam cleaners; they should also be fully insured. Well-trained teams of staff are competent to carry out specialist cleaning, for example, high-level cleaning of tops of pipework, ceiling beams and light fittings, where risk assessment and awareness of Health and Safety Regulations is essential. Their expertise ensures that the job is carried out quickly and efficiently with minimal disruption to the workplace. Additionally, check that they are trained to comply with COSSH health and safety standards. This assures minimum disruption to your work and places full accountability on the cleaning company.
The philosophy of a cleaning service should be based around respect: the same respect that is shown to clients and the environment should also be shown to staff, so that as well as being safe while at work, they also feel valued and appreciated, and will do a better job for you.
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