How to Ensure COSHH Compliance in the Contract Cleaning Industry

Whether you run a small or large cleaning business, ensuring the safety of your staff and clients should be a top priority. However, due to the nature of the job, exposure to hazardous substances is inevitable. Many common cleaning products such as toilet cleaners and limescale removers have chemicals in them that could be potentially harmful if handled incorrectly. Therefore, it is crucial to adhere to safety regulations to ensure your staff, facilities, and clients remain safe.

One effective way to manage risks in the cleaning industry is to familiarise yourself with COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) regulations and provide your staff with proper compliance training.

In this guide, we will delve into COSHH cleaning procedures and provide valuable insights into how to ensure your processes comply with these regulations.

COSHH in the Cleaning Industry

According to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), over 3,000 serious incidents involving cleaners are reported each year, which is likely to be much higher when non-reported incidents are taken into consideration.

Of these incidents, dermatitis and respiratory illnesses are the highest among cleaning staff.

These issues are largely caused by prolonged exposure to hazardous cleaning substances such as:

• Floor, toilet, window, glass, oven cleaners.
• Antibacterial cleaners.
• Rug, carpet, and upholstery cleaners.
• Bleach.
• Polishes.
• Detergents.
• Mould and mildew removers.
• Drain cleaners.
• Air fresheners.

Although most of these substances may be harmless alone, they can become extremely hazardous when combined with other chemicals, under-diluted, or handled incorrectly.

Due to the risks involved, it is crucial for all workplaces in the cleaning industry to abide by COSHH regulations. Failing to maintain compliance can result in serious injuries and severe penalties, such as unlimited fines and criminal charges.

How Can Cleaning Businesses Ensure Compliance With COSHH?

All of this may sound overwhelming, but fortunately, tackling compliance with COSHH can be an easy process, if you do it systematically.

It is generally accepted that there are five key steps to completing a COSHH-compliant assessment, and these include the following:

Step 1: Collect Information on the Substances Used

Firstly, obtain all COSHH safety data sheets (SDS) on the cleaning products used within your business. These should contain information on the chemical properties of the product. Information on hazards and any necessary measures for safe handling and storage should be detailed. Emergency procedures in case of spills, fires, or the need for first aid should also be detailed.

(COSHH doesn’t cover lead, asbestos, or radioactive substances, as these substances are controlled by their own regulations. For more information on the substances not covered by COSHH, visit the HSE website)

Step 2: Evaluate the Health Risks

When assessing the risks associated with hazardous substances, it is important to consider several factors. These include the potential harm caused by the substance, the likelihood of exposure, the frequency of exposure, and the level and duration of exposure.

It is essential to take into account everyday tasks, routine cleaning and maintenance, and potential spillages or releases, as these can impact the hazards and the people affected.
Once exposure has been evaluated, it is crucial to determine whether this exposure can result in a health risk. Understanding the potential risks associated with exposure to hazardous substances can help you implement effective measures to minimize the likelihood of harm and ensure a safe and healthy work environment.

Step 3: Implement and Maintain Control Measures

Not all risks can be completely eliminated or reduced instantly. Therefore, you’ll need to prioritise these risks by outlining a hierarchy of control based on the following considerations:

• Which hazards pose the most serious health risks.
• The most immediate risks.
• How quickly and easily you can implement the control.

Once this is done, the hazards can be maintained and controlled through various strategies, including:

1. Elimination – Carefully choosing processes and systems to completely eliminate exposure to hazardous substances.
2. Substitution – Substitute the hazardous substances you use for less hazardous alternatives such as bio/ plant-based cleaning chemicals.
3. Isolation – Consider using equipment that encloses the whole process to reduce exposure.
4. Engineering – Make physical changes to your process to remove any risk, such as including adequate ventilation or adding splash guards to equipment.
5. Administration – For example, install signs, ensure appropriate training, and rotate jobs.
6. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Such as goggles and gloves.

Step 4: Record Findings

If you have five or more employees, it is a legal requirement to document the results of your COSHH assessment. However, it is advisable to record your findings regardless of the number of employees to promote best practices. Your record should include information on the identified hazards, the chosen precautions, and the reasoning behind your selection.

Step 5: Monitor, Update, and Review

Regular monitoring of your COSHH assessment is essential to ensure the effectiveness of your control measures. However, it is not necessary to repeat the entire assessment process each time you review it. Instead, you should evaluate your existing assessment and make necessary updates to ensure it remains appropriate and adequate.

However, you must review your assessment immediately if:

• There is evidence to suggest that your current assessment is no longer valid, such as in the event of an accident or incident.
• Your work circumstances, such as processes, equipment, or substances used, undergo significant changes.

COSHH Training for Cleaning Staff

Training your cleaning staff on the latest workplace risk prevention regulations and standards is a key part of COSHH compliance. As part of this training, employees must be provided with adequate training on how to handle, store and work with hazardous substances.

You can ensure that your team receive the relevant COSHH training by signing up for MyTraining.

MyTraining from Castle (EU) provides participants with a complete understanding of COSHH principles. Trainees will learn how to identify hazardous substances and conduct risk assessments. The MyTraining COSHH course also details the best practices for working with hazardous substances.

For More Industry Tips, or to Buy Cleaning and Hygiene Supplies, Talk to Castle (EU)

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Whether you’re just starting out in the cleaning industry or looking to take your business to the next level, we’re here to help. Contact our team today for more information on how we can support your needs.