Over 3000 serious accidents involving cleaners were reported last year by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). This is a shocking figure and reminds us that cleaners are often working in a potentially dangerous environment. We can all joke about Health and Safety ‘gone mad’ rules, but there are very serious reasons for their existence. Often cleaners work alone, or at night, with no support, if things go wrong. At Lincoln Cleaning we know how important it is to have the best equipment when tackling the biggest, dirtiest cleaning jobs, safely and efficiently.
Slips and trips
Wet floors pose the biggest risk and slips, trips and falls are the most common cause of injury to UK workers. Ironically, the cleaners themselves are an integral part of workplace safety. They are cleaning up the hazards on the factory, shop or office floors to protect the workforce and the public. However the figures show there is work to be done to reduce the number of workplace accidents involving cleaners.
The Health and Safety Act of 1974 set out strict regulations for employers which aimed to improve safety at work. There’s also the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, which provides guidelines for lifting, moving and carrying loads and the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Work Regulations 1992. Regardless of how you voted in July 2o24, it’s good to hear that the newly elected Labour Party aims to strengthen these health and safety laws to better protect workers. This includes increased funding for the HSE and stricter enforcement of existing regulations.
Get the right PPE
It’s not just for Covid, there is a wide range of personal protective equipment available, including gloves, masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, hard hats, safety shoes, and overalls. The specific type of PPE required depends on the nature of the hazard present and the tasks performed. Cleaners usually need gloves (e.g., rubber, latex, or nitrile), aprons or coveralls, eye protection and non-slip footwear.
Be risk aware. Be safe.
HSE and regulations state that every employer needs to ensure that all persons who use work equipment have received adequate training for purposes of health and safety. For example, training on safe lifting techniques and ergonomic practices. Cleaners should know the correct techniques to avoid injury. Work areas should be well-organised and clutter-free too. Regular breaks and task rotation help to avoid repetitive strain for operatives. Risk assessments must always be made, which identify potential hazards and determine how people might be harmed.
Ensure equipment is maintained
UK legislation also states that employers need to ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. It’s not enough to put things right when they fail or break down.
At Lincoln Cleaning, we can help as we have a dedicated team of experienced engineers to help with all aspects of service, maintenance and repair. Y
Contact our Service Administrator Thomas Hatfield on thomas@lincolncleaningtechnology.co.uk to find out more about our service plans.
We are the UK’s leading supplier of industrial floor cleaning equipment and we specialise in the sales, service and lease of floor cleaning machines from our expert team, including Thomas, Matthew, Simon and Martin.
Scrubber dryers from Lincoln Cleaning
Ergonomically designed, the Jade 55, by Adiatek, will give you fast, powerful cleaning with innovative brush-dry technology. It’s a walk behind pedestrian scrubber machine with traction, which will transform dirty floors. Or why not try the Opal 80, a scrubber dryer with a bigger cleaning path than the Jade 55 but with the same exceptional results.
Reach out to us at Lincoln Cleaning for our full ranger of scrubber dryer machines and more.
