Cleaning Staff

Cleaning and domestic services are provided by the Accommodation Operations and Projects section of Commercial and Business Engagement (CBE) within the following areas:

  • Halls of Residence
  • Teaching buildings and offices
  • Launderettes Public areas/common rooms.

CBE cleaning and domestic staff are already subject to procedures contained in their 'Total Quality Service - Quality Manual and Operating Procedures' (under ISO9002 Quality System), where they are made aware of general hazards within the environment in which they work.  All staff receive induction training and regular health and safety training specific to their job.

However, special hazards will exist particularly in Science Departments, where special arrangements will need to be provided. For example:

  • cleaners may start work before technical and academic staff, and may well be on their own in the building;
  • cleaners are usually part-time and may well not be involved in fire drills;
  • cleaners may be exposed to a number of hazards in laboratories, flood, fire, chemical, electrical and intruder;
  • cleaners may be drafted in at short notice into unfamiliar areas at a time when there are no technical or academic staff about.

Heads of Schools/Departments should therefore ensure that:

  • departments where there are special hazards inform their cleaning staff of their departmental safety procedures (a model example is attached);
  • cleaners must not go into any designated hazardous area until other staff have arrived;
  • cleaning staff new to a School/Department should not start work there until they have seen the Departmental Superintendent or his/her deputy and received as appropriate:
    1. fire drill notes;
    2. safety procedure information;
    3. any personal protective equipment for example safety glasses.

University of Keele Model Safety Procedures for Cleaning Staff

Introduction

The following rules and information are designed to protect your health and safety. If you are worried about any aspect of health and safety in the department you are welcome to discuss this with the Workplace Safety Adviser or the Departmental Superintendent.

The following accident and incident information is to help you, mainly before other staff arrive, generally at 8.30 am. or after they leave in the evening.

Fire Tel. 9-999

You will receive a copy of the department fire drill procedure. You should familiarise yourself with this. If a fire occurs before departmental staff arrive in the morning, leave the building immediately, setting off the fire alarm as you go. Go to the Chancellor's Building or the nearest safe internal telephone point and ring for the Fire Brigade 9-999.

Flood Tel. 888

If the flood occurs before 8.30 a.m., ring Security on 888. After 8.30 a.m., report immediately to the Departmental Superintendent or a member of staff. DO NOT turn on, or use electrical equipment (including lights). DO NOT attempt to clean it up yourself until you are told it is safe to do so.

Accident Tel. 9-999 Serious : 888 First Aid

You should familiarise yourself with the position of the first aid boxes and the names of the Departmental First Aiders. In the event of a serious accident, ring 9-999 for an ambulance (then report to Security (888)). For minor accidents requiring a First Aider, ring 888 before 8.30 a.m. or a Departmental First Aider after 8.30 a.m.

Intruders Tel. 888

If you come across someone you suspect may be an intruder DO NOT confront or challenge them, lock yourself in an office with a telephone and ring Security on 888, or leave the building and ring Security from the Chancellor's Building or nearest safe telephone point.

General Mishaps

Spillage, breakages, equipment which appears to be malfunctioning etc.. BEFORE 8.30 A.M. OR AFTER HOURS If serious, ring Security on 888, they will contact someone from the department. DO NOT attempt to clean up unless you have been told it is safe to do so. AFTER 8.30 A.M. Contact the Laboratory Superintendent or a member of staff.

Reporting of Accidents and Incidents

You must report all accidents (personal injury), no matter how minor, and all dangerous incidents (no injury), to your Supervisor. Please also notify the Departmental Superintendent.

Electrical Safety

Your electrical equipment, (polishers, vacuum cleaners etc.), should have a sticker with a safe working date on it. DO NOT USE IT, if the sticker is missing or out of date. If a fault is noticed on any of your electrical equipment, not forgetting the plug, DO NOT USE IT.

Report the fault to your Supervisor. DO NOT plug your electrical equipment into laboratory bench sockets; use the wall sockets. DO NOT unplug any laboratory apparatus.

Examples of General Safety Measures

  • These will be outlined by the Departmental Superintendent or his/her equivalent.
  • You will be issued with safety spectacles. Please wear these in any area of the department identified as hazardous.
  • Because of the possibility of broken glass on the floor you are advised not to wear sandals or open-toed shoes.
  • Do not take your overall home for washing.
  • Always observe the rules for safe use of steps.
  • Do not use furniture eg. laboratory stools, to stand on.
  • Warning notices are sometimes posted, always read and observe them.
  • There should be no broken glass in laboratory waste paper bins. Nevertheless, some broken glass is occasionally found there and you should always be careful when emptying them.
  • Always be aware of the possibility of wet floors.

Local Rules

Rooms X, Y, Z to be cleaned by special permission only.

Cleaning Staff Safety Procedures (download Model Safety Procedures above as pdf)

Further Information

Needlestick Injuries

Manual Handling