Welcome back to my blog. This week I am writing about something close to my heart, Health and Safety.
Counting the cost
It is no secret that accidents at work and occupational illness cost UK industry billions of pounds every year.
I, however, am more concerned about the human cost and the impact it has on the people that have been involved in accidents or have become unwell.
Here at Jangro, we take Health and Safety very seriously. Here is an overview of Health and Safety Awareness.
Know your stuff
Protection for employees against the risk of accidents at work is required by law.
Employers need to ensure staff are armed with the knowledge they need so that they can take precautions to reduce any risks.
Here is a brief overview of responsibilities for employers and employees.
Risky business
Every single job role carries risk and the seriousness of these risks depends on several factors. These include:
- The nature of work
- Degree of information provided
- The extent to which the employee is trained
- The working environment
- The tools or equipment required and provided
During my time as the Jangro Genius I have identified seven key areas that could be hazardous in the cleaning profession.
- Slips, trips and falls: These are the most frequent cleaning accident and can cause anything from a hurt pride and mild bruising to broken limbs and internal bleeding.
- Manual handling and workplace posture: This is a common problem in the cleaning industry as operatives are required to lift or move various heavy objects.
- Dangerous substances: There are various dangerous substances used in the cleaning profession and these chemicals could cause fire or explosions or damage health and the environment.
- Electrical hazards: Faulty electrical equipment, wiring and handling errors are very dangerous and can lead to serious injury or even death.
- Work equipment: The most effective way to mitigate risk is to ensure the correct equipment is being used for various cleaning tasks and that operatives are fully trained to use each item.
- Working environment: Employers must make sure that physical working conditions guarantee health, safety and well being at work.
- Organisation of work: From selecting the correct equipment to the distribution of tasks and duties, all elements of the organisation of the working procedures need to be taken into consideration.
All these risks, and many more are covered with Jangro’s Health and Safety Guide, which is available to everyone that undertakes Jangro’s Health and Safety Learning Management Solution (LMS) Module.
Risk reducing
Of course, this blog can’t possibly cover everything you need to know about Health and Safety in the workplace as it is such a vast and ever evolving subject.
Continuous monitoring, training and buy in from staff are the key to ensuring you stay ahead of the game.
Here are some of my top tips on reducing risk:
- Ensure you appoint a reputable supplier for all your cleaning product needs. Here at Jangro we work in partnership with customers to help them manage and mitigate risk.
- All products that contain chemicals should have a safety data sheet and a comprehensive COSHH risk assessment. Jangro’s new online health and safety compliance Site Manager service has been designed to ensure customers who order online are provided with all the legislative documentation for each relevant product they purchase.
- Staff should also be trained in chemical competence and our LMS training modules are designed to teach cleaning operatives everything they need to know.
- Issue appropriate PPE. Employers must make informed decisions on the correct PPE after analysing the nature of the job, the substances that are being used and the working environment. Staff must make sure they wear the PPE provided properly to provide maximum protection.
Remember, a healthy and safe employee will be productive and happy one, which in turn will mean complete customer satisfaction.
If you have any questions, visit me on my social media pages, where I will be more than happy to help!