Safe Use of Cleaning Chemicals and Equipment Procedure

Purpose. Sets the rules for selecting, diluting, using, storing and disposing of cleaning chemicals and for the safe use of cleaning equipment on every site.

1.Approved chemicals only

Only chemicals on the Vantage approved list and recorded in the site chemical register are permitted on a site. A current safety data sheet must be available in the cleaners' room and on the tablet for every chemical. Cleaners must not bring their own products or decant chemicals into unlabelled containers.

2.Dilution and labelling

Concentrates must be diluted using the dosing system or the measured dilution on the product label. Every spray bottle and bucket must carry the product label with the dilution and the date. Chemicals must never be mixed; mixing chlorine-based products with acids or ammonia produces toxic gas.

• Use the dosing pump or the measuring cup, never guess
• Label every bottle with the product and dilution
• Never mix products
• Rinse and dry equipment at the end of the shift

3.Personal protective equipment

Gloves and eye protection must be worn when handling concentrates and when using acids, alkaline strippers or chlorine products. Respiratory protection is required where the safety data sheet states it. Wet floor signs must be placed before mopping and remain until the floor is dry.

4.Equipment

Vacuum cleaners, buffers, scrubbers and pressure washers must be inspected before use and must carry a current electrical test tag. Faulty equipment must be tagged out and reported to the team leader. Cleaners must be trained on a machine before using it alone, and ladders above two metres are not permitted for cleaning tasks without a specific risk assessment.

5.Storage and spills

Chemicals must be stored in the locked cleaners' room, with acids and chlorine products separated, below eye level and away from food areas. Spills must be contained with the spill kit, cleaned up wearing PPE and reported in the incident register. Any exposure to skin or eyes must be flushed with water for fifteen minutes and reported immediately.

6.Training and records

Every cleaner must complete chemical safety training at induction and every two years. The team leader keeps the site chemical register current and the Cleaning Operations Manager audits it quarterly.