Safety Practices in Residential Cleaning

When you are in the cleaning industry, whether you clean homes or offices, the responsibility for the safety and well being of your employees is yours. If your company consists of yourself, 1 employee, 10 employees or 50 employees, it does not matter. Providing a safe work environment is the responsibility of the owner of the company. As your company grows, so too will your requirements to provide a safe work environment. You will be asked to provide documentation and proof that your employees have received safety training should you ever experience an on the job accident. But, first things first. How can you put safe practices into play when you are just starting your company? Where do you begin? There are some basics that you must know about. The governing organization for monitoring safety in the workplace is called OSHA or Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA is a division of the U.S. Department of Labor. You can find out more information about OSHA regulations and how they affect our industry by visiting www.osha.gov. Click on OSHA assistance for the cleaning industry. Here you will find information about hazards in the work place and how to develop a safety and health program for your company. Let's look at few general safety questions you will want to ask yourself:

1. Do all employees know what emergency procedures to follow; how they get ahold of you after they call 911? Where are emergency phone numbers kept, do they have them on their work orders?
2. Do they know what to do in case a cleaning chemical gets splashed in a team member's eye?
3. Do they know where SDS sheets are located? Is there a copy in their vehicle? Or with their paperwork?
4. What are your emergency medical procedures for all employees? Do they know what they are?
5. What are proper lifting procedures? Do they know not to use their backs, but bend at the knee for all lifting?
6. Do they understand the dangers in using drugs or alcohol before or during their work day? Do you have a policy in place so that there is no misunderstanding?
7. Do they know what to do when there is an accidental breakage in the client's home? How is this handled?
8. How about the use of cleaning chemicals? Do they know the dangers of improper use? Have they been trained in proper use of the products? Are they careful to not set a basket of cleaning products on carpet?
9. Proper climbing techniques. Are they aware of the danger in climbing on boxes, stools, chairs, etc?
10. Bloodborne Pathogen Program. Have they been taught the proper use of disposable gloves in a residential cleaning environment? Proper disposal of household trash? The procedures in case of a disposed needle stick?
11. Safe clothing for the cleaning industry is important. Do you require your employees to wear closed toe shoes? No flip flops or sandals? No flowing long sleeves or pant legs that can get caught on objects?
12. How about electrical safety and the use of vacuum cords? Are they being yanked from the wall socket? Or carefully removed? Are the team members careful not to vacuum over the cords?

And this is just the beginning! You will want to begin with this list and create your own written safety program if you do not have one. Besides care and concern for your employees, you will want to protect yourself from potential legal problems should there be an accident or injury involving an employee or client. Workers' compensation rates are regulated by each individual state however; your company's rate is determined by your accident free status. Do your part to insure the safety and well being of your employees by writing your safety program today! Protect your company's future by having a plan in place that is easily understood by all employees and make certain it is part of your orientation process. Check with OSHA for more information. Educate yourself and set your company apart by following safe, secure practices for our industry. Sharon L. Cowan is President and CEO of Maid For Success, a coaching and consulting firm dedicated to assisting established and emerging cleaning companies realize their potential and business goals. Sharon specializes in companies who are in both residential and commercial cleaning or who wish to diversify their business. Sharon can be reached at www.maidforsuccess.com or [email protected].