HSE Press Release: E157:04 - 11 November 2004

Cleaning industry- new forum to drive improvements in health and safety

Representatives of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the UK's cleaning industry met last month to set up a new liaison forum. The cleaning industry is a major employer in the UK, and this first meeting is a major step in driving forward improvements in health and safety.

The forum brings together a wide range of interested parties drawn from employers, trade associations, trade unions, manufacturers and those using cleaning services. It has made commitments to bring about improvements in health and safety through, for example, developing training for employees and establishing best practice for cleaning. The forum will also provide information for the users of cleaning services so that they are aware of standards for professional cleaning and understand their obligations to employees and customers.

Gavin Howat, HSE Inspector, said:

"Cleaning touches everybody's life in some way or another. Whether you work in an office, go to school or shop in the local supermarket, you have an interest in safe, effective and professional cleaning. The forum is fortunate in having such a wide and knowledgeable membership. This will really help drive forward improvements in health and safety in the cleaning industry."

HSE has agreed to participate in the seminar sessions planned for the Cleaning Exhibition in March 2005.

Notes to Editors

1. The meeting to set up the new liaison forum was held on 19 October. The organisations attending the meeting included:

• British Cleaning Council
• Association of Building Cleaning Direct Service Providers
• British Association of Chemical Specialties
• British Institute of Cleaning Science
• Industrial Cleaning Machine Manufacturer's Association
• National Federation of Master Window and General Cleaners
• Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners
• Bullough Contract Services
• UNISON
• Darwin Clayton
• Indepth Managed Services
• SL Consulting
• Cleanfix
• KeenKleen
• Indigo Services
• Brighton and Hove City Council
• Cleaning and Hygiene Today
• UK Housekeepers Association
• SYR Ltd
• Principle Services

2. Relevant HSE guidance on the cleaning industry includes " Caring for cleaners" HSG234 ISBN 0 7176 2682 2 priced £9.50, available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA; tel: 01787 881165; website: http://books.hse.gov.uk

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