Cleaning Health & Safety Guide

Cleaning may seem straightforward, but it can involve a range of health and safety risks, from slips and trips to cleaning chemicals, electrical equipment and manual handling. Whether you clean professionally or manage a cleaning team, understanding these risks can help protect cleaners, customers and other people using the premises. This guide covers some of the key health and safety considerations involved in cleaning and practical ways to reduce the risks.

6 min read

Written by The Cleaning Site

Last updated: September 2026

In This Guide

1. Why Is Health and Safety Important in Cleaning?

Cleaning work can involve a variety of hazards, even when the tasks appear relatively simple. Wet floors, cleaning chemicals, electrical equipment, lifting and repetitive movements can all create risks if they are not managed properly.

For professional cleaners and cleaning companies, health and safety should form part of the everyday way work is planned and carried out. Identifying potential hazards before starting a task can help prevent accidents, injuries and damage to property.

The level of risk will vary depending on the workplace and the cleaning being undertaken. Cleaning an office, for example, may involve different hazards from working in a school, healthcare environment, industrial building or at height.

Good health and safety is not simply about completing paperwork. It means providing suitable equipment and information, using safe working methods and making sure cleaners understand the risks associated with the tasks they perform.

2. Using Cleaning Chemicals Safely

Cleaning chemicals should always be used carefully and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Even familiar products can cause problems if they are used incorrectly, mixed with other chemicals or applied to unsuitable surfaces.

Read the product label and safety information before use, follow the recommended dilution instructions and never mix cleaning chemicals unless the manufacturer specifically states that it is safe to do so. Mixing certain products can produce dangerous fumes or reactions.

Cleaning chemicals should be stored securely in their original or correctly labelled containers and kept away from unauthorised people. Professional cleaning companies should also make sure employees have access to the relevant safety information and understand how products should be handled, stored and used.

Where a cleaning product presents a risk to health, suitable control measures may be required under COSHH. This can include considering whether a safer product could be used, reducing exposure and providing appropriate protective equipment where necessary.

3. Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls

Slips, trips and falls are an important risk to consider during cleaning, particularly when floors are wet or equipment is being used in areas where other people are present. Good planning can help reduce the chance of an accident.

When mopping or washing floors, use appropriate warning signs and, where practical, organise the work so people do not need to walk across the wet area. Clean up spills promptly and avoid leaving buckets, cables, tools or other equipment where they could create a trip hazard.

Pay particular attention to entrances, stairs, corridors and other busy areas. Cleaning at quieter times can sometimes reduce the risk, especially in workplaces where employees, customers or visitors are moving through the building.

Cleaners should also wear suitable footwear for the work and report damaged flooring, loose mats, poor lighting or other hazards they notice while cleaning. Preventing slips and trips is often about identifying small problems before they cause an accident.

4. Manual Handling and Moving Equipment

Cleaning work can involve lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling equipment, supplies and waste. Repeated movements or handling heavy or awkward items can increase the risk of strains and other injuries if the work is not planned properly.

Where possible, avoid unnecessary lifting and use suitable equipment such as trolleys to move cleaning products, machines and supplies. Heavy or awkward items should be assessed before attempting to move them, and assistance should be used where appropriate.

Consider how cleaning equipment is stored as well. Frequently used or heavier items should be positioned so they can be accessed without excessive reaching, bending or lifting from unsuitable heights.

For professional cleaning teams, appropriate manual-handling information and training should form part of safe working practices. Employers should also consider whether tasks can be changed or equipment provided to reduce the amount of lifting, carrying or repetitive movement required.

5. Using Electrical Cleaning Equipment Safely

Electrical equipment such as vacuum cleaners, floor machines and carpet-cleaning machines should be kept in good condition and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Damaged equipment can create electrical, trip and other safety risks.

Before using equipment, check for obvious signs of damage such as split cables, damaged plugs, loose connections or broken components. Equipment that appears damaged or unsafe should be taken out of use until it has been properly checked or repaired.

Take particular care when electricity and water are being used in the same working area. Keep plugs, connections and electrical equipment away from unnecessary contact with water, and make sure any machine being used is suitable for the task and environment.

Professional cleaning companies should have appropriate arrangements for inspecting and maintaining electrical equipment. Staff should also know how to report faults and should never attempt repairs unless they are competent and authorised to do so.

6. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Cleaners

Personal protective equipment can help protect cleaners where risks cannot be adequately controlled in other ways. The type of PPE required will depend on the cleaning task, the products being used and the environment in which the work is carried out.

Protective gloves are commonly used when handling cleaning chemicals or dealing with potentially contaminated materials. Other tasks may require eye protection, protective clothing or suitable footwear, depending on the risks identified.

PPE should be suitable for both the task and the person using it. It should be kept in good condition, stored correctly and replaced when damaged or no longer providing adequate protection. Disposable items should be discarded appropriately after use.

For professional cleaning companies, PPE should form part of the overall risk assessment rather than being relied upon as the only safety measure. Cleaners should understand when PPE is required, how to use it correctly and any limitations it may have.

7. Risk Assessments and COSHH

Risk assessments are an important part of managing health and safety in professional cleaning. They help identify hazards, consider who could be harmed and decide what precautions are needed to reduce the risks.

Cleaning companies should consider the particular tasks and environments their cleaners work in. Risks may include wet floors, manual handling, electrical equipment, working at height, lone working and exposure to cleaning chemicals or other substances.

COSHH — the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations — is particularly relevant when cleaning products or other substances could present a risk to health. Employers should assess those risks and put appropriate control measures in place, which may include choosing safer products, providing information and training, controlling exposure and using suitable PPE where necessary.

Risk assessments and COSHH assessments should reflect the actual work being carried out and should be reviewed when circumstances change, such as when new products, equipment or working methods are introduced. For detailed legal guidance, cleaning businesses should refer to current Health and Safety Executive guidance.

8. Creating a Safer Cleaning Routine

A safer cleaning routine starts with planning the work before cleaning begins. Think about the tasks being carried out, the equipment and products required, and whether other people using the area could be affected.

Keep cleaning equipment organised and in good condition, store chemicals safely and make sure the correct products and tools are available for each task. Simple habits such as dealing with spills promptly, keeping walkways clear and checking equipment before use can help prevent accidents.

For cleaning companies, staff should receive appropriate information, instruction and training for the work they carry out. Encourage cleaners to report hazards, damaged equipment, accidents and near misses so problems can be addressed rather than ignored.

Health and safety should be reviewed as working conditions change. New premises, equipment, cleaning products or tasks may introduce different risks, so regularly reviewing working practices can help keep cleaning safer for employees, customers and everyone using the premises.

Quick Checklist: Choosing a Cleaning Company

Identify potential hazards before starting work
Follow instructions when using cleaning chemicals
Never mix cleaning products unless specifically instructed
Use warning signs and keep walkways clear
Check electrical equipment for damage before use
Use suitable PPE where the risk assessment requires it
Complete appropriate risk assessments and COSHH assessments
Report hazards, damaged equipment and near misses

Make Health and Safety Part of Everyday Cleaning

Good health and safety should be part of everyday cleaning rather than something considered only after an accident happens. Taking time to identify hazards, use equipment correctly and follow safe working methods can help protect cleaners and everyone else using the premises.

For cleaning businesses, clear procedures, appropriate training and regular risk assessments are particularly important. Cleaning products, equipment and working environments can change, so health and safety arrangements should be reviewed when necessary.

Always follow product and equipment instructions and refer to current Health and Safety Executive guidance where appropriate. If specialist work is involved, make sure the people carrying it out have the necessary knowledge, training and equipment.

For more practical cleaning advice, browse our Cleaning Guides, or explore cleaning companies and services across the UK.

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