COSHH for cleaners
Cleaning businesses use some of the most common hazardous substances at work: bleach, descalers, oven cleaners and degreasers. As an employer you must assess the risk from each one your staff use and put controls in place.
Products that usually need an assessment
| Product | Typical hazards |
|---|---|
| Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) | Corrosive to skin and eyes; releases toxic gas if mixed with acids |
| Toilet and limescale cleaners | Acids: corrosive; never mix with bleach |
| Oven and grill cleaners | Strong alkalis: corrosive, irritating spray mist |
| Degreasers and solvents | Skin irritation, vapours, sometimes flammable |
| Floor strippers and polishes | Irritant, slippery residues, vapours in small rooms |
Always check the label and safety data sheet of the exact product you use.
Controls that work for cleaning
- Choose the least hazardous product that does the job, ready-diluted where possible
- Never decant into unlabelled bottles; keep lids on
- Ventilate small rooms such as washrooms while cleaning
- Gloves suited to the product (check the SDS, section 8) and eye protection for splashes
- Train staff never to mix products
Do I need written COSHH assessments?
Employers must assess the risk from every hazardous substance, and those with five or more employees must write down the significant findings (COSHH Regulations 2002, regulation 6). Clients also often ask cleaning contractors for COSHH sheets before work starts.
Contract cleaning on a building site or for facilities managers? They will often ask for RAMS too. Create RAMS for the cleaning job and send them with your COSHH sheets.
Related: COSHH assessment template · fire risk assessment