December 20, 2004—Representatives of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the UK’s cleaning industry met recently 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, says the HSE.
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 such initiatives as 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.
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.
