[ianhill]

Hello i am new to site and run a domestic cleaning co I need to offer some training to employees and wondered if anybody has a checklist and areas relating to h& S,and if anybody can reccomend traing courses ect.Would appreciate any help

[Nick Murnin]

hi Ian, there are a number of cleaning courses, it depends on what specific area of domestic cleaning you are doing. If you are cleaning ovens for example, this is generaly a specialist area and you would have to provide training particularly when using harmfull chemicals. If you are simply cleaning general areas, you still have a duty of care to you staff, your customer and members of the public who may be affected by your activities. then you have to ensure you provide an adequate level of training ,safe use of electrical equipment, chemical training, high level cleaning(no standing on chairs) and a up to date H&S policy.

[Nick Murnin]

one more tip Ian, you shouldnt see your company as a domestic cleaning company. I dont make a distinction between domestic and commercial cleaning (exept for the setting in which you work) The reason for this is that you should be as proffesional as what you term a commercial company train your staff in chemical use, colour coding always use the correct equipment to make it easy for safety checks. for example when we were contracting we never used Henry Vacs(although we always use other Numatic vacs). one of the main reasons for this is that your cleaners will always abuse your equipment particularly your vacs and the wire is always first to get damaged. because this type of vac has a winder it is not only more difficult to replace but it is often more difficult for your staff to check for tears in the wire. when your staff manualy wind the wire at the end of the shift they can check for damage by running the cable throug their hands(unplugged)
So you are indeed a commercial cleaning company you employ trained staff, you have insurance and H&S policy. the only thing you are not is a contract cleaner yet.  if you have this proffesional aproach, it wont be such a great leap to make into contract cleaning in the very near future.