CLEANING RECRUIT — SAFETY TRAINING PACK Prepared 10 October 2026 Three internal awareness modules. Each has eight questions, a 100% pass mark and a 12-month internal refresher setting. All are installed as core training. Practical supervision and task/site assessments remain necessary. ============================================================ Lone Worker Safety — Cleaning Recruit ============================================================ LONE WORKER SAFETY Internal awareness module | Approx. 15 minutes | Version 10 October 2026 YOUR GOAL Recognise when working alone becomes unsafe, keep in contact and get help early. A lone worker works without close or direct supervision. Another person elsewhere in the building does not necessarily mean help is available. 1. BEFORE YOU TRAVEL The manager must assess the job and decide whether lone working is suitable. Tell the coordinator if the location, task or your circumstances raise a concern. Do not accept hazardous tasks simply because the customer requests them. Confirm the address, access arrangements, expected finish time and named duty contact. Agree a backup contact and check-in times for this specific job. Keep your phone charged, carry it with you and check signal and a safe route home. If there is no reliable communication or no agreed monitoring arrangement, contact the coordinator before starting. 2. CHECK IN AND STAY IN TOUCH For Cleaning Recruit jobs, report arrival and departure through the agreed portal or duty contact. An automatic shift record is not a substitute for a person monitoring safety. Agree interim contact for isolated or higher-risk jobs; the interval must follow the risk assessment, not a universal timer. If delayed, changing location or unable to finish on time, update the coordinator. If a check-in is missed, the duty contact should try the worker, then the agreed backup or safe site contact, and escalate promptly if safety cannot be established. Do not assume the worker has gone home. A colleague should not enter a hazardous site alone to investigate. Call 999 where there is an immediate danger or a suspected serious emergency. 3. ARRIVAL CHECK Identify exits and the assembly point. Check lighting, floor conditions, electrical damage, pets, other people and safe access. Keep exits clear and avoid trailing cables. Clean wet floors in sections and restrict access; a warning sign alone does not stop somebody entering. Never stand on a chair or improvised platform. Do not move a load that needs two people by yourself. Do not enter confined spaces, handle unidentified hazardous waste or undertake work beyond your training and the job assessment. Stop and ask for support. 4. PERSONAL SAFETY Stay calm if a customer becomes aggressive. Keep distance and an exit route; leave when safe and contact the coordinator. Do not argue, restrain someone or return alone to recover equipment. Immediate danger takes priority over finishing a clean: call 999. Report threats, harassment, unsafe conditions and near misses. 5. EMERGENCY AND CLOSING THE JOB If injured or unwell, stop, seek help and give your exact address, access details and location within the building. Do not enter danger to rescue another person. Before leaving, secure the agreed area and keys, then confirm that you have left safely. Report any incident as soon as safe, including what happened, where, when and who was contacted. PRACTICE You arrive at an empty office and your phone has no signal. The client says to start anyway. Pause the job and arrange a reliable communication and monitoring plan with the coordinator before lone work begins. MANAGER CHECK BEFORE FIRST LONE SHIFT Confirm the worker can use the check-in system, identify exits, contact the duty person and explain the missed-contact response. Agree the actual contact numbers and timings; this lesson does not configure alerts or emergency monitoring. SOURCES — HSE guidance checked 10 October 2026 https://www.hse.gov.uk/lone-working/employer/ https://www.hse.gov.uk/lone-working/employer/manage-the-risks-of-working-alone.htm https://www.hse.gov.uk/lone-working/employer/training-supervision-monitoring.htm https://www.hse.gov.uk/cleaning/topics/slips.htm KNOWLEDGE CHECK 1. Who can be a lone worker? A. Only somebody in an entirely empty building B. A cleaner without close supervision or reliable immediate help C. Only self-employed cleaners D. Nobody using a portal 2. Before working alone, what must be agreed? A. Only the hourly rate B. A customer review C. Risk controls, duty contact, check-ins and emergency response D. Only a finish time 3. You have no signal and no agreed alternative contact method. What do you do? A. Start and hope nothing happens B. Leave the phone in the van C. Ask the client to increase the fee D. Pause and contact the coordinator to arrange safe communication 4. A cleaner misses an agreed check-in. What should the duty contact do? A. Wait until tomorrow B. Try agreed contacts and escalate if safety cannot be established C. Mark the job complete D. Send an unbriefed colleague into the site alone 5. A customer becomes threatening. What is the safest response? A. Argue until they apologise B. Finish before leaving C. Keep an exit route, leave when safe and call 999 for immediate danger D. Lock the customer inside 6. How should a wet floor be managed? A. Use a sign and allow everyone through B. Restrict access and clean in sections with suitable warnings C. Remove all signs D. Work faster without controls 7. A heavy item requires two people. You are alone. What should you do? A. Stop and arrange suitable help B. Lift it quickly C. Drag it across the floor D. Ask a child to help 8. At the end of a lone shift, what should you do? A. Assume the coordinator knows you left B. Only submit travel costs C. Switch off the phone immediately D. Confirm safe departure and report incidents or concerns MANAGER ANSWER KEY 1: B, 2: C, 3: D, 4: B, 5: C, 6: B, 7: A, 8: D ============================================================ Asbestos Awareness — Cleaning Recruit ============================================================ ASBESTOS AWARENESS FOR CLEANERS Internal awareness module | Approx. 15 minutes | Version 10 October 2026 YOUR GOAL AND LIMITS Avoid disturbing possible asbestos and know how to stop and report concerns. This internal module is not an accredited qualification and does not establish competence for asbestos work. It does not authorise sampling, removal, repair or cleaning asbestos-contaminated debris. Job-specific information and suitable training are still required where exposure is foreseeable. 1. WHY ASBESTOS MATTERS Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material formerly used for insulation, fire protection and strength. Types include white, brown and blue asbestos, but colour or appearance cannot reliably identify a material. Damaging an asbestos-containing material can release microscopic fibres that may be breathed in. Exposure can cause mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer and asbestosis; disease may develop decades later. Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer in people exposed to asbestos. You cannot rely on smell or on visible dust to judge safety. 2. WHERE IT MAY BE PRESENT Buildings constructed or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. Examples include pipe insulation, insulating boards, ceiling panels, textured coatings, older floor tiles and adhesives, cement roofing and soffits. Similar-looking materials may contain no asbestos; identification needs competent assessment, not guesswork or a photograph. For an older office, school or after-builders clean, the coordinator should obtain relevant asbestos information from the person responsible for the building. Check the locations and condition of materials relevant to your task. Do not assume a survey proves every hidden material is absent. 3. CLEANING TASKS THAT COULD DISTURB MATERIALS Do not scrape an unknown textured coating, abrade damaged old flooring, brush broken ceiling debris, drill a panel or pressure-wash suspected asbestos cement. Ordinary cleaning equipment and a disposable dust mask do not make asbestos work safe. If the clean would disturb a suspect material, pause that task and ask the coordinator for a competent assessment. Intact, managed material is different from loose or damaged debris, but cleaners must follow the site information and avoid disturbing it. A customer saying it is harmless is not a substitute for the relevant assessment. 4. IF YOU DISCOVER OR ACCIDENTALLY DISTURB SUSPECT MATERIAL STOP immediately. Avoid further disturbance. Warn others and prevent entry to the affected area from a safe position. Inform the coordinator and the person responsible for the premises. Do not take a sample yourself. Do not sweep, dry brush, vacuum with ordinary equipment, shake dusty clothing or carry suspect debris to the van. If clothing or equipment may be contaminated, minimise movement and obtain immediate specialist instructions so contamination is not spread. Do not take potentially contaminated items home or put them in a domestic wash. The manager must arrange competent assessment and appropriate emergency controls. Restart only when the affected task and area have been assessed and safe arrangements are confirmed. Record who may have been exposed, the time, location and circumstances; the manager should seek appropriate occupational-health advice. Call emergency services for an immediate emergency such as serious injury or breathing difficulty, and explain the suspected hazard. PRACTICE On an after-builders clean in a 1970s property, you find broken board and dust beneath an old ceiling. Stop the affected clean, keep people away and contact the coordinator. Do not try to finish by vacuuming it. MANAGER FOLLOW-UP Confirm the worker understands the stop-work rule and knows the reporting route. Review training needs, site asbestos information and emergency arrangements. Awareness is not permission to work on asbestos. SOURCES — HSE guidance checked 10 October 2026 https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/training.htm https://www.hse.gov.uk/Asbestos/introduction/why-and-where.htm https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/diagrams.htm https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/cancer-and-construction/asbestos.htm https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/workers.htm https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/em1.pdf KNOWLEDGE CHECK 1. Which building may contain asbestos? A. Only factories B. Only buildings after 2020 C. A home or workplace built or refurbished before 2000 D. Only visibly abandoned sites 2. Can colour or a photo reliably confirm whether a material contains asbestos? A. Yes, if it is white B. No; competent assessment is needed C. Yes, if the customer recognises it D. Yes, if there is no smell 3. What can happen when asbestos-containing material is damaged? A. It becomes harmless B. It releases a warning smell C. Only the surface is affected D. Fibres can become airborne and cause serious disease 4. Does passing this awareness quiz authorise asbestos removal? A. Yes, for small pieces B. Yes, wearing gloves C. No; asbestos work requires task-appropriate competence and controls D. Yes, if the customer agrees 5. You find suspect ceiling debris during cleaning. What comes first? A. Stop, avoid disturbance, keep others away and report B. Vacuum it before reporting C. Put it in normal rubbish D. Take a sample home 6. Which task should be paused pending assessment? A. Reading the booking details B. Calling the coordinator C. Checking exits D. Scraping an unidentified old textured coating 7. Your clothing may have asbestos dust on it. What should you do? A. Shake it outdoors B. Minimise movement and obtain specialist instructions; do not take it home C. Wash it with family clothing D. Use a domestic vacuum on it 8. When may the affected cleaning task restart? A. When the client wants it finished B. When dust is no longer visible C. When the area and task are assessed and safe arrangements confirmed D. After opening a window MANAGER ANSWER KEY 1: C, 2: B, 3: D, 4: C, 5: A, 6: D, 7: B, 8: C ============================================================ COSHH — Safe Use of Cleaning Products ============================================================ COSHH: CONTROL OF SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH Internal awareness module | Approx. 15 minutes | Version 10 October 2026 YOUR GOAL Use approved products safely, recognise exposure risks and respond to problems. COSHH covers harmful substances, including cleaning chemicals and some dusts and biological hazards. Asbestos has its own specific controls and is covered in the separate awareness module. 1. KNOW THE HAZARD BEFORE STARTING Cleaning products may irritate skin, trigger asthma or allergies, or cause burns and serious eye damage. Repeated wet work can cause dermatitis. Exposure can occur through skin or eye contact, breathing in mist or fumes, or swallowing contamination. Read the product label and the employer's task-specific COSHH assessment. A safety data sheet (SDS) supplies information for that assessment; it is not itself the assessment. Find the product's handling, PPE, storage, first-aid and spill instructions. Warning pictograms can indicate hazards such as corrosion, flammability or harmful effects; absence of a strong smell does not prove safety. 2. PREVENT OR CONTROL EXPOSURE The manager should first consider avoiding a hazardous product or substituting a safer suitable one, then choose work methods and ventilation that control exposure. PPE supports these controls rather than replacing them. Use only approved products for the assigned surface and task. Do not use a customer's unfamiliar cleaner until the coordinator has confirmed it is suitable and assessed. Wear the specified chemical-resistant gloves and eye protection where required. There is no glove suitable for every chemical; use the type in the assessment. Replace damaged gloves, remove them safely and wash and dry hands. Report cracked skin, rashes, coughing, wheezing or recurring irritation promptly. 3. DILUTION AND MIXING Follow the label and assessment exactly. More concentrate is not automatically better. Use the approved measuring method and equipment. Do not invent dilution ratios or mix products. Bleach and acidic cleaners can release toxic chlorine; other incompatible mixtures can also be hazardous. Keep products separate and do not apply a second product over unremoved residue unless the approved procedure permits it. Avoid unnecessary sprays and aerosols. Do not spray towards your face or onto hot surfaces. If the ventilation, PPE or instructions required for a task are missing, stop and contact the coordinator. 4. STORAGE AND TRANSPORT Keep containers securely closed, labelled and upright. Never put chemicals in drinks bottles or an unlabelled container. Keep incompatible products apart according to the SDS, and away from food, children and pets. Use secure transport arrangements to prevent leaks. Dispose of waste using the approved procedure; do not pour a product away unless permitted. 5. SPILLS AND EXPOSURE Stop work, keep others away and notify the coordinator. Deal with a spill only if trained and equipped for that specific product and situation. Do not neutralise it with another chemical or enter strong fumes to clean it up. If fumes cause symptoms, move to fresh air if safe and seek help. For eye or skin splashes, start the first-aid actions in the product SDS promptly and obtain medical advice; call 999 for serious symptoms or an immediate emergency. Do not induce vomiting after swallowing a product; seek urgent medical advice and provide the label or SDS. Do not expose yourself during rescue. Record the product, task, exposure route, symptoms, time and actions taken. Report near misses even if no injury occurs. PRACTICE A client asks you to add bleach to an acidic toilet cleaner because it is not working quickly. Refuse the mixture, keep products separate and contact the coordinator for an approved method. MANAGER PRACTICAL CHECK Before unsupervised chemical use, check the worker can locate the assessment and SDS, measure the actual approved dilution and use the specified controls. The annual refresher setting is an internal review cycle; reassess sooner when products, tasks or risks change. SOURCES — HSE guidance checked 10 October 2026 https://www.hse.gov.uk/cleaning/topics/coshh.htm https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/cleaning.htm https://www.hse.gov.uk/chemicals/using.htm https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/datasheets.htm https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg97.pdf https://www.hse.gov.uk/textiles/chemicals.htm KNOWLEDGE CHECK 1. What does COSHH stand for? A. Cleaning Operations and Safe Housekeeping B. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health C. Customer Order Safety Handling D. Control of Site Heating 2. Is a safety data sheet itself a COSHH risk assessment? A. Yes, for every task B. Yes, if printed C. No; it informs the employer’s task-specific assessment D. Only for bleach 3. The client gives you an unfamiliar chemical. What should you do? A. Use it if it smells mild B. Mix it with the usual product C. Use double gloves without checking D. Get suitability and the assessment confirmed before use 4. What is the rule on mixing cleaning products? A. Do not mix products; follow approved instructions B. Mix if both are household products C. Bleach always improves acidic cleaner D. Mix when windows are open 5. How should you choose dilution and gloves? A. Guess based on the dirt B. Use the strongest dilution and any gloves C. Follow the product instructions and task-specific assessment D. Let the customer decide 6. Where should chemicals be stored? A. In a labelled suitable container, securely stored and segregated as instructed B. In any empty water bottle C. With food for convenience D. Unlabelled so customers cannot see them 7. There is a spill with strong fumes and you lack spill training. What should you do? A. Add another product to neutralise it B. Stop, keep others away, leave fumes if safe and seek help C. Continue with a domestic vacuum D. Ask the client to breathe-check it 8. Repeated wet work has left your hands cracked and sore. What should you do? A. Ignore it B. Work without gloves C. Use more concentrated cleaner D. Report it promptly and review controls with the coordinator MANAGER ANSWER KEY 1: B, 2: C, 3: D, 4: A, 5: C, 6: A, 7: B, 8: D