Do cleaners need a risk assessment as well as COSHH assessments?

Yes. COSHH assessments cover the chemicals. The risk assessment covers everything else: wet floors, lone working, lifting, electrical equipment and working at height. Both are needed.

Who does the risk assessment when cleaners work on a client's site?

The cleaning company assesses its own work and shares it with the client. The client's own assessment covers the building. Both should cover how the two interact, for example who is on site and how the cleaners get help.

Cleaning risk assessment: completed example for commercial cleaners

Why these controls

The cleaning chemicals have their own COSHH assessments, one per product. This assessment records that they exist and that the controls in them are followed; it does not repeat them.

Lone working is the hazard cleaning companies most often miss. The two cleaners split up across three floors, so each is alone for most of the shift. The controls are a check in at the end of the shift and a phone on each cleaner.

Slips are rated medium even with controls because the floors are wet by definition. The control that cuts the risk most is the order of work: mop each floor last, working back towards the exit, so no one walks on a wet floor.

Hazard descriptions and controls follow HSE guidance: HSE, Slips and trips; HSE INDG163, Risk assessment: a brief guide to controlling risks in the workplace; HSE, COSHH basics; HSE, Lone working; HSE INDG73, Protecting lone workers; HSE, Manual handling at work; HSE INDG143, Manual handling at work: a brief guide; HSE, Electrical safety at work; HSE INDG236, Maintaining portable electric equipment in low risk environments; HSE, Work at height; HSE INDG455, Safe use of ladders and stepladders; HSE INDG401, Working at height: a brief guide. Checked 15 September 2026.

This document is a starting point. The employer must check it against the actual workplace, the product safety data sheet and current HSE guidance before relying on it. It is not an HSE approved document.

Risk assessment

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, regulation 3

Assessment numberRA-004

Revision1

Date of assessment15 September 2026

Last reviewed15 September 2026

Next review15 September 2027

Company or site	Brightside Cleaning Services Ltd
Activity	Commercial cleaning
Location	Client office, Riverside House, all three floors and the ground floor entrance
Assessor	Karen Doyle
Reviewed by	Karen Doyle
Approved by	—

1. The activity

What is done	Evening clean of a three floor office building: vacuuming, mopping hard floors, cleaning toilets and kitchens, emptying bins, dusting and wiping surfaces. Two cleaners, 6 pm to 9 pm, Monday to Friday.
Who does it, and who else could be affected	Two cleaners, working on separate floors for most of the shift. Client staff occasionally still on site until 7 pm. Employees, Lone workers, Visitors

2. Hazards at a glance

Hazard	Before controls	With controls
1. Slips, trips and falls on the same level	Medium 12	Low 6
2. Hazardous substances	Medium 12	Low 4
3. Lone working	Medium 8	Low 4
4. Manual handling of loads	Medium 9	Low 4
5. Electrical equipment and installations	Medium 8	Low 4
6. Working at height	Medium 8	Low 3

3. Hazards, who could be harmed and the controls in place

1. Slips, trips and falls on the same level

What could happen	Sprains, fractures and head injuries from slipping on wet or contaminated floors, or tripping over cables, uneven surfaces, boxes and trailing leads. Slips and trips are the most common cause of injury at work.
Who could be harmed	The cleaners themselves, and any client staff still in the building
Controls in place	Spills are cleaned up straight away and the wet area is signed or cordoned until it is dry Floors are cleaned when the area is quiet, and the method leaves them dry, not wet Walkways are kept clear of boxes, stock and equipment, and cables are routed away from walkways or covered Staff wear flat, closed shoes with a good grip; slip resistant footwear is provided where floors are often wet Each floor is mopped last, working back to the stairs, so nobody walks on a wet floor Wet floor signs are placed at both ends of a mopped corridor
Risk before controls	Medium, 12 out of 25 (likelihood 4 × severity 3)
Risk with controls	Low, 6 out of 25 (likelihood 2 × severity 3)

Follows HSE, Slips and trips; HSE INDG163, Risk assessment: a brief guide to controlling risks in the workplace.

2. Hazardous substances

What could happen	Burns, dermatitis, asthma, poisoning and long term illness from cleaning products, solvents, dusts, fumes and biological agents. Each substance needs its own COSHH assessment; this entry records that the risk exists and is controlled.
Who could be harmed	The cleaners. Products in use: thick bleach, multi surface sanitiser, descaler, floor cleaner and glass cleaner
Controls in place	Every hazardous substance in use has a COSHH assessment, kept in a register with the supplier data sheet The least hazardous product that does the job is used, and concentrates are replaced by ready diluted products where possible Substances are stored in their original labelled containers, in a locked or controlled store, away from incompatible products and food The gloves, eye protection and other PPE the assessment calls for are provided and worn Staff have been told the hazards and the controls for each product they use, and have signed the assessment Spill kits, eyewash and first aid measures matching the products in use are in place and staff know where they are
Risk before controls	Medium, 12 out of 25 (likelihood 3 × severity 4)
Risk with controls	Low, 4 out of 25 (likelihood 1 × severity 4)

Follows HSE, COSHH basics. The substances involved need their own COSHH assessments.

3. Lone working

What could happen	Injury or illness with no one to help, and higher risk of violence, when staff work alone: out of hours cleaning, home visits, driving, opening and closing, working in a store room.
Who could be harmed	Both cleaners, who are on separate floors and alone in the building after 7 pm
Controls in place	Tasks with a higher risk, such as work at height or handling aggressive people, are not done alone Lone workers check in at agreed times, and someone knows where they are and what to do if they do not check in Lone workers carry a charged phone and know who to call, and a personal alarm or lone worker device is provided where the risk is higher Lone workers have been trained for the work and told what to do in an emergency, including first aid and fire Lone workers can lock the premises, control who comes in, and are not expected to challenge intruders Each cleaner texts the supervisor when they leave the building; a missed text by 9.30 pm is followed up by phone
Risk before controls	Medium, 8 out of 25 (likelihood 2 × severity 4)
Risk with controls	Low, 4 out of 25 (likelihood 1 × severity 4)

Follows HSE, Lone working; HSE INDG73, Protecting lone workers.

4. Manual handling of loads

What could happen	Back injury, strains and hernias from lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling loads that are heavy, awkward, or handled often. Musculoskeletal injuries build up over time as well as happening in one lift.
Who could be harmed	Both cleaners: full bin bags, mop buckets, boxes of consumables, moving the vacuum between floors
Controls in place	Trolleys, sack trucks or other lifting aids are provided and used for heavy or repeated loads Heavy loads are split into smaller ones or lifted by two people Staff who lift regularly have been shown how to lift safely and how to assess a load before they pick it up Routes for carrying are short, clear and level, with doors held open where needed Bins are emptied into a wheeled trolley, not carried; bags are half filled, not full
Risk before controls	Medium, 9 out of 25 (likelihood 3 × severity 3)
Risk with controls	Low, 4 out of 25 (likelihood 2 × severity 2)

Follows HSE, Manual handling at work; HSE INDG143, Manual handling at work: a brief guide.

5. Electrical equipment and installations

What could happen	Electric shock and burns from damaged leads, plugs and equipment, faulty installations or water near electrics. Fire from overloaded sockets and faulty equipment.
Who could be harmed	Both cleaners: vacuum cleaners, floor scrubber and their leads
Controls in place	Staff look at plugs, leads and equipment before use and report anything damaged, which is then taken out of use Portable equipment is inspected and, where needed, tested at intervals that match how it is used, and the record is kept Extension leads and adaptors are not daisy chained or overloaded, and leads are fully unwound in use Electrical equipment is kept away from water, and nothing is used with wet hands
Risk before controls	Medium, 8 out of 25 (likelihood 2 × severity 4)
Risk with controls	Low, 4 out of 25 (likelihood 1 × severity 4)

Follows HSE, Electrical safety at work; HSE INDG236, Maintaining portable electric equipment in low risk environments.

6. Working at height

What could happen	Falls from ladders, stepladders, platforms, roofs and mezzanines, and objects falling onto people below. Falls from height are the most common cause of death at work.
Who could be harmed	Cleaners using the step stool to reach high shelves and light fittings
Controls in place	The right equipment is chosen for the job: a podium or platform for longer work, a ladder or stepladder only for short, light tasks Ladders and stepladders are used only for light work of up to about 30 minutes, on firm level ground, with three points of contact and without overreaching Ladders and stepladders are checked before use and taken out of use if damaged, and the record of checks is kept High level cleaning above the step stool is not done on the evening round; it is booked as a separate job with two people
Risk before controls	Medium, 8 out of 25 (likelihood 2 × severity 4)
Risk with controls	Low, 3 out of 25 (likelihood 1 × severity 3)

Follows HSE, Work at height; HSE INDG455, Safe use of ladders and stepladders; HSE INDG401, Working at height: a brief guide.

4. Further action required

Slips, trips and falls on the same level: Improve lighting where the floor, steps or outside routes cannot be seen clearly.Owner: ________. By ________
Slips, trips and falls on the same level: Repair damaged flooring, loose mats and worn steps, and set up a way for staff to report them.Owner: ________. By ________
Slips, trips and falls on the same level: Fit a handrail, mark step edges and keep stairs clear.Owner: ________. By ________
Slips, trips and falls on the same level: Fit entrance matting and arrange gritting of outside paths in icy weather.Owner: ________. By ________
Lone working: Ask lone workers about any condition that could make working alone unsafe and adjust the work.Owner: ________. By ________
Manual handling of loads: Look at whether each regular lift can be avoided: deliveries to the point of use, smaller packs, or equipment moved by the supplier.Owner: ________. By ________
Manual handling of loads: Rearrange storage so heavy items sit between knee and shoulder height.Owner: ________. By ________
Manual handling of loads: Check who is doing the lifting and take heavy loads away from anyone with a health reason not to lift.Owner: ________. By ________
Electrical equipment and installations: Book an inspection of the fixed electrical installation by a competent electrician.Owner: ________. By ________
Electrical equipment and installations: Fit RCD protection for equipment used outdoors or near water.Owner: ________. By ________
Electrical equipment and installations: Set a rule that only a competent electrician repairs or alters electrical equipment.Owner: ________. By ________
Working at height: Look at each task done at height and take it to ground level where a long handled tool or a different method allows.Owner: ________. By ________
Working at height: Tie or foot ladders where the ground or the wall gives them any chance of slipping.Owner: ________. By ________
Working at height: Cordon or clear the area below work at height and give staff a tool belt or bag.Owner: ________. By ________
Working at height: Train staff who work at height in the equipment they use and when to stop and ask.Owner: ________. By ________
Working at height: Identify fragile roofs and roof lights and ban access without a separate method and fall protection.Owner: ________. By ________
Replace the open bucket and mop on each floor with a flat mop system that leaves floors drierOwner: Contracts manager. By 31 October 2026

5. Notes

The client's fire procedure has been briefed to both cleaners; the assembly point is the car park. First aid kit is in the cleaning store on the ground floor.

Hazard descriptions and controls drawn from HSE guidance: HSE, Slips and trips; HSE INDG163, Risk assessment: a brief guide to controlling risks in the workplace; HSE, COSHH basics; HSE, Lone working; HSE INDG73, Protecting lone workers; HSE, Manual handling at work; HSE INDG143, Manual handling at work: a brief guide; HSE, Electrical safety at work; HSE INDG236, Maintaining portable electric equipment in low risk environments; HSE, Work at height; HSE INDG455, Safe use of ladders and stepladders; HSE INDG401, Working at height: a brief guide. This assessment follows the five steps in HSE guidance on risk assessment. It is a starting point; the employer must review it against the actual workplace before relying on it. Review by the next review date, and sooner if the activity, the equipment or the people doing it change, or after an accident or near miss.

Cleaning risk assessment

Why these controls

1. The activity

2. Hazards at a glance

3. Hazards, who could be harmed and the controls in place

4. Further action required

5. Notes

Hazards in this assessment

Common questions

Other completed examples

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