Cleaning Risk Assessment And Method Statement Template for England and Wales

A Cleaning Risk Assessment And Method Statement is a combined document that identifies potential hazards in cleaning operations and outlines safe working procedures to eliminate or reduce those risks. Under England and Wales legislation, this document is essential for demonstrating compliance with health and safety laws and ensuring the protection of cleaning personnel, building occupants, and visitors.

What is a cleaning method statement?

A cleaning method statement is a written plan that describes, step by step, how a cleaning task will be carried out safely. It sits alongside the risk assessment: the risk assessment names the hazards and the method statement explains the safe sequence of work that keeps those hazards under sensible limits. For a cleaning business, it is the document a client, facilities manager or main contractor asks for before letting you on site. It typically records the task and location, the people responsible, the products and equipment being used, the sequence of work, and the emergency and first aid arrangements that support the team on the day.

When do you need this document?

You should prepare this document before undertaking any commercial or industrial cleaning operations, particularly in higher-risk environments such as healthcare facilities, laboratories, or food preparation areas. It is expected when using hazardous cleaning chemicals, operating mechanical cleaning equipment, or working at height during window cleaning or facade work. Construction sites, educational institutions, and office buildings all rely on this documentation to meet their duty of care obligations. It is also needed when cleaning contractors change, when new procedures are introduced, or when an incident prompts a review of existing safety measures.

What goes into a cleaning method statement?

A clear cleaning method statement usually covers the following:

• Scope and location of the cleaning work, and the dates or shifts it applies to.
• Named responsibilities for the supervisor, operatives and anyone monitoring the work.
• The cleaning products and equipment in use, cross-referenced to their COSHH data.
• The safe sequence of work, from setting up signage to final checks.
• Personal protective equipment to be worn for each task.
• Emergency, spillage and first aid arrangements.

As a worked example, a window cleaning method statement for a three-storey office might read: erect barriers and warning signs at the base of the building, inspect and set up the access platform, apply detergent from the top down, squeegee and detail each pane, then lower the platform and remove signage once the area is clear. Each step names who does it and what protective measures apply.

What if the work involves scaffolding or elevated access?

Where cleaning is carried out from scaffold, mobile towers or powered access, the method statement should record how the platform is erected, inspected and signed off before anyone uses it, who is trained to work at height, and how falling objects are controlled below. A scaffold used for facade or gutter cleaning needs its own inspection record and a named competent person, and the safe sequence of work should reference that inspection rather than assume the structure is ready. Training records for operatives working at height sit alongside the statement so a client or site manager can see the team is competent for the task.

How is it different from a risk assessment?

The two documents work together but do different jobs. The risk assessment finds and rates the hazards. The method statement turns those findings into a practical, ordered procedure the team follows.

Key legal considerations

The document should demonstrate compliance with your statutory duty to conduct suitable and sufficient risk assessments under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. The risk assessment section must identify all reasonably foreseeable hazards including chemical exposure, slip and trip risks, manual handling injuries, and equipment-related dangers. Measures should follow the hierarchy of risk reduction, prioritising elimination, substitution, engineering solutions, administrative steps, and personal protective equipment in that order. Every measure you rely on needs to be implemented, monitored, and reviewed. The method statement section then requires procedures that are clear, specific, and enforceable, with designated responsibilities for supervision.

Legal requirements in England and Wales

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers and contractors have duties to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees and others who may be affected by cleaning activities. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) mandate specific assessments for chemical cleaning products, including exposure monitoring and health surveillance where required. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 govern the use of scaffold and access equipment during facade and window cleaning. Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require assessment of lifting and carrying, while Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 cover the provision and upkeep of protective clothing. The document should be reviewed regularly, updated after any change in procedures or any incident, and made available to all relevant people including cleaning staff, supervisors, and site managers. Poor documentation can lead to enforcement action, prosecution, and financial penalties under current sentencing guidelines. Treating this as a living document, part of your wider health and safety policy rather than a one-off form, is what keeps a cleaning company ready for a client audit or a spot check.