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 sets out the safe procedures that reduce those risks. Under England and Wales legislation, it is how a cleaning company demonstrates compliance with health and safety law and protects operatives, 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 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 them 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 in use, the sequence of work, and the first aid arrangements that support the team on the day.

When do you need this document?

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 chemicals, operating mechanical equipment, or working at height during window cleaning or facade work. Construction sites, educational institutions, and office buildings all rely on it to meet their duty of care. It is also needed when contractors change, when new procedures are introduced, or when an incident prompts a review of existing arrangements.

What goes into a cleaning method statement?

A clear 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 job.
• The 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, drainage and first aid arrangements, including how waste water and chemical run-off are disposed of.

As a worked example, a window cleaning method statement for a three-storey office might read: erect barriers and warning signs at the base, 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.

Is there a domestic cleaning method statement?

Yes. A domestic cleaning method statement follows the same structure but is scaled to work in private homes: end-of-tenancy cleans, deep cleans and regular housekeeping. It records access and key-holding arrangements, the products used in kitchens and bathrooms, how spills and drainage are managed, and the sequence a cleaner follows room by room. Clients and letting agents often ask for one before a contract starts, so a domestic cleaning company keeps a version on file alongside its wider health and safety documents.

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.

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.

General risk assessment versus a task-specific one

A general risk assessment covers the hazards common to all your cleaning work: handling chemicals, slips and trips, manual handling, and electrical equipment. It gives you a baseline you can reuse across sites. A task-specific assessment then narrows that down to one job, so a window clean at height or a deep clean in a food preparation area gets controls written for its actual conditions. Most cleaning businesses keep a complete general assessment on file and attach a short task-specific one to each method statement, which is a simpler way to stay thorough without rewriting the same hazards every time.

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 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 protect the health, safety and welfare of employees and others affected by cleaning activities. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) mandate specific assessments for chemical 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 cover lifting and carrying, while Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 cover the provision and upkeep of protective clothing. Review the document regularly, update it after any change in procedures or any incident, and make it available to all relevant people including operatives, supervisors, and site managers. Poor documentation can lead to enforcement action and financial penalties under current sentencing guidelines. Treated as a living part of your wider health and safety policy rather than a one-off form, it keeps a cleaning company ready for a client audit or a spot check.