Your legal obligation
Why domestic cleaners need a COSHH assessment
The cleaning products used in domestic cleaning work are among the most chemically hazardous substances used in any service industry. Bleaches containing sodium hypochlorite, acidic limescale removers, solvent-based degreasers, and strong disinfectants all present skin and respiratory risks with repeated occupational exposure. || The HSE specifically identifies cleaning work as high risk for occupational contact dermatitis. Daily skin contact with these substances without adequate protective measures documented and in place creates a genuine and well-documented occupational health risk. || A COSHH assessment for a domestic cleaner needs to address every product used regularly in the course of the work - not just the most obviously hazardous ones. Multi-surface sprays, glass cleaners, bathroom treatments, and furniture polishes all contain chemical ingredients that should be assessed.
The real problem
Most self-employed domestic cleaners have never completed a COSHH assessment
The cleaning industry, particularly the self-employed end of it, has historically had low compliance documentation rates despite being one of the sectors the HSE specifically identifies as high risk for chemical exposure. Most domestic cleaners have no COSHH assessment at all. || As clients and insurers become more aware of compliance requirements, this gap is becoming more visible. A client asking to see your safety documentation, or an insurer requesting your COSHH assessment following a claim, will find a self-employed cleaner without any documentation in a difficult position. || CompliantDocs generates your COSHH assessment from the products you tell us you use, producing documentation specific to your domestic cleaning work.
90 minutes
The minimum time a domestic cleaner spends trying to complete a COSHH assessment properly. Most give up before finishing. Our service does it in minutes.
Your trade, specifically
The risks and requirements specific to your work
Domestic cleaners handle sodium hypochlorite-based bleach, quaternary ammonium compounds in disinfectants, anionic surfactants in degreasers, and isopropyl alcohol in window cleaners daily across multiple client properties. You work with microfibre cloths, squeegees, extension poles, and pressure washers in kitchens, bathrooms and living spaces where ventilation varies significantly. Real hazards include skin contact dermatitis from prolonged exposure to cleaning solutions without glove breaks, inhalation of bleach fumes when mixing products in poorly ventilated bathrooms, and eye splashes from trigger bottles. You transport chemicals in personal vehicles without secondary containment, apply products to hard surfaces and soft furnishings where overspray occurs, and work alone without immediate access to eyewash or first aid facilities. Respiratory sensitisation develops gradually from ammonia-based glass cleaners, particularly in enclosed shower rooms. Musculoskeletal strain affects shoulders and lower back from repetitive scrubbing motions and reaching overhead. Each client property presents unknown chemical combinations already present, requiring immediate hazard identification before your products are applied.
The cost of getting it wrong
What happens without proper documentation
Without proper COSHH Assessment documentation, the HSE can issue Improvement Notices requiring immediate corrective action within specified timescales, backed by prosecution if ignored. Unlimited fines apply to self-employed persons breaching COSHH Regulations, with cases resulting in fines between 5000 and 15000 GBP for sole traders lacking documented risk controls. Your public liability insurance becomes invalid if you cannot demonstrate compliance with health and safety legislation, leaving you personally liable for client injuries from chemical exposure in their homes. If a client develops occupational dermatitis from contact with your cleaning products and you lack a documented Skin Exposure Prevention Policy, you face personal injury compensation claims that can exceed 20000 GBP. HSE prosecutions also trigger reputational damage, losing client referrals when incidents are publicly reported. Regulatory action costs thousands in legal fees and downtime. CompliantDocs delivers your complete eight-document compliance pack for 47.99 GBP in minutes, costing a fraction of a single consultant consultation whilst providing the exact documentation HSE inspectors expect.