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Equipment, products and safety agreements

The safety of our household helpers is paramount. That is why we would like to review some agreements about equipment, products and a healthy workplace.

Equipment and products

Your household helper will be working with the equipment and products you have available. There are a few mandatory items required for certain tasks so that your household helper can work safely. Together, run through what equipment and products you have and see if it is necessary to purchase additional items. 

Below is an overview of the required equipment and products:

Equipment

  • Stable stepladder, in good condition, with a maximum of three non-slip steps
  • Two plastic buckets, in good condition
  • Dust pan and brush
  • Vacuum cleaner (and vacuum cleaner bags)
  • Mops
  • Dust rag or microfibre cloth
  • Sponge
  • Scouring sponge
  • Chamois cloth or microfibre cloth
  • Dishcloths
  • Toilet brush
  • Window squeegee
  • Floor squeegee, in good condition
  • Broom
  • Scrub brush
  • Iron, in good condition
  • Adjustable ironing board
  • Wash line or laundry rack
  • Laundry pegs

Products

  • Washing-up liquid
  • Toilet cleaner
  • All-purpose cleaning product
  • Additional product for floor cleaning
  • Laundry detergent

Please note! The products should not contain ammonia or chlorine, as this is unhealthy for your household helper. 

Safety

A safe workplace keeps everyone happy. Help give your household helpers a five-star workplace! With the tips from our checklist, your household helpers can get to work with confidence.

  • Let your household helper know where the first-aid kit is located
  • Alert your household helpers to any potential dangers: slippery floors, a narrow staircase or anything else that could be hazardous
  • Always store products in their original packaging with a legible label
  • Replace all products containing ammonia or chlorine with safer products
  • Make sure cleaning equipment is in good condition
  • Think about your household helper's back too and provide telescopic brush handles
  • A sturdy stepladder with a maximum of three non-slip steps and a handrail is a must
  • Check that all electrical appliances and sockets are safe
  • Always keep your pet in a separate area

You can read more tips from our adviser here.

Read all the tips in our checklist ‘Safe Workplace’.

Download the checklist

Tips for hot and cold days

Physical labour can be difficult on hot days, especially in an workplace with no air conditioning. We offer the following tips for protecting our household helpers from the heat:

  • Make sure your household helper has sufficient water.
  • Keep the windows closed during the day.
  • Keep the heat out as much as possible with blinds, curtains or shutters.
  • Set frozen bottles of water in front of a fan to cool the air.
  • Don't give your household helper tasks to do outdoors in the blazing sun (e.g. cleaning windows).
  • If possible, let your household helper start earlier in the morning.

How warm should your house be when your household helper arrives?

  • Make sure your home is heated to at least 16 degrees when your household helper comes to work.
  • Make sure your household helper has hot water available to work with.
  • Have your household helper perform outdoor tasks when the weather is pleasant. (such as window cleaning, patio cleaning, washing shutters and grocery shopping)
  • Spread salt in time to keep the area around your home non-slippery.
  • Refrain from pouring water on your pavement in freezing weather. It will rapidly become a dangerous sheet of ice. Our household helpers are also given these guidelines.

For extra tips read this.

 

Ergonomics

Sometimes you don't realise it, but your employer goes to considerable lengths to provide you with a healthy workplace. Consider, for example, the ergonomically adjusted office desk. At Helan Household Help, we make sure your household helpers know all about working ergonomically, too. 

Read our household helper Tara's story on the importance of ergonomic equipment. 

Have your schedule at your fingertips at all times

Communicate with your consultant, make a change to your schedule or give notice of holidays. It can all be done in the blink of an eye with the Household Help app, no matter where you are. Download it here.

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