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General Cleaning

SWMS · SWMS-10050

  • 9 job steps
  • Version 8
  • Cleaning
  • Reads on any phone

This SWMS covers the hazards and controls for general cleaning tasks, including cleaning offices, so that work is done safely and in line with safety regulations.

It takes your crew through each step: out-of-hours and night work, arriving on site and assessing conditions, setting up the work area, environmental controls, housekeeping, manual tasks, sweeping, mopping, surface cleaning and vacuuming, completion and emergency response.

It suits commercial cleaning companies, facility management teams, construction site clean-up crews, and office and retail cleaners.

Written by SafetyDocs safety experts, who have been writing safety documents since 2004.

Preview of the General Cleaning SWMS

General Cleaning

SWMSVersion 8
Company doing the work
[Company]
Business contact and phone
—
Responsible person (for monitoring SWMS and work)
—
Responsible person's phone
—
Responsible person's signature
—
Date signed
—
Principal contractor (PC)
[Principal contractor]
PC address
—
PC phone
[PC phone]
Date SWMS provided to PC
—
Job site address
[Site address]
Part of a construction project
—

Site management plan

If the work is part of a construction project, this SWMS must align with requirements of the Site Management Plan in place for the Construction Project.

High-risk construction work (HRCW)

This work activity involves the following “High-Risk Construction Work” (HRCW - identified in the Job Task column)

None listed.

Planning and preparation

Planning/Preparation

  • Liaise with Principal Contractor to identify on-site safety systems and procedures

  • Establish supervisory and communication arrangements

  • Principal contractor to confirm emergency response procedures are in place.

Hold points

  • Hold points identified and signed off before continuing work. (specify the hold points)

Training/Licence

  • All workers to have a General Construction Induction Card

  • Relevant workers have relevant certificates of competency, licenses, and training. Specify on the SWMS Sign-off for each worker.

  • Trained First Aider on site

  • All workers trained in site-specific emergency and evacuation procedures, SWMS, safe work procedures, and safety data sheets.

Worker duties and responsibilities

  • Fit condition for work, i.e., no signs of fatigue, alcohol or drugs

  • Attend all site inductions/briefings

  • Comply with all site requirements, e.g. PPE, Traffic Management Plans (TMP)

  • Only carry out work related to the contract

  • Inspect completed work and report possible safety, environmental and quality matters to the supervisor.

Monitor/Review

  • All people involved in the task must have this SWMS communicated to them before work commences

  • SWMS to be reviewed and amended if necessary, in consultation with relevant people after any near miss or incident

  • If additional site hazards identified, review this SWMS and amend control measures to suit

  • People, including workers, contractors and sub-contractors, affected by the revisions to this SWMS, must be informed ASAP

  • Give the principal contractor a copy of the revised SWMS

  • The site supervisor to monitor works against the controls stated in this SWMS

  • SWMS must be kept on-site and made available for inspection or review

  • Keep a record of this SWMS until the job is complete or for two years if involved in a notifiable incident

  • Regardless of any other factor, the person in control of the workplace must review this SWMS at least annually.

Site-specific notes

Legislation and codes of practice

Australian Government

Acts and regulations

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011

Codes of practice

  • Work Health and Safety (First Aid in the Workplace) Code of Practice 2015
  • Work Health and Safety (How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks) Code of Practice 2015
  • Work Health and Safety (Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace) Code of Practice 2015
  • Work Health and Safety (Managing the Work Environment and Facilities) Code of Practice 2015
  • Work Health and Safety (Construction Work) Code of Practice 2015

Australian Capital Territory

Acts and regulations

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011

Codes of practice

  • Work Health and Safety (First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice) Approval 2020
  • Work Health and Safety (How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice) Approval 2025
  • Work Health and Safety (Managing the Work Environment and Facilities) Code of Practice 2025
  • Work Health and Safety (Construction Work Code of Practice) Approval 2025
  • Work Health and Safety (Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice) Approval 2022

Queensland

Acts and regulations

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011

Codes of practice

  • First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
  • How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
  • Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
  • Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021

New South Wales

Acts and regulations

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025

Codes of practice

  • First Aid in the workplace code of practice 2020
  • How to manage work health and safety risks code of practice 2019
  • Managing the work environment and facilities code of practice 2019
  • Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace code of practice 2022
  • Construction work code of practice 2019

Northern Territory

Acts and regulations

  • Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations 2011

Codes of practice

  • First aid in the workplace – Code of practice 2022
  • How to manage work health and safety risks - Code of practice 2026
  • Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace Code of Practice 2020
  • Managing the work environment and facilities - Code of practice 2026
  • Construction work - code of practice 2026

South Australia

Acts and regulations

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2012
  • Work Health and Safety Regulation 2012

Codes of practice

  • First Aid in the Workplace: Code of practice 2020
  • How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Code of practice 2020
  • Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace: Code of practice 2024
  • Managing the Work Environment and Facilities: Code of practice 2020
  • Construction work Code of Practice 2024

Tasmania

Acts and regulations

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2012
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2022

Codes of practice

  • First Aid in the Workplace - Code of practice 2020
  • How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks - Code of practice 2024
  • Managing the Work Environment and Facilities - Code of practice 2024
  • Construction Work - Code of practice 2024
  • Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace - Code of practice 2018

Western Australia

Acts and regulations

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2020
  • Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022

Codes of practice

  • First aid in the workplace - Code of Practice 2022
  • How to manage work health and safety risks – Code of practice 2022
  • Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace – Code of practice 2022
  • Managing the work environment and facilities – Code of practice 2022
  • Construction work – Code of practice 2022

Victoria

Acts and regulations

  • Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
  • Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

  • Foot Protection
  • Hearing Protection
  • Hand Protection
  • Protective Clothing

Do not wear rings, watches or jewellery that may become entangled. Long and loose hair must be tied back.

Job steps, hazards and controls

  • Work activity

    Out-of-hours / night work

    • Hazard

      • Fatigue

      • Unauthorised access

      • Insecure workplace

      Before controls3 High
      Controls

      • Allow adequate meal breaks for workers; especially if they have worked during part of the day, they will need time to rest & recover sufficiently to work safely into the evening/night

      • Do not schedule full double shifts for workers as worker fatigue increases the risk of incidents

      • Workers have access to:

        • Suitable amenities (toilets/wash facilities/drinking water)

        • Sufficient lighting (including parking areas)

        • Air conditioning and heating

        • Mechanical ventilation if required

        • Emergency exits

        • Safe area for parking/unloading equipment – protected from rain

      • Additional security personnel on-site to ensure no unauthorised access by the general public while work is being performed

      • No worker should work alone on the site at night.

      After controls2 Moderate
      Responsible
      • SupervisorMake sure schedules for breaks are followed and maintain call log
    • Hazard

      Emergency

      Before controls4 Acute
      Controls

      • Avoid people working alone, use a buddy system to provide immediate support

      • Have a reliable communication system in place and test regularly.

      After controls2 Moderate
      Responsible
      • SupervisorMake sure schedules for breaks are followed and maintain call log

IR before controls · RR after controls1 LLow2 MModerate3 HHigh4 AAcute

Overall risk after controls2 MModeratethe highest rating after controls

8 more job steps, from Arrival on-site & assess onsite conditions to Emergency response

Each with its hazards, risk ratings and controls, plus your crew's sign-on.

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What it covers

9 job steps

  1. Out-of-hours / night workSchedule meal breaks, provide amenities, lighting and security, and never work alone at night.
  2. Arrival on-site & assess onsite conditionsPark safely, report to the site supervisor, complete the site induction and check site conditions.
  3. Work area set-upSet up an exclusion zone with signage and tape, and stop work if anyone unauthorised enters.
  4. EnvironmentControl noise, separate and dispose of waste and chemicals correctly, and keep residue out of drains.
  5. HousekeepingKeep the area tidy, place wet floor signs, run cords clear of doorways and wear non-slip footwear.
  6. Manual tasksUse lightweight, long-handled tools and trolleys, use team lifts and move wheelie bins one at a time.
  7. Sweeping, mopping, surface cleaning & vacuumingHandle sharps and contaminated materials safely, use tested equipment, avoid work above 2 m and follow the SDS.
  8. On completionRemove or add barricades, sign out on the site register and use designated access and egress routes.
  9. Emergency responseCall 000, follow site emergency procedures, apply first aid and complete an incident report.

Hazards it covers

Legislation and standards it references

Every SWMS comes with our legislation and codes of practice reference list.

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