OH Consultant
SWMS›SWMS

Cleaning SWMS Template — Safe Work Method Statement for Commercial, Industrial and Construction Cleaning

A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) for cleaning work is a structured safety planning document used to identify hazards, document controls, and plan safe execution of commercial, industrial and post-construction cleaning activities on Australian sites. General cleaning at ground level — mopping, vacuuming, surface wiping and waste removal — is not classified as High Risk Construction Work under the WHS Regulation 2025, and a SWMS is therefore not strictly mandatory for routine ground-level cleaning. The moment a cleaning task involves working at a height from which a person could fall more than 2 metres, or the entry of a confined space such as a tank, pit, silo, grease trap or ventilation plenum, the work crosses into HRCW territory and a written SWMS becomes mandatory under Part 6.1 Division 3 of the Regulation.

$149 AUD✓ Instant Download Available

SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.

Legal Requirements

regulation

WHS Regulation 2025 Part 6.1 Division 3 — High Risk Construction Work (where triggered); Part 4.3 — Confined Spaces; Part 4.4 — Falls; Part 7.1 — Hazardous Chemicals

hrcw category

Risk of fall from a height of more than 2 metres (external window, facade and roof cleaning) and work carried out in or near a confined space (tank, pit, grease trap, duct cleaning). General ground-level cleaning is not HRCW — SWMS is best practice rather than strictly mandatory

code of practice

Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace (2020); Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces (2018); Code of Practice: Confined Spaces (2020); Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks (2018)

section 26a binding

Binding under Section 26A only where HRCW is triggered — the principal contractor must obtain and review the SWMS before work commences

hrwl required

General cleaning does not require a High Risk Work Licence. Confined space cleaning requires a nationally recognised unit of competency such as RIIWHS202D or RIIWHS202E. Industrial rope-access cleaning requires a current IRATA or ARAA certification at the appropriate level

Hazards

HazardConsequenceLikelihood
Slips, trips and falls on wet or freshly cleaned surfacesWet floors — whether from mopping, pressure washing, or spills — are the leading cause of injury in cleaning work.Likely (B)
Chemical exposure from cleaning agents, degreasers, bleach, solvents, disinfectants and acidsCleaning chemicals routinely include corrosive substances (sodium hydroxide, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid), oxidisers (sodium hypochlorite), and solvents (d-limonene, glycol ethers).Possible (C)
Falls from height during external window cleaning, facade washing, roof gutter cleaning, and high-level warehouse cleaningFalls from a height of more than 2 metres during cleaning work result in fractures, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, and death.Possible (C)
Manual handling injury from carrying buckets, moving furniture, operating heavy equipment and repetitive movementsCleaners routinely carry buckets of water, push heavy floor scrubbers, move furniture, and operate vacuum cleaners across long distances for extended shifts.Likely (B)
Biological hazard exposure from bodily fluids, sharps, mould, sewage, and contaminated wasteCleaners working in public areas, healthcare, student accommodation, and waste facilities can encounter blood, vomit, faeces, urine, syringes, used condoms, and decaying organic matter.Possible (C)
Electrical shock from cleaning equipment operated in wet environments or with damaged leadsFloor scrubbers, polishers, pressure washers, and vacuum cleaners all present electrical risk when used in wet environments or when leads are damaged by trolleys, forklifts, or cleaning equipment crossing.Unlikely (D)
Noise exposure from high pressure washers, industrial vacuums, and scrubbers exceeding 85 dB(A)Prolonged exposure above 85 decibels A-weighted causes cumulative, permanent noise induced hearing loss.Possible (C)
Confined space atmospheric hazard during tank, pit, grease trap and duct cleaningConfined spaces cleaned routinely include water tanks, grease traps, sewer pump stations, oil separators, ventilation ducts and plenums.Unlikely (D)

Controls (Hierarchy of Controls)

[Elimination] Eliminate the hazard at source by scheduling wet cleaning outside occupied hours, eliminating confined space entry by cleaning from outside where practicable, and eliminating work at height by cleaning from the ground using telescopic poles where reach allows
[Elimination] Eliminate hazardous chemicals by substituting dilution-based neutral cleaners or steam cleaning wherever the cleaning task permits
[Substitution] Substitute solvent-based chemicals with water-based, low-toxicity alternatives and substitute concentrated products with pre-diluted ready-to-use formats to eliminate decanting exposure
[Substitution] Substitute manual methods with mechanical alternatives — ride-on scrubbers for large floors, automated window cleaning systems for facades, and high-reach pole systems for windows up to 18 metres
[Isolation] Isolate the cleaning zone from pedestrians, building occupants and other workers using barricades, wet floor signs, and temporary hoardings for extended cleaning operations
[Isolation] Isolate electrical cleaning equipment through portable Residual Current Devices (RCDs) rated at 30 milliamps for every electrical appliance used in or near wet environments
[Engineering] Install guardrail systems, permanent anchor points, and fall arrest systems on roofs and facades where recurring cleaning access is required
[Engineering] Use on-board water filtration and dilution systems on pressure washers to minimise chemical waste and exposure
[Engineering] Ventilate cleaning areas mechanically where chemical vapours or mould spores may accumulate, and continuously monitor confined space atmospheres with a calibrated four-gas detector
[Engineering] Use closed-system dispensers for concentrated chemicals to eliminate manual decanting and mixing
+ 13 more controls included in the full template

Recent Prosecutions

SafeWork NSW — commercial cleaner fall from unsecured ladder during external window cleaningFines of the order of $120,000 and legal costs

A worker fell 3.2 metres from an unsecured ladder while cleaning external windows. The cleaning contractor had not prepared a SWMS, had not provided a fall protection system, and had not conducted a risk assessment for work at height. SafeWork NSW prosecuted the PCBU for failure to provide a safe system of work and for failure to comply with the duty to prepare a SWMS for HRCW.

2023 — SafeWork NSW Prosecution Register

SafeWork NSW — serious chemical burns from incompatible chemical mixingFines of the order of $80,000 and an enforceable undertaking

A cleaner suffered serious chemical burns and respiratory injury after inadvertently mixing bleach and an ammonia-based cleaning product in a bucket. The cleaning company had not maintained a Safety Data Sheet register, had not conducted a chemical risk assessment, and had not provided chemical PPE or training on incompatible products. SafeWork NSW prosecuted the PCBU and imposed an enforceable undertaking requiring an independent chemical management audit.

2022 — SafeWork NSW Prosecution Register

Safe Work Australia cleaning industry compliance dataMultiple improvement and prohibition notices

Safe Work Australia and state regulators continue to identify the cleaning industry as a sector with elevated rates of musculoskeletal injury, chemical exposure, and slip-and-fall claims. Enforcement activity focuses on chemical management, height access, confined space entry, and provision of training and PPE to a workforce that is often shift-based, culturally and linguistically diverse, and working outside normal business hours.

2024 — Safe Work Australia and state regulator compliance data

What Your SWMS Must Include

✓A description of the cleaning scope including the specific tasks, the site, the equipment and the expected duration
✓Identification of every hazard associated with the cleaning work, assessed using a risk matrix of consequence against likelihood
✓Control measures documented in the order of the hierarchy of controls from elimination through to PPE
✓How each control measure will be implemented, supervised, monitored and reviewed
✓The name and position of the person responsible for the cleaning operation on site
✓Evidence of consultation with the workers who will carry out the work
✓Training and competency requirements including chemical safety, manual handling, falls from height, confined space and first aid as relevant
✓Emergency procedures including first aid, chemical spill response, rescue from height and confined space rescue
✓PPE requirements specified by type and Australian Standard
✓Plant and equipment including inspection status and RCD protection
+ 9 more requirements covered in the full template

Build Your Cleaning SWMS in Minutes

This SWMS template pre-loads cleaning hazards, chemical register structure, slip prevention measures, and height-access procedures so cleaning contractors can customise the document for the specific site and scope. Select the relevant tasks — ground-level, height, or confined space — review the controls, and produce a site-ready SWMS before work commences.

Start Building