This Cleaning and Polishing Floors SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled and covers stripping, scrubbing and polishing hard floors with a scrubber or polisher. It sets out 12 activities, from preparing the work area to changing pads and brushes and emergency response, with the hazards, control measures and risk ratings before and after controls for each. It's written by WHS specialists, aligned to Australian WHS legislation, and fully editable in Microsoft Word.
Who it's for
Commercial cleaning and floor care companies
Hard floor stripping and sealing contractors
Facilities and building maintenance teams
Shopping centre, school and venue cleaning crews
A SWMS isn't only for construction. Plenty of businesses use one as the written risk assessment for a task, the same way others use a JSA or Safe Work Procedure.
Use it to
Show clients, insurers and auditors how you manage the risks
Apply for tenders, contracts and supplier panels
Get through prequalification with Avetta, Cm3 and other contractor portals
Induct new workers and train them in the task
What this SWMS covers
Informing workers about new or introduced hazards
Preparing equipment and the area: electrocution, entanglement, poor lighting and property damage
Using the scrubber or polisher: manual handling, pedestrian injury and slips
Electric shock from damaged cords or wet floors
Skin, eye and inhalation exposure to chemicals and polish
Working alone or after hours, including aggression and no phone coverage
Changing pads and brushes, including the machine rolling back and crush injury
Finishing the task and dealing with damaged equipment
Spills and wastewater runoff into drains and public areas
Chemical spills, burns and fumes during stripping or polishing
Emergency response to chemical, electrical or injury incidents
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 12 work activities
Risk ratings before and after controls, with a 5x5 risk matrix and the hierarchy of controls
PPE requirements checklist and high risk construction work checklist
Plant and equipment list, from scrubbers and squeegees to spill kits and barricades
Materials list covering detergents, floor polish, stripping solution and sealer
Site specific hazards section for anything unique to your job
Worker sign-off sheet and worker consultation record
Why use this template
Saves hours compared with writing a SWMS from a blank page
Covers the most common hazards and control measures for this work, ready to use out of the box
Fully editable, so you can add, remove or change anything to suit your site and how your team works
Helps your business stay compliant, with risk ratings, worker sign-off and consultation records already set up
How it works
Buy online and download straight away. You'll also get an email with your link.
Add your logo, ABN, project and site details.
Check it suits your site and task, edit anything you need to, and consult your workers before you finalise it.
Brief your team and collect signatures.
Common questions
Do I need a SWMS for cleaning and polishing floors?
Only if the job is high risk construction work, for example a floor clean on a construction site where powered mobile plant is moving, or work near energised electrical installations. Routine floor care in offices, shops and venues isn't, so a SWMS isn't mandatory. You still have to manage risks like electric shock and slips on wet floors, and a SWMS is a practical way to record how. Clients often ask for one.
Does it cover floor stripping?
Yes. It covers chemical spills, burns and fumes during stripping or polishing, and lists stripping solution, sealer and floor polish in the materials, along with a spill kit and absorbent material.
Can I change it?
Yes. It's a Microsoft Word file, so you can add, remove or change any hazard, control or rating, and add your own logo and details.
Does it suit my state?
Yes. It's written to the model WHS laws and suits all states and territories, including Victoria under the OHS Act and Regulations.
What if it doesn't suit my work?
You're covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee if it isn't fit for purpose.
