This Cleaning SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled and covers general commercial cleaning, from toilets, showers and offices to floors, garbage and blower use. It sets out 13 activities, from the daily pre-start meeting to 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 and contract cleaning companies
Office, retail and venue cleaners
Facilities and property maintenance teams
Sporting clubs, gyms and change room operators
School and council facility cleaners
A SWMS isn't only for construction. Plenty of cleaning 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
Daily pre-start meeting on other crews and new hazards
Cleaning toilets, vanities, sinks and mirrors, including chemical burns and body fluids
Cleaning showers and change rooms, including bacteria and viruses
Cleaning desks, chairs, walls and windows without overreaching
Vacuuming and mopping floors: slips, back strain, dust and electrical hazards
Portable electrical equipment and leads
Garbage removal, including sharps and exposure to bacteria
Using and refuelling a blower, including fumes and ignition risks
Chemical spills and exposure during cleaning
Working alone or after hours, including aggression and no phone coverage
Emergency response to injury, fire or chemical incidents
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 13 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, maintenance checks and the training each worker needs
Training needs, including site specific induction and manual handling training
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?
Only if the cleaning is high risk construction work, for example cleaning on a construction site where powered mobile plant is moving, or where someone could fall more than 2 metres. Everyday commercial cleaning isn't, so a SWMS isn't mandatory. You still have to manage risks like chemicals, body fluids and working alone, and a SWMS is a practical way to record how. Clients and facilities managers often ask for one.
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.
