This Window and Glass Cleaning SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled and covers cleaning windows and glass from the ground, ladders, water-fed poles, EWPs and rope access. It sets out 28 activities, from access approvals and work area set-up to pack-down 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
Window cleaning businesses and sole traders
Commercial cleaning contractors
Rope access and high-rise facade cleaning companies
Facilities and building maintenance teams
Builders' cleaners doing final glass cleans
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
Access approvals, certified anchors and building requirements
Protecting the public below, and working on footpaths and car parks near traffic
Equipment inspection, manual handling and PPE
Weather, sun and glare, and overhead powerlines
Leads, pumps and powered equipment around water, and refuelling petrol pumps
Cleaning chemicals, including hydrofluoric acid based stain removers
Ladder, water-fed pole and EWP cleaning
Unprotected edges, open windows, internal voids and fragile skylights
Rope access, building maintenance units and rescue from a harness
Blade scraping, broken glass, bird droppings and sharps on ledges
Working in occupied premises and working alone
Wet floors, waste water, pack-down and emergency response
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 28 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, materials and six-monthly height equipment inspections
Relevant Australian Standards, including AS/NZS 4488.1 for industrial rope access and AS 2550.10 for EWPs
Licence needs, including the WP licence for larger boom EWPs and IRATA or ARAA rope access certification
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 window and glass cleaning?
Only if the work is high risk construction work, for example window cleaning on a construction site where someone could fall more than 2 metres, or work next to a road in use. Outside those situations a SWMS isn't mandatory, but you still have to manage risks like falls and chemical burns, and a SWMS is a sound way to record how. Clients and building managers often ask for one.
Does it cover hydrofluoric acid stain removers?
Yes. It covers the deep, initially painless burns and poisoning risk from hydrofluoric acid based hard water and mineral stain removers used for glass restoration, and lists calcium gluconate gel in the site kit.
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.
