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COVID-19 and employer responsibilities

Employers must identify whether there is a risk to health of employees from exposure to coronavirus at their workplace. Where a risk to health is identified at a workplace, employers must, so far as is reasonably practicable, eliminate or reduce the risk.

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Cleaning

These are the most common injuries and hazards for people cleaning in Victorian workplaces, as shown by injury claims.

Safety solutions

WorkSafe expects employers to have safety solutions in place to protect workers from the most common sources of injury.

Hazards and solutions

Hazard 1
Cuts grazes and lacerations
Develop and implement appropriate systems of work (eg use a 'clean-in-place' system to eliminate manual cleaning eg dishwashers, factory floor systems).

Ensure equipment is isolated and locked out before cleaning.

Provide appropriate personal protective equipment to clean machines with sharp components / edges (eg brushes, scrapers, gloves that cannot be pierced).

Provide sufficient 'sharps' containers so needles are not disposed of in bags.
Hazard 2
Handling chemicals
Treat all chemicals as potentially dangerous to health, unless material safety data sheet (MSDS) or label states otherwise.

Obtain material safety data sheets (MSDS) for all dangerous goods and hazardous chemicals at your workplace, and ensure employees have access to them.

Eliminate the substance from use or if you can't eliminate, use a less harmful product or process or a less hazardous form of the substance (eg a non-bleach based cleaning product).

Train employees on safe work practices that reduce exposure (eg re-seal containers, clean up spills and restrict unnecessary access).

Provide personal protective clothing and equipment (eg gloves, equipment that protects against hot water burns such as aprons) for employees.
Hazard 3
Lifting / handling of equipment and waste
Provide appropriate mechanical aids and equipment (eg backpack vacuum cleaners, waste dumping systems that eliminate manual lifting of waste and bins such as chutes, waste conveyors, disposal units, bins designed for unloading over skips - if this can't be done, mechanical aids that assist lifting such as mechanical wheelie bin lifters, or use smaller bins, platform ladders and ramps to minimise lifting) and ensure they are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.

Ensure building layout / design limits the need to push, pull or carry equipment, bins or waste (eg pathways are clear of obstructions, goods lifts, ducted vacuum systems).

Ensure bins have wheels or provide a trolley.

Train employees in the selection and use of any mechanical equipment and aids and safe handling methods.

Ensure employees are not exposed to repetitive work for long periods (eg by using job rotation, work variation, providing sit-stand stools and anti-fatigue mats) or work that requires a significant amount of high force.
Hazard 4
Noise
Ensure employees are not exposed to noise that exceeds the exposure standard.

Arrange for a noise assessment if employees are exposed to excessive noise (eg workers have to raise their voices to communicate over a distance of one metre) and there is uncertainty as to whether employees exposure may have exceeded the noise exposure standard.

Eliminate or minimise the source of noise. Use noise insulated equipment (eg silence compressors) and separate workers from noisy activities.

Buy the quietest tools / machinery available (eg scrubbers, vacuum cleaners).

Place warning signs in areas of excessive and continual noise (eg where employees exposure is likely to exceed the exposure standard).

Warn other workers nearby that you will be undertaking noisy work and advise them to move away or wear hearing protection.

Provide hearing equipment, ensure it is worn at all times, and provide employees with audiometric testing. Employers should provide a choice of different types of hearing protection appropriate to the noise level in the workplace.
Hazard 5
Repetitive work and awkward postures
Provide appropriate mechanical aids and equipment (eg scrubbing machines, wet vacuums, ride-on equipment, high speed in-line polishers, angled brushes, long-handled window squeegee / wall scrubber, tool extensions, platform ladders) and ensure they are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.

Train employees in the selection and use of any mechanical equipment and aids and safe handling methods (eg work is done between shoulder and mid-thigh height and with the elbows close to the body, work upright where possible).

Ensure employees are not exposed to repetitive work for long periods (eg by using job rotation, work variation, providing sit-stand stools and anti-fatigue mats).
Hazard 6
Slips trips and falls
Ensure floors are level and non-slip throughout work areas, and no temporary or permanent obstructions (eg install more power points to eliminate long power leads, ensure rugs and carpets are secure).

Apply good housekeeping practise (eg remove unnecessary items, provide sufficient storage, ensure items are put away, doors and drawers closed after use).

Ensure employees wear appropriate footwear (eg non-slip).

Ensure procedures are in place to handle spills and wet cleaning (eg warning signs barriers and immediate clean up).

'If you are injured at work' poster

Employers must display an 'if you are injured at work' poster in every workplace. You can download and print a poster in English as well as Arabic, Chinese simplified, Chinese traditional, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese.

Download a poster

Cleaning

OHS responsibilities and duties

Consultation

Health and safety representatives (HSRs)

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Insurance, claims and recovery

Employer obligations

Workplace resources

Understand WorkSafe

Injury hotspots

Cleaning

Safety solutions

Hazards and solutions

Cuts grazes and lacerations

Handling chemicals

Lifting / handling of equipment and waste

Noise

Repetitive work and awkward postures

Slips trips and falls

'If you are injured at work' poster

Gendered violence.

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Cleaning company fined after worker fall

Cleaning company fined $30,000 after worker’s hand crushed

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