Work health and safety issues
The environmental cleaning policy needs to address work health and safety issues relevant to environmental cleaning, whether conducted by employed or contract cleaners. It is to include:
Where contract cleaners are engaged:
- the practice needs to ensure cleaning contractors comply with its work health and safety requirements, including correct use of PPE, spill management, and chemical handling procedures
- a formal agreement should clearly outline responsibilities for maintaining safety data sheets, chemical registers, and safe storage of cleaning products
- contractors should be informed of any relevant infection prevention and control procedures, particularly when cleaning clinical or procedural areas
- the practice should retain copies of the contractor’s relevant work health and safety documentation, including training records, immunisation status, and emergency protocols
Employers have an obligation under work health and safety legislation to:
- obtain safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals used in the workplace, including cleaning products used by contract cleaners
- ensure all workers, including contractors, are aware of safe use practices and emergency procedures
- ensure staff have appropriate immunity to blood-borne viruses.
Safety data sheets identify the chemical ingredients, related hazards, information on safe handling and storage, first aid information, and other safety information. Safety data sheets are available free of charge from suppliers of hazardous chemicals.
A register of hazardous chemicals used, handled or stored at the workplace needs to be prepared and kept up to date at the workplace. This register needs to include the current safety data sheet for each of these chemicals and needs to be readily available to all workers and contractors who use or may be affected by the chemicals at the workplace.
Safe use, storage, and disposal of chemicals
Practices need to have procedures for the safe use, storage, handling, transfer, and disposal of all chemicals used on-site, including those used in reprocessing reusable medical devices (eg enzymatic cleaners, detergents, high-level disinfectants) and by contractors.
Chemical safety procedures should cover:
- storing chemicals in secure, well-ventilated areas away from heat or ignition sources
- keeping chemicals in original containers that are clearly labelled and tightly sealed when not in use
- transferring (decanting) chemicals into secondary containers that are correctly labelled in accordance with local regulations
- using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) as specified in manufacturer instructions and safety data sheets
- ensuring all staff are trained in the correct and safe use of chemicals, including first aid measures
- keeping safety data sheets for all chemicals readily accessible to staff at point of use
- reviewing the contents of the spill kit against the requirements in the safety data sheets for each chemical, and documenting emergency procedures for spill management. These procedures must be easy to find and follow in the event of an incident.
Chemical disposal procedures need to:
- follow local environmental and waste management regulations
- use authorised disposal services for used or expired chemicals where required
- never allow chemicals to be poured down sinks or drains unless explicitly permitted by the manufacturer and local laws
- minimise chemical waste through appropriate inventory management and preparation practices.
Environmental consideration
When disposing of chemicals, consider environmentally safer alternatives (eg biodegradable or low-toxicity formulations), where possible.