Cleaning

Specific arrangements and service provider responsibilities during cleaning activities

This section details specific arrangements that should be established to facilitate cleaning activities and ensure that they take place safely. This includes specific responsibilities of service providers in helping to manage school premises whilst carrying out cleaning activities.

The school must ensure the cleaning staff are provided a safe working environment.

Access times

Unless otherwise agreed with the school representative, the service provider can only undertake cleaning activities at the school:

• in the morning from 6 am to 8:30 am on a school day
• between 3:30 pm and midnight on a school day
• between 6 am and midnight during school term breaks.

The school approved cleaning services plan must include rosters for routine cleaning.

Security arrangements

Where directly associated with delivering cleaning services, the service provider must ensure that:

• all lights, appliances and water taps are turned off after use and before leaving the premises
• all internal doors, windows and locker bays are closed when leaving an area
• all external windows and doors are closed and securely locked when leaving an area
• the school security system has been activated when leaving the premises
• heating and cooling are turned on in the morning and off at night.

The service provider is only required to open/close doors and gates to undertake the cleaning services. If the school requests that the service provider open or close doors or gates at other times (that is, open doors and gates in the morning when cleaning services are delivered only in the afternoon), this is an additional service request, that the school must cover.

Waste movement

The service provider must:

• empty all waste bins throughout the school at least once each school day
• deposit all waste in the bulk waste storage units within each school
• ensure that waste remains in the correct stream from collection through to bulk storage (for example, landfill, recycling)
• ensure that each waste bin is clean, non-odorous and does not present an OHS hazard to school occupants following each empty.

The service provider is not responsible for the removal of waste from the school site.

Confidential documents, personal hygiene (sanitary) and clinical (medical) waste streams are excluded from this requirement as they are separate service contracts.

Cleaning equipment and materials

The service provider must supply all their equipment, material and cleaning consumables to undertake the cleaning services.

As per the contract, if the school requires the use of specific cleaning equipment to maintain the integrity of a school asset (for example, use of a certain polisher for a dance studio floor), then the service provider must supply this equipment.

Personal consumables

The school must supply personal consumable items, including toilet paper, shared soap, hand towels and hand sanitiser, to allow the service provider to keep dispensers and point of use locations stocked for continuous use. Bin liners are supplied by the service provider.

By default, the payment and supply of these items are not with the service provider (except for bin liners). However, schools can agree that the service provider purchases these on the school’s behalf.

The school and service provider should communicate regularly on whether personal consumables stocks are low.

Graffiti removal

The service provider only completes graffiti removal as a base cleaning service where the graffiti can be cleaned and removed relatively simply (that is, within 10 minutes).

The school must make an additional cleaning service request (refer to Types of cleaning services) for graffiti that requires lengthy cleaning time or other actions to remove.

Storage and use of chemicals

The service provider must:

• provide all relevant details of chemicals to the school to ensure that school-based chemical registers can be updated
• use the safest practical chemicals to achieve the cleaning standards
• ensure all chemicals and materials are stored and secured at all times to ensure the safety of school occupants
• ensure all chemicals and materials are supported with current SDS fact sheets that are not older than 5 years from date of issue
• ensure the cleaners’ storeroom (if relevant) is tidy and uncluttered
• comply with the department's Chemical Management policy.

School representatives can reasonably request the use of low allergenic or alternative products, and the service provider will put in place procedures to ensure that only suitable products are used in areas directed by the school representative.