Commercial Cleaning Standards for Different Sectors in Australia

How Different Sectors Approach Cleaning Standards in Australia

Friday, September 27th, 2024

Maintaining cleanliness and hygiene – and therefore thorough business cleaning – is critical across all sectors in Australia. While there are many common overarching principles in commercial cleaning, there are certain standards and requirements that are unique to each business sector. Let’s look at some of these cleaning standards and how they differ.

 

  • Cleaning Standards in Childcare

Australian childcare centres need to comply with a National Quality Framework, which includes specific requirements for cleanliness and hygiene. Element 3.1.2. requires childcare premises, furniture and equipment to be safe, clean and well maintained. The National Health and Medical Research Council’s Staying Healthy guidelines require childcare cleaning services to clean and sanitise surfaces based on frequency of use, which in a busy childcare centre typically means daily cleaning for surfaces such as toys, door handles, high chairs and in bathrooms. In addition, cleaning products must be kept and stored safely away from children.

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  • Cleaning Standards in Schools

Schools in Australia follow state-specific education department guidelines for cleaning, so the details vary slightly between Victoria, NSW, QLD, WA and SA. However, the common standards include the requirement to attend to high-touch surfaces, meeting rooms and washrooms with daily cleaning. Classrooms and shared spaces should be a key focus for school cleaning services across primary schools, secondary schools, private schools, colleges and universities.

  • Cleaning Standards in Aged Care

Aged care facilities in Australia must comply with the Aged Care Quality Standards, which include specific requirements for cleanliness and infection control. Aged care  organisations are expected to apply risk management principles to implement systems for a clean environment and equipment. Such examples for age care cleaning services might include daily cleaning of high-touch surfaces in rooms, such as bed rails; while shared equipment such as mobility aids and rooms should be cleaned between each resident use. Because aged care residents can be vulnerable, the attention to detail in aged care cleaning should be as rigorous as with medical cleaning services across medical practice cleaning, cleaning of pathology labs, medical centre cleaning and day hospital cleaning.

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  • Cleaning Standards in Australian Offices

Office environments in Australia must meet their state’s or territory’s Work Health and Safety (WHS) obligations, which require a clean and hygienic workplace for employee safety. This can look different depending on the workplace, but factors can include cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces frequently, cleaning floors to minimise fall hazards, and providing adequate and hygienic hand washing facilities. Another important consideration for workplace and office cleaning is the replenishment of consumables such as hand soap and towels, as this can help to encourage great hand hygiene and minimise workplace illness.

  • Cleaning Standards in Food Manufacturing

Australia’s food manufacturing industry adheres to strict cleaning standards set by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). These standards play an essential role in maintaining food safety and preventing contamination. Containers, utensils and thermometers need to be correctly cleaned and sanitised between uses – but strict cleanliness also extends to the broader wider environment. For example, storage areas must be kept clean and dry to prevent contamination from dirt or food waste. Most food businesses in Australia must also have a Food Safety Program based on the 7 principles of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), which can influence cleaning schedules to minimise potential food safety hazards.

  • Cleaning Standards in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

As a last example, Australia’s pharmaceutical industry follows Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines as regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). As with food manufacturing, the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector requires thorough and clearly documented cleaning procedures designed to minimise the risk of contaminants.

 

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Find a Sector-Specific Commercial Cleaning Company

As you can see, the risks and requirements of your sector can shape your ideal cleaning plan. The best way to ensure compliance and safety is to work with a cleaning provider that is highly experienced working with your industry.

AMC Commercial Cleaning can help, whether you’re looking for a reliable school cleaning company, a daily or weekly cleaning service for your corporate offices, or a specialist commercial cleaning company for your industrial business. Contact us today for a tailored quote in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth and beyond.

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