Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to clean at heights above two metres from the ground or from a solid floor construction. It covers assessing the extent of the cleaning task and selecting the required equipment, chemicals and cleaning methods. Cleaning at heights may occur indoors or outdoors and can involve the use of specialised equipment to access the area to be cleaned.
The unit supports cleaners who work alone or in teams. It applies in a range of commercial and residential work sites. The unit does not apply to work requiring the use of elevated work platforms.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit of competency at the time of endorsement.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. | ||
1. | Identify work area requirements. | 1.1. | Work area and job requirements are identified and need for access equipment is confirmed according to work instructions. |
1.2. | Method of accessing work area is identified according to safe work method statement (SWMS). | ||
1.3. | Access equipment is selected, set up and inspected for defects, and issues are reported and rectified before commencing cleaning tasks. | ||
1.4. | Safe work methods for moving cleaning equipment and chemicals are identified to minimise risks. | ||
1.5. | Personal protective equipment (PPE) is selected according to the work task, manufacturer specifications, and health and safety and company requirements. | ||
1.6. | Tasks are sequenced to ensure maximum efficiency for completing cleaning requirements. | ||
1.7. | Drop sheets are placed on floor, furniture and equipment as required and according to client and site requirements. | ||
2. | Access area to be cleaned. | 2.1. | Fallprotection system where required is correctly fitted, adjusted and anchored. |
2.2. | Work site hazards are assessed and risks controlled according to company, legislative, and health and safety requirements. | ||
2.3. | Access equipment is inspected for defects, and issues are reported and rectified within scope of own responsibilities according to health and safety requirements. | ||
2.4. | Cleaning equipment and chemicals are positioned to eliminate risk of items falling. | ||
3. | Conduct cleaning tasks. | 3.1. | Cleaning is conducted following approved procedures and SWMS. |
3.2. | Communication with team members and other site personnel is maintained as required to progress cleaning tasks within agreed timelines. | ||
3.3. | Fall protection system is kept in place and adjusted to cater for movement during cleaning process. | ||
3.4. | Scaffold components and fall barriers are kept in place during cleaning process. | ||
3.5. | Work area is exited following SWMS and supervisor-approved methods for moving self, cleaning equipment and chemicals to ground level. |
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy the requirements of the elements, performance criteria, foundation skills and range of conditions of this unit.
The person must also:
identify, assess and manage risks while completing three different cleaning tasks at a height above two metres from the ground or from a solid floor construction, with one of the cleaning tasks requiring the use of a fall protection system
transport cleaning equipment and chemicals to the above work areas
complete the above cleaning tasks using the transported cleaning equipment and chemicals
return the cleaning equipment and chemicals to ground level at job completion.
In doing the above work, the person must:
locate, interpret and apply cleaning task information, standards and specifications
select, prepare and use required access and fall protection system and work methods
safely and effectively use tools, plant and equipment
communicate and work effectively and safely with others.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
key requirements of legislation, regulations, codes of practice and industry advisory standards relating to cleaning at heights, including:
Australian standards and codes of practice for the safe use of ladders
work health and safety legislation when cleaning at heights
preparation and safe use of access equipment when cleaning, including:
bosun chairs
building maintenance units
extension poles
industrial rope access
ladders, including extension ladders
scaffolding
water-fed extension brooms
processes for identifying and reporting faults in access equipment and fall protection systems.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
access equipment required for site
cleaning equipment required for task
fall protection systems required for site
signs and barricades required for task
materials:
cleaning products required for task
specifications:
safe work method statement (SWMS)
physical conditions:
suitable venue with cleaning required at least two metres above ground or a solid floor construction
suitable weather conditions if task performed outdoors
contingencies:
faults in access equipment
relationships with team members and supervisor:
work may be conducted alone or as part of a team.
Timeframe:
as specified by the task.
Assessor requirements
As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) current at the time of assessment.
Foundation Skills
This section describes the language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills essential to performance in this unit but not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Skill | Performance feature |
Numeracy skills to: | dilute and mix chemicals required for cleaning tasks using whole numbers and routine fractions. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask questions to clarify job requirements. |
Reading skills to: | interpret safety instructions in a range of texts, including: equipment manuals safety data sheets (SDS). |
Writing skills to: | document and report faults in equipment to manufacturer and other personnel. |
Planning and organising skills to: | locate and apply instructions for cleaning tasks plan and schedule cleaning tasks. |
Range Statement
This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. | |
Safe work method statement must include: | tools and equipment, including PPE prescribed by legislation, regulations, and work site and workplace requirements establishing exclusion areas using signs and barricades hazard identification and risk assessment for work site and job tasks health and safety and environmental requirements mandated by regulatory authorities, work site safety plan, and workplace procedures risk control measures to be implemented for job tasks safe operating procedures for: accessing, moving within, and leaving work site moving and placing tools, equipment and materials using tools and equipment at heights. |
Fall protection systems must include at least one of the following: | lanyards harness. |
Hazards that must be assessed include: | biological and environmental contaminants chemical exposure via absorption, ingestion and inhalation chemical reactivity dust and fibre particulates electrical environmental allergens explosions fatigue fire manual handling noise poor ventilation slips, trips and falls syringes and sharps working in confined spaces. |
Health and safety requirements must include: | access to communication devices when working alone compliance with Safe Work Australia regulations and guidelines electrical equipment test and tag compliance emergency response procedures environmental controls hazard signs and barricades health and safety induction and refresher training manual handling techniques processes for safely dispensing chemicals risk assessment procedures, including: hierarchy of control job safety analyses (JSA) for low-risk situations SWMS for high-risk situations incident reporting SDS selection and use of required PPE storage and maintenance of equipment according to manufacturer specifications use of first aid according to SDS information. |
Sectors
Cleaning operations