Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to use microfibre and chemical-free cleaning techniques to clean a range of surfaces, including durable and soft surfaces on floors, furniture and fittings. It covers assessing the capacity for microfibre and chemical-free cleaning techniques to clean surfaces, selecting required equipment and cleaning techniques, and ensuring microfibre products are cleaned and stored following the cleaning work according to manufacturer specifications.
The unit supports cleaners who work alone or in teams. It applies in a range of commercial and residential work sites.
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. | Prepare for cleaning. | 1.1. | Area to be cleaned is assessed, and company and client requirements are identified and confirmed. |
1.2. | Pre-existing damage to surfaces is identified and reported according to company requirements. | ||
1.3. | Work site hazards are assessed and risks controlled according to company, legislative, and health and safety requirements. | ||
1.4. | Personal protective equipment (PPE) is sourced according to manufacturer specifications, and health and safety and company requirements. | ||
1.5. | Microfibre cleaning equipment is selected according to type of surface, level of soiling, and company colour-coding procedures; and is prepared for use. | ||
2. | Undertake cleaning process. | 2.1. | Water is applied to low level stains and surface is cleaned using selected equipment. |
2.2. | Dry microfibre cleaning equipment is applied to surfaces, dust and dry debris are removed, and surface cleaning is finished to client requirements. | ||
2.3. | Damp microfibre cleaning equipment is applied to surfaces, and surfaces are cleaned and finished according to client requirements. | ||
2.4. | Stains and marks that cannot be removed during the cleaning process are identified and reported according to company procedures and client requirements. | ||
2.5. | Microfibre cleaning equipment is checked regularly during cleaning process and soiled equipment is stored separately from unsoiled equipment while moving between cleaning areas. | ||
3. | Clean and store equipment. | 3.1. | Microfibre cleaning equipment |
3.2. | Microfibre cleaning equipment is stored according to company procedures. | ||
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 clean two of the following surfaces in a commercial or residential work site, using microfibre and chemical-free cleaning techniques:
fittings
floor
furniture.
In doing the above work, the person must:
assess and manage work site risks
assess suitability of microfibre and chemical-free cleaning techniques for the task
clean and store used microfibre equipment at the end of the cleaning task according to manufacturer specifications.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
benefits and application of microfibre and low-water techniques when cleaning
characteristics and techniques of microfibre and chemical-free cleaning products
colour-coding conventions used when handling and storing cleaning products
company processes and procedures, including:
biological and viral control
emergency response and evacuation procedures
environmental protection procedures
hazard and risk assessment techniques
health and safety procedures
injury, dangerous occurrence and incident reporting
company procedures required for the cleaning tasks specified in the performance evidence, including:
client and contractual requirements
company service standards
documentation and information systems and processes
work roles and responsibilities
use of electronic job scheduling and communication devices
methods for cleaning microfibre cloths and mops.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
microfibre cleaning equipment as listed in the range of conditions
personal protective equipment (PPE) as listed in the range of conditions
specifications:
equipment operating manuals
colour-coding conventions
physical conditions:
suitable work site or venue with surfaces listed in the performance evidence
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 |
Oral communication skills to: | ask questions to clarify job requirements respond clearly and concisely to client questions. |
Reading skills to: | interpret and apply manufacturer instructions for cleaning and maintaining microfibre equipment interpret directions and safety instructions, including: equipment operating manuals manufacturer instructions safety data sheets (SDS). |
Writing skills to: | document and report faults in equipment to manufacturer and other personnel. |
Problem-solving skills to: | identify type of soiling and confirm use of microfibre and chemical-free cleaning techniques required for the task. |
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. | |
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: hazardous chemicals register hierarchy of control job safety analyses (JSA) for low-risk situations safe work method statements (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. |
Personal protective equipment must include at least two of the following: | clothing eye protection gloves masks safety shoes. |
Microfibre cleaning equipment must include at least three of the following: | cleaning trolley cloths dusting wand mitts mops spray bottles squeegees. |
Sectors
Cleaning operations