Product Overview

Summary: This Fire Exit Cleaning Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical steps for keeping all emergency exits clean, unobstructed and compliant with Australian WHS and fire safety requirements. It helps your team maintain safe egress routes at all times, reducing the risk of slips, trips and blocked exits during an evacuation.

Fire exits are critical life‑safety features, yet in many workplaces they gradually become cluttered, dirty or poorly maintained through everyday use. This Fire Exit Cleaning Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, repeatable method for inspecting, cleaning and maintaining all designated emergency exits, exit doors, stairwells and egress paths. It covers everything from scheduling and access control to the safe use of cleaning chemicals and equipment in confined or high‑traffic escape routes.

The procedure is designed for Australian workplaces that must demonstrate due diligence under WHS and fire safety legislation. It helps you control common risks such as slippery surfaces from spills or mopping, debris that could trip evacuees, and obstructions that slow or prevent evacuation. By implementing this SOP, organisations can clearly allocate responsibilities between building management and cleaning contractors, standardise cleaning quality across sites, and maintain evidence of regular inspections for audits, insurance and regulator enquiries.

Key Benefits

• Ensure fire exits, stairwells and egress paths remain clean, clear and ready for immediate use in an emergency.
• Reduce slip, trip and fall risks caused by spills, dust build‑up, rubbish or poorly managed wet‑floor cleaning in escape routes.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS and fire safety obligations through documented, repeatable cleaning practices.
• Standardise expectations and responsibilities between in‑house staff and contract cleaners across multiple sites.
• Support smoother fire drills and real evacuations by minimising obstructions and visibility issues in exit routes.

Who is this for?

• Facilities Managers
• WHS Managers
• Building Managers
• Fire Wardens
• Cleaning Supervisors
• Contract Cleaning Providers
• Property Managers
• School Business Managers
• Aged Care Facility Managers
• Retail Store Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Slips on wet or contaminated floors in fire exits and stairwells
• Trips and falls due to clutter, rubbish, cables or stored items in exit paths
• Reduced visibility from dust, grime or poorly cleaned emergency lighting covers and signage
• Blocked or restricted exit doors due to poor housekeeping or misplaced equipment
• Chemical exposure from inappropriate use of cleaning agents in confined stairwells or corridors
• Manual handling injuries when moving items obstructing fire exits
• Inadequate access for emergency services due to poorly maintained external exit areas

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Terminology
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Fire Exit Types and Areas Covered (Doors, Corridors, Stairwells, External Egress)
• 6.0 Required PPE, Tools and Cleaning Materials
• 7.0 Pre‑Cleaning Safety Checks and Area Isolation
• 8.0 Step‑by‑Step Fire Exit Cleaning Procedure
• 9.0 Managing Wet Floors and Slip Risks in Exit Routes
• 10.0 Handling and Storage of Cleaning Chemicals in Egress Areas
• 11.0 Inspection of Signage, Emergency Lighting and Door Hardware During Cleaning
• 12.0 Housekeeping and Obstruction Removal Requirements
• 13.0 Waste Management and Disposal
• 14.0 Frequency, Scheduling and After‑Hours Cleaning Considerations
• 15.0 Recordkeeping, Checklists and Corrective Actions
• 16.0 Training, Induction and Contractor Management
• 17.0 Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations – provisions relating to emergency plans and safe means of exit
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• Building Code of Australia (BCA), as part of the National Construction Code – provisions relating to exits and egress paths
• AS 3745: Planning for emergencies in facilities
• AS 1851: Routine service of fire protection systems and equipment (for alignment with inspection and maintenance practices)
• AS/NZS 2243.1: Safety in laboratories – Planning and operational aspects (where applicable to specialised facilities)