Product Overview

Summary: This High Reach Cleaning Safe Operating Procedure sets out a safe, repeatable method for cleaning windows, façades, signage and internal high surfaces using poles, platforms or elevated work equipment. It helps Australian workplaces control the significant risks of working at height while maintaining professional cleaning standards and WHS compliance.

High reach cleaning, whether carried out with extension poles, ladders, mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) or building maintenance units, exposes workers and the public to serious fall and dropped-object risks if not tightly controlled. This SOP provides a clear, step‑by‑step framework for planning and completing high reach cleaning tasks in offices, shopping centres, schools, hospitals, industrial sites and public venues across Australia. It covers everything from pre‑start inspections and access selection through to exclusion zones, safe use of equipment and post‑task sign‑off, so that workers know exactly how to perform the job safely and consistently.

For businesses, this procedure turns high‑risk work into a managed, auditable process aligned with Australian WHS laws and industry best practice. It helps duty holders demonstrate due diligence, standardise contractor expectations, and reduce the likelihood of falls, musculoskeletal injuries and property damage. By implementing this SOP, organisations gain a practical tool they can use for onboarding cleaners, briefing subcontractors, conducting toolbox talks and evidencing their safety management system during audits or regulator inspections.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of falls from height and dropped-object incidents during high reach cleaning tasks.
• Ensure consistent, compliant cleaning practices across employees and contractors at every site.
• Support WHS due diligence and demonstrate alignment with Australian legislation and guidance.
• Improve planning and scheduling of high reach work through clear pre-start and access selection requirements.
• Streamline training and induction for new cleaners and supervisors with a ready-to-use, task-specific procedure.

Who is this for?

• Cleaning Supervisors
• Commercial Cleaners
• Facilities Managers
• Property Managers
• WHS Managers
• Operations Managers
• School and University Maintenance Managers
• Hospital and Aged Care Facility Managers
• Retail Centre Managers
• Construction and Fit-out Site Supervisors

Hazards Addressed

• Falls from height when using ladders, mobile scaffolds or elevated work platforms
• Dropped tools or equipment striking workers or members of the public below
• Contact with overhead powerlines or electrical installations
• Musculoskeletal injuries from awkward postures and overreaching with extension poles
• Slips, trips and falls on wet or obstructed surfaces
• Equipment failure or collapse of access equipment due to poor inspection or misuse
• Exposure to cleaning chemicals, mists or aerosols at height
• Vehicle or plant interaction in shared access areas (e.g. car parks, loading docks)

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Types of High Reach Cleaning
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Competency, Training and Authorisation Requirements
• 6.0 Required PPE, Tools and Equipment
• 7.0 Pre-Start Planning and Site Risk Assessment
• 8.0 Selection of Access Method (poles, ladders, MEWPs, scaffolds, BMUs)
• 9.0 Equipment Inspection, Setup and Isolation of Work Area
• 10.0 Safe Operating Procedure – High Reach Cleaning with Extension Poles
• 11.0 Safe Operating Procedure – High Reach Cleaning Using Ladders
• 12.0 Safe Operating Procedure – High Reach Cleaning Using MEWPs or Elevated Platforms
• 13.0 Manual Handling and Ergonomic Controls
• 14.0 Chemical Handling and Exposure Controls
• 15.0 Housekeeping, Demobilisation and Post-Task Review
• 16.0 Emergency Response and Rescue Procedures
• 17.0 Monitoring, Audit and Continuous Improvement
• 18.0 Document Control and Recordkeeping

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 – Part 4.4 Falls
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
• AS/NZS 1891 series: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices
• AS/NZS 1576 series: Scaffolding
• AS 2550.10: Cranes, hoists and winches – Safe use – Mobile elevating work platforms
• AS/NZS 3012: Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites (where temporary power is used for cleaning equipment)