Product Overview

This Childcare Safety SWMS is a site-specific Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement controls for childcare operations and supervision. It is a comprehensive document that covers multiple aspects of Childcare Safety SWMS activities to support robust WHS compliance in early learning and out-of-school-hours care environments.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Safe procedures for disinfecting nursery rooms, cots, change tables, toys, and high-touch surfaces
• Management of chemical use, dilution, labelling, storage, and PPE when using cleaning and disinfectant products
• Infection prevention and hygiene practices, including handwashing, nappy changing, and handling of bodily fluids
• Supervision of children in club areas, including sign-in/sign-out, access control, and maintaining appropriate child–educator ratios
• Monitoring and managing children’s activities to prevent slips, trips, falls, and impact injuries during play
• Safe setup and inspection of indoor and outdoor play equipment, furniture, and soft-fall areas
• Behaviour management strategies and de-escalation techniques to minimise risk of harm to children and staff
• Emergency response procedures for medical incidents, missing children, fire, and evacuation drills
• Manual handling of children, cots, prams, and equipment to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries
• Control of access to hazardous areas, including kitchens, storage rooms, car parks, and service areas
• Safe food handling, allergy management, and prevention of choking hazards during meal and snack times
• Communication, consultation, and information sharing with staff, contractors, and visitors regarding childcare safety rules

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for childcare centres, early learning services, kindergartens, out-of-school-hours (OSHC) and vacation care providers, as well as site supervisors and managers responsible for childcare safety.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Guidance on providing a safe, healthy, and suitable environment for workers and children.
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing controls in childcare settings.
• Safe Work Australia – Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice: Requirements for managing risks associated with lifting and handling children and equipment.
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Controls for preventing slips, trips, and falls in indoor and outdoor play areas.
• Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) – Food Standards Code: Requirements for safe food handling, storage, and allergy management in childcare environments.
• Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) – National Quality Framework (NQF): Links to health, safety, and wellbeing requirements in approved education and care services.
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017