Unit of competency details

Elements and Performance Criteria 

Element 

Performance Criteria 

1

Select and set up equipment and materials.

1.1

Select equipment  according to type of cleaning to be undertaken.

1.2

Check that all equipment is clean and in safe working condition prior to use.

1.3

Select and prepare suitable wet and dry cleaning agents and chemicals  according to relevant manufacturer and OHS and environmental requirements .

1.4

Select and use protective clothing  where necessary.

2

Clean wet and dry areas and associated equipment.

2.1

Take account of potential customer inconvenience in scheduling and performing cleaning tasks.

2.2

Prepare wet and dry areas  to be cleaned and identify any hazards .

2.3

Barricade the work area, or place warning signs as appropriate to reduce risk to colleagues and customers.

2.4

Select and apply correct cleaning agents or chemicals for specific areas, according to manufacturer recommendations , safety procedures and enterprise policies and procedures.

2.5

Select and apply correct agents and chemicals for particular equipment or surfaces.

2.6

Use equipment correctly and safely.

2.7

Dispose of garbage and used chemicals according to hygiene, safety and environmental legislation requirements.

3

Maintain and store cleaning equipment and chemicals.

3.1

Clean equipment after use according to enterprise requirements and manufacturer instructions.

3.2

Carry out or arrange routine maintenance  according to enterprise procedures.

3.3

Identify equipment faults  and report them according to enterprise procedures.

3.4

Store equipment in the designated area and in a condition ready for re-use.

3.5

Store chemicals according to health and safety requirements.

This section describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

The following skills must be assessed as part of this unit:

organisational skills to prepare equipment and materials for a given cleaning context

literacy skills to interpret product labels and safety instructions

numeracy skills to calculate quantities of chemicals and other cleaning agents.

The following knowledge must be assessed as part of this unit:

specific requirements of state and territory OHS legislation relating to cleaning operations

environmental legislation that impacts on cleaning operations

safe handling of common cleaning equipment used in the relevant work context

safe handling and treatment of common hazards encountered in areas to be cleaned, including all those listed in the range statement.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, the range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Evidence of the following is essential:

understanding of the importance of cleaning services to the overall quality of service provided by the organisation

ability to select and use relevant equipment and cleaning agents safely, efficiently and according to acceptable enterprise cleaning routines and timeframes

demonstration of skills through cleaning both wet and dry areas

completion of cleaning tasks within commercially realistic timeframes.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment must ensure access to:

areas to be cleaned, including a range of different surfaces such as carpet, marble, ceramic, wood, clay, rubber, vinyl, leather, woodwork, painted surfaces, crystal, mirrors and glass, terrazzo, slate and granite

cleaning equipment and cleaning agents that reflect current industry practice, including:

cleaner's trolley

chemical dispenser

sink and sluice sink

storage areas

appropriate chemicals, detergents, deodorisers, polishes and sanitisers

cleaning products, including glass and multi-surface, cream and acid

range of cloths, including dry, wet, lint-free and dusting

toilet brush and toilet cleaning cloth

protective gloves

bucket, mop and floor rags

range of brooms, brushes, rags and dusters for different surfaces

window squeegee mop and extension poles

'wet floor' or 'cleaning in progress' signs

syringe bin and tongs

access to sanitary disposal systems

polishing machine

automatic scrubber.

Methods of assessment 

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct observation of cleaning and maintenance activities

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of cleaning and maintenance procedures, materials equipment and legislation

review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.

Assessing employability skills 

Employability skills are integral to effective performance in the workplace and are broadly consistent across industry sectors. How these skills are applied varies between occupations and qualifications due to the different work functions and contexts.
Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification and in the context of the job role.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the performance criteria is detailed below.

Equipment  must include:

electrically operated equipment such as scrubbers, polishers and vacuum cleaners

brushes and brooms

mops and buckets

dusters and pans

garbage receptacles.

Cleaning agents and chemicals  may include:

general and spot cleaning agents

cleaning agents for specialised surfaces, including window and glass cleaners

disinfectants

pesticides

deodorisers

furniture and floor polishes.

OHS and environmental requirements  may include:

enterprise policies and procedures related to cleaning operations and disposal of used chemicals

legislation related to general workplace safety, hazardous substances, and manual handling and storage requirements

enterprise security procedures.

Protective clothing  may include:

overalls

jackets

aprons

goggles and masks

gloves

waterproof clothing and footwear

headwear

breathing apparatus.

Wet and dry areas  may include:

bathrooms

bedrooms

kitchens

balconies

private lounge areas

internal and external public areas

function rooms

storage areas.

Hazards  may include:

spillages

breakages, including broken glass

wet or slippery surfaces

broken or damaged furniture

fumes

blood

needles and syringes

used condoms

sharp objects, including knives and skewers

human waste

surgical dressings

fat and oil

heated utensils and surfaces

sharp food scraps, including bones and crustacean shells.

Manufacturer recommendations  may include:

cleaning and maintenance guidelines

dosage and dilution of chemicals

safety requirements.

Routine maintenance  is undertaken according to planned, preventative maintenance programs and may include:

wiping down and cleaning

washing and rinsing

sanitising

drying out

dismantling and reassembling

emptying.

Equipment faults  may include:

breakdowns

damage to parts, surfaces, electrical cords and connections.