WorkSafe Victoria OHS Compliance — Retail & Restaurant Cleaning
Golden Star Retail Cleaning operates under a comprehensive WorkSafe Victoria OHS framework — covering the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (VIC), Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) for high-risk tasks, Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all cleaning chemicals, manual handling risk controls, and PPE requirements. SWMS, SDS registers, risk assessments, and OHS documentation are available to clients on request for contractor management system registration and site induction requirements.
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (VIC) — Cleaning Obligations
The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (VIC) places a duty on employers to provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risks to health, so far as is reasonably practicable. For commercial cleaning companies in Victoria, this obligation covers: safe work procedures for chemical handling, manual handling, work at heights, and wet floor management; provision of PPE appropriate to the tasks performed; training of staff in safe work practices; and maintenance of records demonstrating OHS compliance.
For clients engaging Golden Star Retail Cleaning, the OHS Act also imposes obligations on the premises controller (the food business or retail operator) to ensure that the working environment they provide is safe for contractors — safe access, hazard identification, and no hidden risks that contractors are not informed of. Golden Star conducts a site induction at every new premises that identifies site-specific hazards and confirms the OHS controls in place.
WorkSafe Victoria OHS Framework — Key Areas
Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)
Golden Star maintains SWMS for all high-risk cleaning tasks as defined under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (VIC): work at heights (ladder use for high ceiling and duct cleaning), confined space awareness (grease trap adjacent work), and hazardous chemical handling (commercial degreasers above GHS warning level). SWMS are reviewed annually and updated when tasks or chemicals change. Available to clients on request for contractor management systems.
Chemical Safety & SDS Register
A complete Safety Data Sheet (SDS) register is maintained for all cleaning chemicals used in Golden Star programs — updated when products change and reviewed annually against current supplier SDS versions. SDS are stored digitally and accessible by supervisors on-site. Team members are trained in SDS interpretation before handling any product. The SDS register is available to clients for site-specific chemical risk assessments and contractor management documentation.
Manual Handling
Manual handling injuries are the most common injury type in commercial cleaning — heavy equipment carrying, repetitive mopping and scrubbing, and awkward postures for low-level cleaning. Golden Star's manual handling controls include: correct equipment use (auto-scrubbers eliminate hand-mopping of large areas), team lifts for heavy equipment, and training in correct posture and technique for floor cleaning tasks. Incident reports and near-miss reports are maintained as required under the OHS Act.
PPE Requirements
PPE is provided by Golden Star for all tasks requiring personal protective equipment — chemical-resistant gloves for commercial degreaser use, safety glasses for overhead cleaning tasks, non-slip footwear as standard for all cleaning roles, and respiratory protection where required by product SDS. PPE selection follows the hierarchy of controls — PPE is the last layer of protection, not the primary control. PPE register maintained per team member; replaced when worn or damaged.
Work at Heights
Ladder use for wall, ceiling, and light fitting cleaning is managed under WorkSafe Victoria's safe work at heights requirements — two-person ladder operation (one holder), maximum ladder extension limits observed, and no ladder use on wet or unstable surfaces. For tasks requiring access above 3 metres, scaffold or elevated work platform (EWP) is used instead of ladders. SWMS covers all ladder and elevated work tasks.
Wet Floor Management
Wet floors during cleaning operations are a slip risk for both cleaning staff and any other persons accessing the area. Golden Star places wet floor signs at all entry points to areas being mopped or scrubbed, and confirms area clearance before removing signs. For cleaning during trading hours (interim cleans, bathroom checks), a single section-at-a-time approach is used to maintain a dry pedestrian path at all times.
WorkSafe OHS — FAQ
Yes. Golden Star maintains current SWMS for all high-risk cleaning tasks and provides these documents for contractor management system registration in all Melbourne shopping centres — Westfield (CoSupplier), Vicinity Centres, GPT, and all other major centre operators. SWMS are in a format accepted by the major centre contractor management platforms. Contact us at 0484 042 336 to request SWMS and insurance documents for your contractor registration.
Yes. All Golden Star team members complete chemical handling training before their first unsupervised shift — covering correct dilution, product selection for surface types, PPE requirements per SDS, chemical spill response, and the identification of food-safe vs non-food-safe products. The training is assessed before sign-off. SDS for all products are accessible by supervisors on every shift. Refresher training is conducted annually and whenever new products are introduced.
Under the OHS Act 2004 (VIC), both the employer (Golden Star) and the premises controller (the client) share OHS obligations. Golden Star is responsible for providing trained staff with appropriate PPE, safe work procedures, and supervision. The client (as premises controller) is responsible for ensuring the working environment they provide is safe — notifying Golden Star of any hazards, ensuring safe access, and not directing cleaning staff to perform tasks outside the agreed scope without prior OHS assessment. This shared responsibility framework is addressed in Golden Star's site induction process at every new premises.
Golden Star holds current public liability insurance (covering third-party injury or property damage arising from cleaning operations) and workers compensation insurance (WorkCover Victoria) covering all employed staff. Insurance certificates are provided on request for contractor management system registration, council permit applications, and client verification. Both policies are renewed annually and certificates are available in digital format within 24 hours of request. Call 0484 042 336 to request insurance documentation.
Request Our OHS Documentation
SWMS, SDS register, risk assessments, insurance certificates, PPE register, training records. All available on request for contractor management systems and site inductions.