Truck-Mounted Carpet Cleaning Unit SWMS

For carpet cleaning contractors and franchise operators who run truck- or van-mounted hot water extraction units with long hoses into homes and commercial buildings. It follows the job in order, from site checks and vehicle pre-start through parking, hose runs, chemicals, hot water, cleaning, waste water and pack-up. Portable machines need their own SWMS.

Truck-mounted carpet cleaning is not high risk construction work by itself, so WHS Regulation s 299 does not require a SWMS for it and no item is pre-ticked; the document then works as a written safe work procedure or task risk assessment. Tick the road or traffic corridor item (13) if the truck works on or beside a road in use, or the powered mobile plant item (14) if it works where plant moves; a SWMS is legally required when the work is high risk construction work.

Learn More: What Is A Safe Work Method Statement?
Have you ever been asked to provide a SWMS on a project in Queensland? Read our guide to what a Safe Work Method Statement is and when you need one.

What Is Covered In Our Truck-Mounted Carpet Cleaning Unit SWMS?

The job steps run in the order the work is done, from pre-start checks to finishing up. The hazards and controls include:

• Carbon monoxide from the engine and exhaust
• Scalds from hot water, steam and hot fittings
• Hose bursts under pressure
• Tripping on hoses and falls on stairs
• Hoses crushed in doors and windows
• Chemical burns and toxic gas from mixing products
• Slips on wet carpet and hard floors
• Noise from the blower and engine
• Strains lifting hoses and equipment
• Passing traffic when parking on the road
• Fuel fire and chemical spills in the vehicle

High Risk Construction Work

No high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are pre-ticked, because this work is not high risk construction work by itself. Tick the items that apply to your job, such as a fall risk of more than 2 metres or work where powered mobile plant is moving.

Licences, Training and Competency

• Operator training on the truck-mounted unit from the maker, supplier or employer, recorded before working alone
• Current driver’s licence of the class for the truck
• Chemical handling training covering SDS, labels, mixing and spill response
• Training in the carbon monoxide risk, exhaust placement and shut-down rules
• Manual task training for hoses and wands
• First aid equipment and access to first aid facilities as the first aid assessment decides (WHS Regulation s 42), with the crew trained to recognise scalds, chemical splashes and carbon monoxide symptoms
• Site induction for each client or building

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• WHS Regulation: ss 42 (first aid), 52 and 355 (ignition sources), 56 and 57 (noise), 60 (hazardous manual tasks), 208 (guarding), 210 and 213 (operation and maintenance of plant), 344, 346 and 351 (hazardous chemicals), 422 (asbestos)
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Dangerous Goods) Regulation 2018 (Qld): carrying chemicals in the work vehicle, where it applies
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of biological hazards at work (guidance)

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (13 pages), laid out on A4 landscape pages
• Business, client, job and document details typed once and filled in on every page, plus a space for your logo
• The high risk construction work checklist, worded as WHS Regulation s 291, and the construction project question (s 292)
• A worker and health and safety representative consultation record
• Qualifications, plant, PPE, hazardous chemicals, safety equipment, permits, references and emergency arrangements filled in for this work
• A 5 x 5 risk matrix, and job steps with initial and residual risk scores and the people responsible
• Implementing, monitoring and review requirements, an additional controls log, revision history and a worker sign-on sheet

Review and adjust it for your site, your plant and the way your crew does the job, and talk it through with your workers before work starts. If you have any trouble downloading this SWMS, you can contact us at any time. Please make sure you read our Disclaimer before downloading this SWMS.