Safe Work Practice 003

Housekeeping
Mandatory |All Team Members
SWP 003 M

HAZARDS PPE/EQUIPMENT
PRESENT REQUIRED

DESCRIPTION WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

To maintain a safe and healthy workplace, Poor housekeeping can be a cause of incidents and injuries to self,
housekeeping must be a priority. Effective team and customers. Examples include tripping over loose objects on
housekeeping can help control or eliminate floors or stairs, being hit by falling objects, slipping on greasy, wet or dirty
workplace hazards. It includes keeping work surfaces. To avoid these hazards, a workplace must "maintain" order
areas neat and orderly, maintaining Back of throughout a workday. Slips and trips are common causes of incidents -
house and floors free of slip and trip hazards, and good housekeeping practices can minimise the risk of these occurring
removing of waste materials (e.g. paper,
cardboard) and other fire hazards from work
areas. BEFORE YOU START
• ALWAYS check that all areas of the store are kept clean and tidy
• ALWAYS conduct daily store tours by the Store Leadership Team to
ensure shop floor is clean and dry
General Housekeeping:
• All areas of the store should be kept clean and tidy
• Daily store tours conducted by Store Leadership Team to ensure shop floor is clean
and dry
• All team members are responsible for keeping floors free of slips and trip hazards.
Slip or trip hazards may include:
• Loose fresh produce, spills or breakages, water, fallen ticketing, ticket holders, plastic
wrap, pallet strapping, cardboard, cartons, bunched mats
• If it is necessary to leave equipment such as safety step, trolley, roll cage
unattended on the shop floor (e.g. to assist a customer) ensure it is positioned safely.
Where possible place the safety step onto a roll cage or trolley
• Remove the hazard or obtain the required safety signage and cleaning equipment
to fix the hazard
• Wear high visibility clothing when cleaning outside, in loading bays or car park areas
• Bins should always be lined with a bin liner to prevent contact with rubbish
• Hold waste bags slightly away from your body when carrying to avoid potential
laceration injury
• Maintain a one (1) metre clearance around all emergency exits, emergency
equipment, fire sprinklers, stairs, landings, electrical switch boards and walkways
• During wet weather stores are able to implement additional controls such as extra
matting at the entrance to the store which prevents water being tracked into the
store and creating a wet floor surface

NEVER leave fixtures, fittings, or crates unattended on the shop floor

Poor housekeeping can lead to slip NEVER ignore slip or trip hazards or leave them unattended
and trip hazards
NEVER leave empty pallets on their side

Grocery Rework:
• Ensure all Rework Check stock has been picked up off the shop floor by 8am to
reduce the risk of trip hazards and congestion to our team and customers
• Ensure no Rework Check stock is placed on the floor prior to 8pm to reduce the risk
of trip hazards and congestion to our team and customers
• Up to 15 Rework Check stock cartons can be placed neatly on the floor for
investigation per aisle. If there are more than 15 cartons to be investigated,
consolidate the stock onto a Roll Cage.
• Ensure no stock is left unattended on the shop floor during peak trading periods

1 Previous Version: February 2024 Mandatory

of 6 Current Version: #23 May 2024 All MUST complete
Ref: SWPs 2024
 Housekeeping SWP 003

Waste Disposal:
• Use bin hooks to open and close the waste collection bin lids
• To order a Bin Hook, send an email request to:
[email protected]
• If not in a locked room, the bin must always be kept locked other than when Code
Green is being done.
• Where the store does not have a Bindiy, always use two team members when
moving the Dumpmaster Bin
• Seek assistance if lifting heavy items into the bin
• ALWAYS be aware of unprotected edges (fall from heights) when accessing the bin
• ALWAYS ensure bin area gates (where fitted) are closed in position after use

NEVER enter or stand inside or on top of a bin

NEVER place hands inside waste bags/bins to compress waste, or compress
bags of waste against the body

Cleaning Spills and Breakages:

• Monitor the spill, seek assistance. A team member needs to stay with the spill, it must
not be left unattended. This may require support and assistance from another team
member to bring correct cleaning equipment and signage and help with clean up
• Thoroughly clean the area with approved cleaning products to ensure all traces of
the spill are removed
• Use paper towel to remove moisture from the floor
• Remove cleaning equipment, safety signage and barricades after the spill or
breakage has been cleaned and the surface is dry
• Fuel/Chemical Spill: Raise the spill immediately with your store’s Fire Warden

NEVER leave a spill or breakage unattended

Gloves:
• Glass handling gloves are to be used when handling broken glass
• Chemical/Dangerous Goods PVC gloves are to be used when handling chemical hazards
• If you are unsure of the nature of the spill or breakage, take all precautions and ensure you wear PVC gloves, eye
protection, mask and apron

Gloves Elbow Length

SEO:
Large: 8201797
Med: 82015116
Small: 8201039

Glass Handling
SEO: 4896405 Powder Free Gloves
Chemical/DG SEO: 7423625
PVC SEO:6834544

Previous Version: February 2024

2 Current Version: #23 May 2024 Mandatory
of 6 Ref: SWPs 2024 All MUST complete
 Housekeeping SWP 003

Customer Basket Trolleys:

• Basket trolleys are ONLY located at store entrance points

• One (1) additional holder can be placed at ACO exit if required
• ALWAYS have 1 x basket cable-tied to the trolley base of the basket trolleys,
remove handles if possible
• Ensure there are additional baskets on top for customers to use
• A basket trolley should be used to collect baskets regularly throughout the day
• ALWAYS maintain a clear line of sight when moving the trolley

NEVER place basket trolleys at the end of checkout belts as this creates a
trip hazard and blocks customer access
NEVER over-fill the trolley with baskets

Floor Patch Polish (Coles Services):

• Only trained Coles Services team members are to complete the patch polish task
• ALWAYS wear protective eye wear/googles and chemical gloves
• Do not use Reboot undiluted or mix Reboot with another type of chemical
• Refer to Coles Services How To Guide – Patch Polish and Chemical Register

NEVER decant Reboot into another container or spray bottle

NEVER use Reboot for tasks other than a Floor Patch Polish

Handling unsealed or cleaning up spilled potting mix (bags / Spring Potted):

• Spring potted stock must be stored on pallets at front of store
• If Spring potted plant potting mix comes into contact with any packaged or
unpackaged food products, waste the food product and clean the area
• ALWAYS wear PPE such as face mask, safety goggles and disposable food handling
gloves when cleaning spills of potting mix.
• Using the black cleaning kit gently sweep up any spills, being careful not to create
aerosols or spread potting mix dust.
• After sweeping, mop the floor area with warm water and CO Plus detergent
• Once mopping task is complete, follow by spraying affected floor area with SANITOL
BLEACH SOLUTION (Refer to How to Mix guide).
• ALWAYS use a Caution “wet” sign while cleaning. Using paper towel wipe Sanitol
solution from floor.
• Ensure floor is dry before walking away and removing sign.
• Wash cleaning equipment and place back to designated area
• Reseal broken bags of potting mix immediately and dispose of in general waste
• Place loose or any potting mix waste in a sealed bag before disposing in general
waste
• ALWAYS wash hand thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling potting mix,
dispose of glove and dust mask immediately after use

NEVER clean up potting mix spills without wearing the correct PPE. If you have
any concerns about handling potting mix, contact the Safety Team for advice
NEVER display potted Spring event plants within Fresh food departments.

Previous Version: February 2024

3 Current Version: #23 May 2024 Mandatory
of 6 Ref: SWPs 2024 All MUST complete
 Housekeeping SWP 003

Sharps:
• Know the location of your Sharps Container
• Wear gloves when picking up syringes
• Take the sharps container to the sharp item, do not carry the sharp item to the container
• Pick up needles/syringes by the blunt end, do not replace in its protective packaging
• Use the extension grabber when collecting waste and sharps from external garden beds.
The extension grabber can be ordered by Coles Services via the TMA Portal
• Disposal of sharps container:
o Contact the City Help Desk (Expense Requests 1800 507 877 options 1,3)
o Request for a job to be raised for Rentokil to arrange collection
• Order a replacement Sharps Container via SEO
• ALWAYS dispose of needles and syringes ‘point first’ in sharps container
• Dispose of carton cutter blades, broken knives, worn blades and broken glass, cans and lids in Sharps Disposal
Kit (Blades) or a plastic deli container or by wrapping in ample paper or cardboard, seal securely with tape and
place in general waste

Sharps Disposal Kit (Blades) Sharps Disposal Kit (needles)

SEO:3516349 SEO: 8370660 Extension Grabber
Coles Services to order via
TMA Portal

Biological Hazards and Infection Control:

Goggles • ALWAYS wear disposable gloves, goggles, mask when cleaning biological hazards,
SEO: 6835004
blood or body fluids
• Thoroughly clean any non-disposable equipment or surfaces exposed to blood or
body fluids using CO+ detergent and C2+ sanitiser
• Dispose of blood or body fluid contaminated waste in a sealed plastic bag, and
place in general waste
• Store Manager to contact City FM and request a specialist cleaning contractor for
large biological hazard spills
• If you come in contact with blood or bodily fluids, wash the area thoroughly with
soap and warm water
• Seek medical assistance following contact with blood or body fluids, including a
needle-stick injury
• ALWAYS wash hands with soap and warm water thoroughly after cleaning biological
hazards, providing first aid, using cleaning equipment and disposing of
Sanitiser Stand contaminated items
• Store team monitor the sanitiser stand for damage or issues, whilst replenishing
consumables. This is a daily Coles Services task listed on the Daily Task List
• Floor decals provide for physical distancing, keeping the sanitisation area clear

NEVER use Fresh Departments’ cleaning equipment for cleaning up blood or

body fluids

Previous Version: February 2024

4 Current Version: #23 May 2024 Mandatory
of 6 Ref: SWPs 2024 All MUST complete
 Housekeeping SWP 003

Pallet Handling (D-pallets, wooden, plastic & cardboard pallets):

• Avoid standing on pallets whenever possible. ALWAYS maintain at least one foot on the ground when access is limited or
re-position pallet using Manual Pallet Jack/EPJ to allow safe access to required products
• If an empty pallet is to be lifted, always use SMART team lift and only move one pallet at a time
• ALWAYS store empty pallets flat, maximum eight (8) high
• If a pallet is damaged or unstable, splintered, nails protruding or loose boards, remove from service.
• ALWAYS tag damaged pallet using hazard tape and out of service tag, report it to Line Manager so that disposal/pick
up can be arranged
• ALWAYS place tagged/damaged pallets on top of pallet stack when returning to DC
• Damaged pallets should be returned as the top pallet on the pallet stack
• Refer to Stockrooms Returns Zone Poster for direction on how best to return broken pallets

NEVER store empty pallets on their side

NEVER store empty pallets more than eight (8) high
NEVER mix wooden, plastic, or cardboard pallets
NEVER drag empty pallets, use team lift to relocate pallets

Tag damaged
pallet using hazard
tape and out of
service tag Stack pallets maximum
SMART Team Lift
eight (8) high

Personal Headsets (headphones, Air Pods)

• Team members are permitted to use Coles issued headsets to support the store team
in dealing with threatening situations.
• The use of personal headphones or other personal audio devices are not permitted
as these may interfere or otherwise impact communication between team members
and customers.

NEVER wear personal electronic devices or earpieces, including smart phones,

iPods, headsets, and Air Pods when working on the shop floor, back of house or
in the car park collecting trolleys.

Previous Version: February 2024

5 Current Version: #23 May 2024 Mandatory
of 6 Ref: SWPs 2024 All MUST complete
 Housekeeping SWP 003

Managing Roof Leaks

• Ensure you log all roof leaks through CityFM every time they occur.
All roof leaks should be logged with CityFM regardless of whether the repair will be completed by City or the landlord.
• Visually check ceiling tiles surrounding the roof leak to ensure there is no obvious damage or waterlogged tiles that may
fall, immediately log with maintenance if any of these are identified.
• Areas determined to pose a risk of falling objects (i.e., damaged / soaked ceiling tiles) are to be immediately isolated
(hazard tape can be used) and an urgent maintenance request is to be logged with CityFM.
• Immediately clean up any water on the floor and place a large rubbish bin under the leak with a “wet floor” sign
adjacent.
• If required, additional bins and dollies can be ordered through SEO (Bin: 1589975 & Bin Dolly: 1590170)
• Empty large bins regularly to avoid them filling up and being heavy to lift Where the volume of water or number of leaks
throughout the shop floor are such that they cannot be adequately controlled or create additional hazards, speak with
your Regional Manager to discuss options on closing off sections of the store or aisles.

NEVER use buckets or crates as these are not highly visible and can cause a trip hazard.

Using a wet floor sign adjacent to a Buckets on the floor can be a Damaged / waterlogged tiles to
large rubbish bin increases visibility and trip hazard. be logged with maintenance.
reduces the trip hazard.

Previous Version: February 2024

6 Current Version: #23 May 2024 Mandatory
of 6 Ref: SWPs 2024 All MUST complete