Are Your Cleaners Insured and Police-Checked? Why It Matters

Short answer: You should always ask. A commercial cleaner usually holds your keys and alarm code and works in your premises when nobody else is there. Insurance protects you if something goes wrong, and a police check gives you some confidence about who's coming in. F&L Cleaning Solutions is fully insured and police-checked.

It's easy to focus on price and the cleaning checklist when choosing a cleaner. But the trust side matters just as much, especially for after-hours work. Here's what each check actually means and what to ask.

Why trust matters more with after-hours cleaning

Most offices, clinics and gyms prefer cleaning outside opening hours so it doesn't get in the way of staff, patients or members. That means the cleaner is:

• given keys, swipe cards or codes
• trusted to arm and disarm your alarm
• alone with your equipment, files and stock
• working while nobody is there to supervise.

That's a lot of trust to hand to someone you've only just met. Two simple checks help.

Insurance: what it covers

Public liability insurance

Public liability insurance covers a business if its negligence causes injury to someone or damage to their property^[1]. In practical terms, if a cleaner damages your equipment or someone is hurt because of how the cleaning was done, this is the cover that responds.

What to ask: "Can I see your certificate of currency?" A certificate shows the policy is current. A verbal "yes, we're insured" doesn't.

Workers' compensation

If a cleaning business employs staff, it must hold workers' compensation insurance. That's compulsory for employers in both Queensland and New South Wales^[2][3]. It matters to you because it covers the cleaner if they're injured at work, including at your premises.

What to ask: "Do you employ your cleaners, and are they covered by workers' compensation?"

Why it matters to you

Workplace safety law places duties on everyone who has management or control of a workplace^[4]. Hiring a business that takes insurance and safety seriously is part of running a safe workplace yourself.

Police checks: what they show

A National Police Check, accessed through the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission's National Police Checking Service, shows whether a person has disclosable court outcomes and pending charges recorded in Australian police records^[5]. What can be disclosed depends on the law in each state and territory, including spent convictions rules^[5].

A police check isn't a guarantee of anything. But it's a sensible, standard step for anyone who will hold your keys and work unsupervised.

What to ask: - "Is every person who'll come into my premises police-checked?" - "What happens if you send someone new?"

Other questions worth asking

• How do you store keys and codes? Keys shouldn't be labelled with your address, and codes shouldn't be written down where anyone can find them.
• Will you follow our procedures? Every business is different. We follow your access and alarm procedures on every visit.
• What chemicals do you use? Under WHS law, hazardous chemicals must be stored and handled safely, with safety data sheets available^[6].
• Is the business real? You can check an ABN for free on the Australian Business Register^[7].

Clinics and healthcare settings

Medical, allied health and dental practices have extra responsibilities around infection control and patient privacy. National guidelines treat routine environmental cleaning as a core part of infection prevention^[8]. A clinic should expect its cleaner to understand that the waiting room, consult rooms and bathrooms need consistent attention, and to respect the practice's own procedures about restricted areas.

What F&L offers

• Fully insured and police-checked.
• We follow your access and alarm procedures every visit.
• We bring our own equipment and products.
• After-hours cleaning, weekly or more often, for offices, medical and allied health clinics, dental practices, gyms and professional offices.
• Local to Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Tweed Heads.

FAQs

Is it rude to ask a cleaner for proof of insurance? Not at all. Professional cleaners expect it.

What's the difference between public liability and workers' compensation? Public liability covers injury or damage to other people and their property^[1]. Workers' compensation covers the cleaner's own workplace injuries^[2][3].

Does a police check guarantee a cleaner is trustworthy? No check guarantees anything, but it's a sensible standard step for anyone holding your keys^[5].

Do you follow our alarm procedures? Yes. We follow your access and alarm procedures every visit.

Can we try you first? Yes. Your first clean is free.

Talk to us

If you want a cleaner you can trust with your keys, call Felipe on 0412 073 637. We'll do a quick walkthrough, your first clean is free, and after that it's one flat monthly price.