Workplace Hygiene: Why a Clean Workspace Matters and How to Keep One

Workplace hygiene is how clean and healthy your shared work environment is, and the habits and facilities that keep it that way. It covers three things: the condition of the premises (washrooms, kitchens, desks, floors, bins), the facilities you provide (soap, hand drying, clean drinking water, a hygienic place to eat), and how people behave (washing hands, cleaning up after themselves, staying home when unwell).

A clean workspace isn’t just about appearances. It affects how people feel at work, how easily illness moves around a team, and whether you’re meeting your work health and safety (WHS) obligations.

Why a clean workspace matters

Health

Shared surfaces such as door handles, taps, fridge handles, keyboards and lift buttons are touched by many hands every day. Good hand hygiene is one of the simplest ways to break that chain: NSW Health advises cleaning your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub. That only works if soap, hand drying and clean washrooms are there when people need them.

Safety

Hygiene and safety overlap. Spills, overflowing bins and clutter in walkways create slip and trip hazards. NSW guidance says spills on floors should be cleaned up immediately and waste should be regularly removed.

Focus and comfort

A tidy, clean space is easier to work in. People spend less time looking for things, meeting rooms are ready to use, and nobody has to clean the kitchen before making a coffee. These benefits are hard to measure, but most people notice quickly when they’re missing.

Presentation

Clients, patients, tenants and job candidates judge a business partly by its reception, meeting rooms and washrooms. A clean workplace tells them the details are looked after.

What NSW guidance expects

In NSW, SafeWork NSW’s Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities explains how to meet WHS duties for workplace facilities. Key points include:

• The workplace: the work environment must be maintained so that it remains in a clean and safe condition.
• Facilities in general: facilities for workers must be in good working order, clean, safe and accessible.
• Toilets: workers must have access to clean toilets while at work. Toilets for female workers should include a hygienic means to dispose of sanitary items.
• Hand washing: washing facilities should be supplied with non-irritating soap, preferably from a dispenser, and hygienic hand drying, such as paper towels or air dryers.
• Drinking water: clean drinking water must be provided free of charge at all times, supplied so that workers don’t drink directly from a shared container.
• Eating areas: workers must have access to hygienic facilities for eating and for preparing and storing food. The code says dedicated eating areas should include clean storage, including a refrigerator for perishable food, and rubbish bins that are vermin-proof and emptied at least daily.

The code doesn’t set a single cleaning frequency for every workplace. It says workplaces and facilities should be cleaned regularly, taking into account the type of work, the likelihood of contamination, the number of workers and shiftwork. That’s why a written cleaning schedule matters.

Codes of practice also carry more weight than they used to. SafeWork NSW says that since section 26A of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 commenced on 1 July 2026, codes are the minimum performance standard. A business must either follow the code or manage the risks in a way that is equivalent or higher.

This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current code and regulation with SafeWork NSW for your workplace.

Workplace hygiene hotspots

Some areas carry more hygiene risk than others, so they need more attention in your cleaning schedule. The frequencies below are a common starting point for a typical workplace; adjust them for your headcount, hours and risks.

Cleaning and sanitising aren’t the same thing, and some areas need both. Our guide to the difference between cleaning and sanitising explains when each applies.

Who is responsible for what?

Workplace hygiene works when everyone knows their part.

Outsourcing the cleaning doesn’t outsource the duty. Safe Work Australia notes that WHS duties can’t be transferred, so you and your cleaning contractor need to share information about who is doing what. If you’re deciding whether to use a contractor at all, see what commercial cleaning includes and when outsourcing makes sense.

How to write a workplace hygiene policy

A workplace hygiene policy doesn’t need to be long. One or two pages is usually enough. Include:

1. Purpose: why the policy exists (health, safety, a pleasant place to work).
2. Facilities: what the business provides and who to tell when something runs out or breaks.
3. Hand hygiene: when staff are expected to wash or sanitise hands.
4. Kitchen rules: washing up, labelling food, the fridge clear-out day, wiping benches.
5. Desks and shared equipment: clear-desk expectations so cleaners can do their job; cleaning shared or hot desks.
6. Illness: what to do if you’re unwell, in line with your leave policies.
7. Cleaning schedule: a summary of what the cleaners do and when, so staff know what’s covered and what isn’t.
8. Reporting: how to report spills, hazards or hygiene concerns.
9. Review: when the policy will be reviewed, and who owns it.

Consult your staff when you write or change the policy, and keep it somewhere everyone can find it.

Personal hygiene in the workplace: how to address it

Sometimes the hygiene problem is a person rather than the premises. These conversations are uncomfortable, but avoiding them usually makes things worse for everyone, including the person concerned.

• Talk privately, in person, with the right manager or HR contact. Never raise it in front of others or by group email.
• Be specific and factual about the effect on the workplace, not the person’s character.
• Allow for other causes. Body odour or appearance can be linked to a medical condition, medication, a disability, personal circumstances or cultural practices. Ask if there’s anything the business can do to help.
• Agree next steps and follow up. Keep a brief, confidential note.
• Get HR or employment advice before taking any formal action.

A clear, general hygiene policy makes these conversations easier because the expectations are already written down.

Workplace hygiene obligations checklist

• Toilets clean, with soap, hand drying and sanitary disposal available
• Clean drinking water available free of charge
• A hygienic eating area with clean food storage and a fridge; bins emptied daily
• Spills cleaned up straight away; walkways clear
• A written cleaning schedule covering each hotspot, with someone checking it’s done
• Responsibilities agreed between the business, staff and any cleaning contractor
• A hygiene policy that staff were consulted on and know about
• A way for staff to report problems

For day-to-day practical tips – desks, kitchens, meeting rooms, hot desks and what to ask of your cleaner – see our office hygiene tips.

Frequently asked questions

How often should a workplace be cleaned?

No law sets one frequency for every workplace. The SafeWork NSW code asks for regular cleaning based on the type of work, the risk of contamination, headcount and shifts. Washrooms, kitchens and high-touch points usually need daily attention, and low-traffic areas less often. Write the frequency for each area into your cleaning schedule.

Do employers have to provide sanitary bins?

The SafeWork NSW code says toilets used by female workers should have a hygienic means of disposing of sanitary items. In practice this is usually a sanitary disposal unit that is serviced on a set schedule. Agree in writing who arranges that service: you, the building manager or your cleaning or hygiene contractor.

Can you dismiss an employee for poor hygiene?

Only as a last step after a fair process. That process starts with a private conversation, a clear standard and time to improve. The Fair Work Ombudsman describes unfair dismissal as dismissal that is harsh, unjust or unreasonable. Rule out medical, disability, religious or cultural causes first, and get employment advice before taking formal action.

Check your cleaning covers your obligations

If you’re not sure your current cleaning matches the checklist above, B&K Services can walk through your site with you for free. We cover Sydney, Wollongong and the Illawarra, and Nowra and the Shoalhaven. We’ll agree a written scope covering what’s cleaned, how often and who is responsible, which gives you a clear record of the split between your business and your contractor. Our teams complete WHS induction and safe chemical handling training before they start on a site, and we carry out scheduled quality checks once the service is running.

Request a free site inspection or call 1300 136 954.