What is BSCAA, and why does it matter

BSCAA is Australia's peak body for cleaning contractors: what it does, its Code of Practice, and how to check if a contractor is Prequalified before you hire.

BSCAA is the Building Service Contractors Association of Australia Ltd, representing the cleaning, security, facilities services and grounds maintenance industries. Established in 1964, it publishes a Code of Practice its members commit to.

BSCAA is an industry association rather than a regulator: on its own description it is a peak industry representative body offering advocacy, compliance advice and member services, not a government licensing scheme. What it gives you, if a contractor is a member or holds its Prequalified Contractor certificate, is a second, independently published reference point for their conduct and compliance, on top of whatever they tell you directly.

Source: BSCAA, Our Association

What BSCAA does

• Compliance, legislation, and certifications
• Industry best practices and code of conduct
• Industry-relevant online resources, education, training, information, news, and support services
• WeComply – a suite of HR, workplace health and safety, policies, and procedure templates
• Information and advice about Portable Long Service Leave and Labour Hire Licencing
• Legal obligations, industrial relations advice, and support
• Networking opportunities and events

Source: BSCAA, Our Association

The Code of Practice BSCAA members agree to

BSCAA members undertake to promote a code of ethical practice in all of their business dealings. A few of the commitments most relevant to hiring a cleaner:

• Members shall not intentionally disseminate false or misleading information, whether written, spoken or implied, nor engage in false, misleading or deceptive conduct or otherwise bring the BSCAA into disrepute.
• Subcontractors are engaged ethically and the employment conditions provided are no less favourable than those afforded by direct employment.
• Freedom of association and workers right to join a union is recognised.
• Considers the impact of modern day slavery in all purchasing decisions.

Source: BSCAA, Code of Practice

The BSCAA Prequalified Contractor Assessment

BSCAA's Prequalified Contractor Assessment is an online tool that has been developed in partnership with iPRO to foster contractor and responsible industry practices that benefit contractors and clients. It checks a contractor's insurance, licences and safety documentation, and BSCAA is explicit about its limits: it is important to note that the prequalification process does not constitute a certification or endorsement of the contractor.

The assessment verifies insurance, licences and safety documents. It is not a one-off check either. To be prequalified under the BSCAA Contractor Prequalification program, contractors must maintain an annual subscription, which includes annual verification of certificates, insurances, and other compliance documentation.

The annual subscription BSCAA publishes for this assessment is $450 (plus GST) for members and $1,550 (plus GST) for non-members. That is the fee for the compliance check itself, not a price for any cleaning work.

Source: BSCAA, BSCAA Prequalified Contractor Assessment

Checking a specific contractor

BSCAA publishes a Prequalified Directory: the directory page for Prequalified Contractors lists companies that have successfully completed the iPro conducted Prequalified Contractor Assessment. It is worth checking before you take a contractor's word for it.

BSCAA's own disclaimer on that directory is the right way to treat it: while the companies listed in the Prequalified Directory have passed the iPro-conducted Prequalified Contractor Assessment, it is important to conduct further due diligence and consider additional factors before entering into any agreements or contracts.

Source: BSCAA, Prequalified Directory

What BSCAA membership doesn't tell you

BSCAA covers cleaning broadly, not builders cleans specifically, and its site does not publish how many members do builders-clean or construction-cleaning work, or a total member count. So membership on its own does not confirm a contractor has handled a handover clean before, and BSCAA membership is not a trade licence, so a contractor outside BSCAA is not automatically a concern.

How to choose a builders clean contractor covers the direct checks worth making regardless: current public liability insurance, workers compensation cover, and builders-clean-specific experience.