Spills, broken glass and accidents in strata buildings: what to do

A smashed bottle in the lift at 7am. Paint tipped across the foyer by a removalist. Vomit in the stairwell after a party. Oil leaking across the entry path. Every strata building has these moments, and how quickly they’re handled makes a big difference to safety, damage and residents’ patience.

First: make it safe

Whoever finds the problem should:

1. Keep people away. Block access with a sign, cones or by standing guard if needed.
2. Don’t touch hazardous material — blood, body fluids, sharps or unknown chemicals.
3. Call the right person — the building manager, caretaker, body corporate manager or your cleaning contractor’s emergency line.
4. Photograph it, if safe, for the record.

If anyone is injured, or there’s a fire, gas leak or serious chemical release, call 000 first.

Common incidents and how they’re handled

Broken glass

Sweep with a broom and pan (never hands), vacuum the area, check lift tracks and corners, and dispose of glass wrapped and labelled.

Vomit and pet accidents

Vomit in a stairwell, or a dog that’s urinated on the entry mat, needs prompt attention before it soaks in. Cleaners wear gloves, absorb and remove the mess, then disinfect and deodorise the area. Mats and carpet may need an enzyme treatment or extraction clean to remove the smell.

Blood, body fluids and other biohazards

Anything beyond everyday accidents — significant blood, body fluids or trauma — should be handled by a specialist biohazard cleaning company. Keep the area closed off and call your building manager.

Syringes and sharps

Never pick up by hand. Keep people away and report it to the building manager, who can arrange safe collection — many councils run a sharps collection service and disposal points.

Oil and fuel

Contain with absorbent, avoid letting it reach drains, and dispose of the absorbent properly. Large fuel spills may need the fire brigade.

Paint and chemicals

Contain spread, identify the product, check its safety data sheet and clean with appropriate methods. Don’t wash paint into drains.

Flooding and leaks

Stop the source if possible (isolate water), keep people away from electrical areas, and call a plumber straight away. Larger water damage needs a specialist water-damage restoration company to extract water and dry carpets before mould sets in; notify the body corporate manager and insurer if damage is significant.

Graffiti and vandalism

Photograph for the police report, then remove promptly — fast removal discourages repeat offences.

Animal mess and dead animals

Common in gardens and bin areas. Remove with gloves, disinfect, and report any pest issues.

Why speed matters

• Safety: slips on spills and cuts from glass are real injury risks.
• Damage: stains set, water spreads, and odours soak in.
• Reputation: residents judge the building — and the committee — by how fast things are fixed.

Who pays?

Usually the body corporate arranges the clean-up to make common property safe, then may seek to recover the cost from whoever caused it under its by-laws. Photos and incident reports make that easier.

Rapid response in Brisbane

Strata Cleaning Co. offers a rapid response service to eligible customers in Brisbane. Our team handles spills, broken glass, vomit and pet accidents, and vandalism. Every callout is documented with photos and an incident report in our client portal, so the committee has a record and the manager can recover costs where appropriate.

A spill kit for every building

A basic spill kit kept in a cleaner’s cupboard or the building manager’s office lets someone respond safely before help arrives. It should include:

• absorbent granules or pads
• disposable gloves and bags
• wet-floor signs
• a dustpan and broom for glass
• disinfectant suitable for body fluids

Check the kit when your cleaner visits and replace anything used.

Recording incidents properly

Every incident should be recorded: what happened, when, where, who was involved, what was done and photos. Good records help the committee decide whether to recover costs, support insurance claims and identify patterns, such as repeated vandalism in one area that might justify a CCTV upgrade or better lighting. Our cleaners log incidents in our app, creating a report the manager and committee can access.

After-hours responses

Spills don’t keep business hours. Agree in advance who residents should call out of hours, how callouts are authorised and what they cost. That way, the person on the phone can act immediately rather than waiting until morning for approval. For body corporates in Brisbane, our rapid response service can be pre-authorised up to an agreed limit.

Insurance considerations

Significant damage, such as flooding from a burst pipe or major vandalism, may be covered by the body corporate’s building insurance. Prompt clean-up is usually expected to reduce further damage, but keep receipts, photos and reports, and notify the insurer or body corporate manager as soon as possible. Your manager will know the claims process and any excess that applies.

Prepare before it happens

• Save your cleaner’s emergency number with the building manager and committee.
• Keep a basic spill kit on site.
• Make sure residents know who to call.
• Agree in advance on callout rates and authorisation, so no one waits for approval.

Talk to us about whether rapid response can be part of your building’s cleaning plan.