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what kind of heavy activity i have to do in coles poactive clearnng

You’re asking about what “heavy activity” you have to do in Coles Services proactive cleaning (often called “Coles cleaning and trolley collection”). I’ll walk through what the job usually involves and what “heavy” means in practice, based on publicly available information about the role.

Quick Scoop

In Coles Services – Cleaning and Trolley Collection, “heavy activity” mainly means physical work like lifting, pushing, walking and working in all weather , not dangerous or extreme gym-level lifting. Most of the time you’re doing steady, repetitive movement rather than one‑off huge lifts.

What “Heavy Activity” Usually Means

For Coles Services roles, official job ads and worker reviews mention a few key points:

  • You’ll be constantly on the go around the store and car park.
  • You may need to lift up to about 17 kg at times (for example, some cleaning equipment or product boxes).
  • Work involves heavy manual handling according to some employee reviews, mostly from trolley work and repetitive cleaning tasks.
  • Shifts can feel physically demanding and tedious , especially when the store is busy or during holiday periods.

So “heavy activity” here is about:

  • Regular pushing/pulling (trolleys).
  • Ongoing walking/standing for most of the shift.
  • Frequent bending, reaching, mopping, sweeping, vacuuming , and similar movements.

Typical Cleaning Tasks (Proactive Cleaning)

Proactive cleaning at Coles is less about waiting for a mess and more about following a checklist to keep the store always clean.

Common tasks include:

  1. Floor care
    • Sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, and sometimes scrubbing or buffing floors in:
      • Shop floor
      • Team rooms
      • Toilets
      • Offices
 * Moving mops, buckets, vacuum cleaners and sometimes auto-scrubbers or buffers (these can be fairly heavy).
  1. Surface cleaning
    • Wiping and dusting shelves, equipment, and fixtures.
 * Cleaning doors, handles, and high-touch areas to keep things hygienic.
  1. Amenities cleaning
    • Cleaning team rooms (tables, benches, sinks, bins).
 * Cleaning **toilets** (toilet bowls, basins, mirrors, floors).
  1. General store cleanliness
    • Emptying bins, replacing liners, and moving rubbish to the correct area.
 * Spot-cleaning spills, marks on floors or fixtures.

None of this is specialist trade work, but it is physically repetitive and often time‑pressured.

Trolley Collection – The Heaviest Part

Most people who mention “heavy manual handling” in Coles cleaning roles are talking about trolley work.

Typical “heavy activity” here includes:

  • Pushing long chains of trolleys from the car park back to the store, often against slight slopes.
  • Working in all weather – heat, rain, wind – which makes the physical work feel heavier.
  • Constant walking back and forth across the car park and store entrances.

Employees report:

  • It can be hard work , “boring, repetitive” but straightforward once you’re used to it.
  • Some describe it as “heavy manual handling” , especially when the car park is busy or customers leave trolleys far away.

How Physically Fit Do You Need To Be?

Coles’ own description for the role says you need to be:

  • Physically fit, active and energetic – because you’ll be always moving and sometimes lifting up to around 17 kg.
  • Comfortable with walking, standing and bending for most of your shift.
  • Able to work early mornings or late nights (between roughly 5 am and 11 pm), which can feel tiring.

You don’t need to be an athlete, but it helps if you can:

  • Walk for long periods without pain.
  • Push several trolleys safely.
  • Lift moderate weight with proper technique (e.g. buckets, small equipment).

Is It Dangerous Heavy Work?

From public reviews and job descriptions, the work is:

  • Physically demanding , but not usually dangerous if safety procedures are followed.
  • Focused on basic cleaning and trolley work , not construction-grade lifting.
  • Supported by training in chemicals, machinery, and safety equipment.

If you follow instructions and use correct posture and equipment, the aim is that the work is tough but manageable.

Example Day of “Heavy Activity”

A typical shift might look like this:

  1. Start of shift
    • Check cleaning checklist.
    • Set up mop, bucket, vacuum or scrubber.
  2. First few hours
    • Mop store entrance.
    • Sweep and vacuum key aisles.
    • Clean toilets and team room surfaces.
  3. Mid-shift
    • Go out to collect trolleys for 30–60 minutes.
    • Push trolley lines from car park to store.
  4. Later in shift
    • Empty bins and take rubbish to disposal area.
    • Wipe down shelves, doors, and high-touch surfaces.

Throughout this, you’re rarely sitting – most of the time involves movement and some lifting.

If You’re Worried About the “Heavy” Part

If you’re concerned about whether you can manage the heavy activity:

  • During interview or induction, ask directly :
    • “What are the heaviest tasks I’ll be doing?”
    • “How many trolleys do you expect me to push at once?”
  • Mention any existing injuries or medical restrictions so they can adjust tasks if possible.
  • Start with good footwear and learn proper lifting and pushing technique – this makes a big difference in how heavy the work feels.

Mini FAQ

Is Coles cleaning mostly trolleys or mostly mopping?
It’s usually a mix of both – cleaning inside plus trolley collection outside.

Do I need previous experience?
No, Coles says full training is provided for chemicals, machinery and safety.

Is it more “heavy” or more “boring”?
Reviews often call it both – physically demanding, repetitive and sometimes boring, but simple and predictable once you know the routine.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.

If you tell me whether you’re already working there or just thinking about applying, I can help you list out exact questions to ask your manager about heavy tasks and how to protect yourself physically.