Small crew at coalface had a list sterilised (5,7)

I believe the answer is:

steam cleaned

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'small crew at coalface had a list sterilised' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'small crew at coalface had a list' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'crew' becomes 'team' (both can mean a group of colleagues).
'at coalface' becomes 'c' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'had a list' becomes 'leaned' (I've seen this in another clue).
's'+'team'+'c'+'leaned'='STEAM CLEANED'

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I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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