Product Overview

Summary: This Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, compliant framework for specifying, installing, maintaining and managing commercial lock solutions across Australian workplaces. It helps businesses protect people, property and information through consistent security practices that also respect WHS obligations, emergency egress requirements and privacy considerations.

Commercial lock systems sit at the intersection of security, safety and compliance. Poorly selected or managed locks can create serious risks: doors that do not open in an emergency, uncontrolled master keys, unsecured plant rooms, or unauthorised access to hazardous substances and sensitive information. This Commercial Lock Solutions Safe Operating Procedure establishes a structured, repeatable approach for how your organisation plans, installs, uses and maintains mechanical and electronic locking systems in line with Australian WHS and building safety expectations.

The SOP guides you through the full lifecycle of commercial lock solutions: from risk-based selection and keying hierarchies, to installation checks, access approvals, key and credential control, inspection and maintenance routines, and change management when staff, tenants or operations change. It helps harmonise security controls with safe egress, fire safety and accessibility obligations, ensuring that doors, gates and barriers protect your people without trapping them. By implementing this SOP, your business can demonstrate due diligence, reduce avoidable incidents such as lockouts and security breaches, and provide clear, auditable instructions for staff, contractors and security providers.

Whether you manage a single site or a national property portfolio, this procedure supports consistent standards across offices, warehouses, healthcare facilities, schools, retail outlets and industrial plants. It is written in plain, practical language, ready to be tailored to your site plans, existing access control systems and contractor arrangements, and it provides a defensible framework for integrating commercial lock solutions into your broader WHS and risk management system.

Key Benefits

• Ensure commercial locks, access control devices and key systems support both security and safe emergency egress.
• Reduce the risk of unauthorised access, theft, vandalism and tampering with hazardous areas, plant rooms and restricted zones.
• Standardise how locks, keys and access credentials are issued, recorded, audited and recovered across all sites.
• Demonstrate due diligence with clear, documented procedures that align with Australian WHS and building safety requirements.
• Streamline coordination between facilities, WHS, security and contractors for lock installation, maintenance and changes.

Who is this for?

• Facilities Managers
• Security Managers
• WHS Managers
• Operations Managers
• Commercial Property Managers
• Maintenance Supervisors
• Locksmiths and Security Technicians
• IT and Access Control Administrators
• Risk and Compliance Managers
• School and Campus Managers
• Aged Care and Healthcare Facility Managers
• Retail and Hospitality Venue Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Entrapment or delayed evacuation due to doors that cannot be opened in an emergency
• Unauthorised access to hazardous areas (plant rooms, electrical switch rooms, chemical stores)
• Security breaches leading to theft, assault, or damage to critical equipment
• Compromised master key systems and uncontrolled key duplication
• Injury during forced entry or exit due to faulty or inappropriate locking hardware
• Obstruction of fire exits and designated evacuation routes
• Breach of restricted access to sensitive records or medication rooms in healthcare and aged care settings

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Terminology
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes
• 5.0 Risk Assessment for Locking and Access Control
• 6.0 Selection of Commercial Lock Solutions (Mechanical and Electronic)
• 7.0 Keying Systems and Access Hierarchies
• 8.0 Installation Requirements and Commissioning Checks
• 9.0 Integration with Fire Safety, Egress and Accessibility
• 10.0 Procedures for Issuing, Recording and Recovering Keys and Credentials
• 11.0 Daily Use, Housekeeping and User Responsibilities
• 12.0 Inspection, Testing and Preventive Maintenance of Locks and Door Hardware
• 13.0 Managing Lost, Stolen or Compromised Keys and Credentials
• 14.0 Change Management for Tenants, Staff and Operational Changes
• 15.0 Contractor Management and Access Arrangements
• 16.0 Incident Reporting, Security Breaches and Non‑Conformance Management
• 17.0 Training, Induction and Competency Requirements
• 18.0 Recordkeeping, Auditing and Continuous Improvement
• 19.0 Review and Document Control

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• National Construction Code (NCC) – requirements for egress, fire safety and door hardware
• AS 4145 series: Locksets and hardware for doors and windows
• AS 1428.1: Design for access and mobility – General requirements for access – New building work
• AS 1851: Routine service of fire protection systems and equipment (integration with fire and egress doors)
• AS/NZS ISO 31000: Risk management – Guidelines
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice