Product Overview

Summary: This Safety Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical steps for carrying out concrete grinding and polishing works safely on Australian sites. It focuses on controlling silica dust, noise, vibration, electrical and plant-related risks so your workers can deliver high-quality finishes while maintaining full WHS compliance.

Concrete grinding and polishing involves high‑powered machinery, rotating abrasive heads and frequent dry cutting, creating a combination of risks that must be tightly controlled under Australian WHS law. Without a clear procedure, workers can be exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS), trip and entanglement hazards, electrical faults, and excessive noise and vibration, all while working in occupied buildings or busy construction sites. This Safety Operating Procedure provides a structured, step‑by‑step method for planning, setting up and carrying out grinding and polishing works safely and consistently.

Designed specifically for the Australian construction and property sectors, this SOP helps businesses translate legislative duties into day‑to‑day practice on site. It covers everything from pre‑start inspections, dust suppression and extraction requirements, cable management and exclusion zones, through to safe shutdown, housekeeping and waste disposal. By implementing this document, you create a defensible system of work that supports worker training, reduces reliance on informal practices, and demonstrates due diligence to principal contractors, clients and regulators.

Key Benefits

• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS legislation and silica dust control requirements during concrete grinding and polishing activities.
• Reduce worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica, noise and vibration through clearly defined control measures.
• Standardise safe operating practices across crews, subcontractors and sites, improving consistency and quality of work.
• Minimise the risk of plant-related incidents, equipment damage and costly downtime through robust pre‑start and shutdown procedures.
• Support effective training, inductions and toolbox talks with a clear, easy‑to‑follow reference document.

Who is this for?

• Concrete Grinding and Polishing Technicians
• Flooring Contractors
• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Small Construction Business Owners
• Facilities and Maintenance Managers
• Plant and Equipment Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) from dry grinding and polishing
• Inhalation of concrete dust and other airborne contaminants
• Noise exposure from grinding and polishing machinery
• Hand–arm vibration from prolonged use of powered equipment
• Entanglement in rotating parts and moving machinery
• Trips and falls due to trailing leads, hoses and slurry on floors
• Electrical shock or electrocution from damaged cables or wet environments
• Manual handling injuries from moving heavy grinders, vacuums and tooling
• Eye and face injuries from flying fragments and debris
• Fire or explosion risk from grinding near flammable materials or vapours
• Slips due to wet surfaces, slurry and polishing compounds
• Collision risks with other mobile plant or pedestrians in shared work areas

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 References and Applicable Legislation
• 3.0 Definitions and Terminology
• 4.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 5.0 Plant, Equipment and Tooling Requirements
• 6.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 7.0 Pre‑Start Planning and Site Assessment
• 8.0 Silica Dust Control Measures (Wet Methods and Local Exhaust Ventilation)
• 9.0 Electrical Safety and Cable Management
• 10.0 Safe Operating Procedure – Concrete Grinding
• 11.0 Safe Operating Procedure – Concrete Polishing and Finishing
• 12.0 Housekeeping, Slurry and Waste Management
• 13.0 Managing Noise, Vibration and Fatigue
• 14.0 Working in Occupied Buildings and Shared Workspaces
• 15.0 Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Controls
• 16.0 Emergency Procedures and Incident Response
• 17.0 Inspection, Maintenance and Tagging of Equipment
• 18.0 Training, Induction and Competency Records
• 19.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risk of Respirable Crystalline Silica from Engineered Stone in the Workplace: Code of Practice (principles applied to concrete work)
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace: Code of Practice
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 1716: Respiratory protective devices
• AS/NZS 2161: Occupational protective gloves
• AS/NZS 1337.1: Personal eye protection
• AS/NZS 1270: Acoustics – Hearing protectors
• AS/NZS 3012: Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites
• AS/NZS 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems (ISO 45001, adopted in Australia)