BlueSafe
Working on Wet Icy or Slippery Surfaces Risk Assessment

Working on Wet Icy or Slippery Surfaces Risk Assessment

  • • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
  • • Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
  • • Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
  • • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Working on Wet Icy or Slippery Surfaces Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with Working on Wet, Icy or Slippery Surfaces through a structured, management-level WHS Risk Management approach that focuses on systems, planning and governance. This Risk Assessment supports compliance with the Work Health and Safety Act and Regulations, demonstrating Due Diligence and reducing your organisation’s operational liability exposure.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • WHS Governance, Roles and Due Diligence: Clarification of officer obligations, safety leadership expectations and accountability frameworks for managing slippery surface risks across the organisation.
  • Strategic Risk Management and Planning: Integration of wet, icy and slippery surface hazards into enterprise risk registers, risk criteria, resource allocation and ongoing WHS planning cycles.
  • Site and Facility Design for Surface Safety: Assessment of layout, gradients, access/egress routes, drainage, lighting and traffic flows to minimise slip, trip and fall exposures.
  • Engineering Controls and Infrastructure: Selection and management of non-slip surfacing, edge protection, handrails, grates, ramps, heating/defrost systems and other engineered controls.
  • Surface Inspection, Monitoring and Maintenance Systems: Scheduled inspections, surface condition monitoring, defect reporting and maintenance programs for walkways, stairs, platforms and external areas.
  • Weather, Environmental and Seasonal Risk Management: Protocols for rain, frost, ice, snow, condensation and temperature-related risks, including pre-emptive controls and seasonal action plans.
  • Contractor and Visitor Management: Induction, access control, supervision and information provision for contractors, delivery drivers and visitors entering potentially slippery zones.
  • Worker Competency, Training and Supervision: Competency requirements, training content, refresher schedules and supervisory oversight for workers operating on or near wet or icy surfaces.
  • Work Planning, Rostering and Fatigue Management: Consideration of time of day, shift length, fatigue, staffing levels and task scheduling during high-risk weather or surface conditions.
  • Cleaning, Housekeeping and Contamination Control Systems: Management of spills, mud, oils, debris and other contaminants, including cleaning methods, frequency and responsibilities.
  • Information, Signage and Communication Systems: Use of warning signage, alerts, internal communications and change management processes when surface conditions deteriorate.
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program Management: Selection, procurement, maintenance and replacement of slip-resistant footwear and other relevant PPE, and verification of correct use.
  • Health Monitoring and Fitness for Work: Consideration of medical conditions, mobility limitations, medications and overall fitness for work that may affect stability and balance on slippery surfaces.
  • Incident Reporting, Investigation and Corrective Actions: Systems for capturing slips, trips, near misses and injuries, conducting root cause analysis and implementing sustainable corrective actions.
  • Emergency Response and Business Continuity: Planning for rescue, first aid, access during severe weather, and continuity arrangements when key areas become unsafe or inaccessible.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Safety Managers, Facility Managers and WHS Advisors responsible for planning, overseeing and auditing work on wet, icy or slippery surfaces across their operations.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. WHS Governance, Roles and Due Diligence
  • • Lack of clear WHS governance for work on wet, icy or slippery surfaces
  • • Officers not exercising due diligence as required by WHS Act 2011
  • • Unclear allocation of responsibilities between PCBUs, contractors and site controllers
  • • Failure to integrate slippery‑surface risks into the organisation’s WHS management system
  • • Inadequate consultation with workers and Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) on surface condition risks
  • • No process for reviewing compliance with applicable WHS Regulations, Codes of Practice and Australian Standards
2. Strategic Risk Management and Planning
  • • Absence of a structured risk assessment framework specific to wet, icy or slippery surface conditions
  • • Failure to consider seasonal and climatic variations in risk (rain, frost, storms, temperature extremes)
  • • Inadequate integration of surface‑condition risks into business, project and site planning processes
  • • No systematic process to identify high‑risk locations such as ramps, stairs, external walkways and loading areas
  • • Insufficient consideration of interfaces between different PCBUs sharing premises or worksites
3. Site and Facility Design for Surface Safety
  • • Poor site layout leading to unnecessary pedestrian and vehicle travel over wet or icy areas
  • • Use of flooring and external surface materials with inadequate slip‑resistance ratings for expected conditions
  • • Insufficient shelter, awnings or covered walkways in areas of high foot traffic
  • • Poor drainage design causing pooling, water run‑off across walkways or formation of ice patches
  • • Inadequate camber, grading and kerb design around loading docks and outdoor work platforms
  • • Limited handrails, guardrails or edge protection on ramps, stairways and elevated walkways
4. Engineering Controls and Infrastructure
  • • Reliance solely on behavioural or PPE controls instead of engineered solutions
  • • Absence of fixed slip‑resistant treatments in historically problematic areas
  • • Inadequate lighting making wet or icy patches difficult to identify
  • • Lack of physical barriers, speed control devices or fall‑protection systems near edges and level changes
  • • Insufficient heating or de‑icing systems where freezing conditions are foreseeable
  • • No systematic approach to upgrading legacy surfaces and infrastructure
5. Surface Inspection, Monitoring and Maintenance Systems
  • • Inconsistent inspection of surface conditions, particularly during or after adverse weather
  • • No formal system to record, prioritise and close out surface condition defects
  • • Delayed repair of damaged, worn or degraded slip‑resistant surfaces
  • • Reactive rather than planned maintenance leading to persistent high‑risk areas
  • • Insufficient resourcing for timely inspection and maintenance activities
  • • Failure to monitor effectiveness of installed anti‑slip treatments over time
6. Weather, Environmental and Seasonal Risk Management
  • • Lack of monitoring of weather forecasts and environmental conditions affecting surface safety
  • • No predefined escalation of controls during heavy rain, storms, frost or low temperatures
  • • Inadequate protocols for restricting or sequencing work when surfaces become unsafe
  • • Failure to manage risk from run‑off from roofs, plant and vehicles during adverse weather
  • • Poor communication of changing surface conditions to affected workers and contractors
7. Contractor and Visitor Management
  • • Contractors and visitors unaware of site‑specific wet or icy surface risks
  • • Inadequate verification that contractors have appropriate systems to manage slippery‑surface risks
  • • Poor coordination between multiple PCBUs undertaking work that affects surface conditions (e.g. cleaning, landscaping, construction)
  • • No controls to ensure visitors follow designated safe routes during adverse conditions
  • • Insufficient induction coverage of variable and seasonal surface hazards
8. Worker Competency, Training and Supervision
  • • Workers not trained to recognise and report hazardous wet or icy surface conditions
  • • Limited understanding of how work practices can create or worsen slippery surfaces
  • • Inadequate supervision of new or young workers in environments with variable surface risks
  • • Failure to train workers on organisational procedures for restricted access, barricading and temporary controls
  • • No competency verification for supervisors managing tasks in high‑risk surface areas
9. Work Planning, Rostering and Fatigue Management
  • • Scheduling tasks requiring extensive movement over wet or icy surfaces during high‑risk times of day or season
  • • Inadequate consideration of travel distance and route choice in work allocation
  • • Fatigue contributing to reduced concentration, poor route selection and slower response to unexpected surface changes
  • • Insufficient allowance in job planning for slower, safer movement and additional controls during wet or freezing conditions
  • • Pressure to meet production or delivery targets overriding safe access decisions
10. Cleaning, Housekeeping and Contamination Control Systems
  • • Cleaning practices unintentionally increasing the area and duration of slippery surfaces
  • • Lack of documented procedures governing cleaning timing, methods and isolation of wet areas
  • • Inadequate control of contaminants such as mud, debris, residues or fine material that interact with water to create slippery films
  • • No coordination between cleaning schedules and work activities, leading to exposure of workers to wet areas
  • • Failure to provide and maintain suitable entry controls such as mats or grates to reduce water and debris transfer
11. Information, Signage and Communication Systems
  • • Inadequate or unclear signage warning of known wet or icy hazard areas
  • • Failure to promptly communicate temporary changes to access routes or surface conditions
  • • Over‑reliance on generic signs without supporting engineering or administrative controls
  • • Inconsistent use of barriers, cones and tape leading to confusion about safe paths of travel
  • • Language or literacy barriers preventing workers and visitors from understanding surface‑related warnings
12. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program Management
  • • Over‑reliance on footwear and other PPE as the primary control for surface hazards
  • • Inadequate specification, selection or procurement of slip‑resistant footwear suited to site conditions
  • • Lack of policy on replacement, inspection and maintenance of footwear and related PPE
  • • Insufficient guidance to workers and contractors regarding required footwear standards
  • • Failure to consider compatibility of PPE with other equipment and work tasks
13. Health Monitoring and Fitness for Work
  • • Workers with musculoskeletal or balance impairments at elevated risk when working on slippery surfaces
  • • Undeclared or unmanaged medical conditions affecting stability, vision or reaction time
  • • Substance use or medication side‑effects contributing to poor coordination and hazard perception
  • • No process for considering individual capability in task allocation where surface risks are significant
14. Incident Reporting, Investigation and Corrective Actions
  • • Under‑reporting of near misses and minor incidents related to wet or icy surfaces
  • • Inadequate investigation of surface‑related incidents leading to repeat events
  • • Failure to identify systemic root causes such as design, maintenance or planning deficiencies
  • • Slow or ineffective implementation of corrective and preventive actions
  • • Limited organisational learning and sharing of lessons across sites or business units
15. Emergency Response and Business Continuity
  • • Emergency evacuation routes becoming unsafe due to wet or icy surface conditions
  • • Lack of planning for first responder access where surfaces are severely compromised
  • • Inadequate procedures for managing injured persons on slippery or uneven terrain
  • • Failure to maintain business continuity while controlling risks associated with unsafe access routes
  • • Emergency drills not accounting for realistic surface conditions
16. Performance Measurement, Audit and Continuous Improvement
  • • Lack of performance indicators for managing wet, icy or slippery surface risks
  • • No structured audit program to verify implementation of surface‑related controls
  • • Failure to incorporate worker feedback into improvement initiatives
  • • Inadequate management review of system performance, leading to stagnation of control measures
  • • Controls not updated in line with technological advances or changes in standards

Need to add specific hazards for your workplace?

Don't worry if a specific hazard isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom hazards at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the risk ratings and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Guidance on safe access, egress and surface conditions.
  • Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for identifying, assessing and controlling WHS risks.
  • Safe Work Australia – First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice: Requirements for first aid arrangements for slip, trip and fall incidents.
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines.
  • AS 1657: Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders — Design, construction and installation.
  • AS 1319: Safety signs for the occupational environment.
  • AS/NZS 45001:2018: Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements with guidance for use.
Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)
  • Comprehensive hazard identification for all activities
  • Risk rating matrix with likelihood and consequence analysis
  • Existing control measures evaluation
  • Residual risk assessment after controls
  • Hierarchy of controls recommendations
  • Action priority rankings
  • Review and monitoring requirements
  • Consultation and communication records
  • Legal compliance references
  • Sign-off and approval sections

$79.5

Safe Work Australia Aligned