Product Overview

Summary: This Non-Slip Floor Treatment Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, step-by-step method for assessing, preparing, treating and maintaining floors to reduce slip, trip and fall incidents. It supports Australian businesses to meet their WHS and duty-of-care obligations while protecting workers, customers and visitors in high-traffic and high-risk areas.

Slips, trips and falls remain one of the leading causes of workplace injuries across Australia, particularly in environments with smooth, wet or contaminated floor surfaces. This Non-Slip Floor Treatment Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, repeatable approach to identifying high-risk areas, selecting appropriate non-slip treatments, and applying them safely and effectively. It covers everything from initial slip-resistance assessments and surface preparation through to application, curing times, signage, barricading and post-treatment verification.

By implementing this SOP, businesses can demonstrate a proactive approach to managing floor-related slip hazards in line with Australian WHS legislation and recognised standards. The procedure helps organisations move away from ad-hoc cleaning and treatment practices towards a documented, auditable system that integrates with existing risk management and maintenance programs. This not only reduces the likelihood of injuries and workers’ compensation claims, but also helps protect your brand and reputation in customer-facing environments such as retail, hospitality, health and aged care.

The SOP is designed to be practical and easy to implement for both in‑house maintenance teams and contracted cleaning providers. It sets clear responsibilities, minimum PPE requirements, product handling controls, and verification steps, so you can be confident that non-slip treatments are applied consistently, safely and to the manufacturer’s specifications on every site.

Key Benefits

• Reduce slip, trip and fall incidents by systematically improving floor slip resistance in high-risk areas.
• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant floor safety standards through a documented, auditable process.
• Standardise how non-slip floor treatments are selected, applied and maintained across multiple sites and contractors.
• Minimise business disruption by planning treatment works, curing times, barricading and signage to keep people safe while areas are out of service.
• Support defensible due diligence in the event of an incident or claim with clear records of inspections, treatments and verification testing.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Facility Managers
• Property Managers
• Cleaning and Maintenance Supervisors
• Retail Store Managers
• Hospitality Venue Managers
• Aged Care Facility Managers
• School and University Facility Officers
• Healthcare Environmental Services Managers
• Construction Site Supervisors

Hazards Addressed

• Slip incidents on wet, oily or contaminated floors
• Trips due to poorly managed treatment areas, hoses, tools or barricades
• Chemical exposure from non-slip treatment products and cleaning agents
• Inhalation of vapours, mists or aerosols generated during application
• Skin and eye irritation from splashes or contact with treatment chemicals
• Manual handling injuries from moving equipment, drums and floor preparation machinery
• Falls due to inadequate exclusion zones or signage during treatment and curing
• Electrical hazards when using powered floor preparation or cleaning equipment near liquids

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms (including slip resistance classifications)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment for Floor Surfaces
• 6.0 Selection of Non-Slip Floor Treatments and Products
• 7.0 Required PPE, Tools and Equipment
• 8.0 Pre-Treatment Checks and Surface Preparation
• 9.0 Step-by-Step Non-Slip Treatment Application Procedure
• 10.0 Curing, Barricading, Signage and Area Reopening Criteria
• 11.0 Verification of Slip Resistance and Quality Assurance
• 12.0 Ongoing Inspection, Cleaning and Maintenance Requirements
• 13.0 Handling, Storage and Disposal of Treatment Chemicals
• 14.0 Emergency Procedures for Spills, Exposure and Incidents
• 15.0 Training, Competency and Contractor Management
• 16.0 Recordkeeping, Audit and Continuous Improvement

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
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
• AS 4586: Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials
• AS 4663: Slip resistance measurement of existing pedestrian surfaces
• AS/NZS 1319: Safety signs for the occupational environment
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 2161: Occupational protective gloves
• AS/NZS 3760: In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment