Product Overview

Summary: This SOP provides a clear, step-by-step process for selecting, preparing, and installing non-slip flooring to reduce slips, trips and falls in Australian workplaces. It helps businesses meet WHS obligations by standardising installation practices, ensuring surfaces achieve appropriate slip-resistance ratings and remain safe over the long term.

Slips, trips and falls remain one of the leading causes of workplace injuries in Australia, often arising from poorly specified or incorrectly installed flooring. This Non-Slip Flooring Installation Safe Operating Procedure sets out a practical, repeatable method for planning, installing and verifying slip-resistant floor surfaces across a wide range of environments, from warehouses and workshops to commercial kitchens, healthcare facilities and public access areas. It guides you through the whole lifecycle of installation, from assessing the environment and selecting appropriate non-slip products, through to substrate preparation, installation techniques, curing times and final slip-resistance verification.

Developed with Australian WHS expectations in mind, this SOP helps organisations demonstrate due diligence in controlling slip hazards at the source. It reduces reliance on ad-hoc contractor practices, clarifies responsibilities between PCBU, project managers and installers, and embeds quality checks so that flooring meets relevant slip-resistance classifications and manufacturer requirements. By implementing this procedure, businesses can significantly lower the risk of injury, workers’ compensation claims, and costly rework, while providing a safer, more compliant environment for workers, visitors and contractors.

Key Benefits

• Reduce slip, trip and fall incidents by standardising how non-slip flooring is selected, installed and verified.
• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS legislation and slip-resistance requirements for different building and workplace areas.
• Improve installation quality and durability by specifying correct substrate preparation, application methods and curing times.
• Streamline communication between project managers, flooring contractors and WHS personnel with clearly defined roles and sign‑off points.
• Provide defensible documentation and evidence of due diligence in the event of an incident investigation or regulatory inspection.

Who is this for?

• Facilities Managers
• Construction Project Managers
• Site Supervisors
• Health and Safety Managers
• Maintenance Supervisors
• Flooring Contractors and Installers
• Building Managers
• WHS Advisors and Consultants
• Operations Managers
• Asset and Property Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Slips on smooth, wet or contaminated flooring surfaces
• Trips due to uneven surfaces, lipping or poor transitions between floor finishes
• Falls resulting from inadequate slip-resistance in ramps, stairs and access ways
• Chemical exposure from adhesives, sealants and surface treatments used during installation
• Manual handling injuries associated with lifting and positioning flooring materials
• Dust and airborne contaminants generated during surface grinding or preparation
• Noise exposure from mechanical surface preparation equipment
• Use of powered tools and equipment during surface preparation and installation
• Premature use of flooring surfaces before adequate curing or bonding has occurred

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Project Manager, Installer, WHS Representative)
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Pre-Installation Planning and Risk Assessment
• 6.0 Area Assessment and Slip-Resistance Requirements by Use Type
• 7.0 Selection of Non-Slip Flooring Systems and Materials
• 8.0 Required Tools, Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• 9.0 Substrate Inspection and Preparation Procedures
• 10.0 Control of Dust, Noise and Chemical Exposure During Preparation
• 11.0 Non-Slip Flooring Installation – Step-by-Step Procedure
• 12.0 Adhesives, Coatings and Sealants – Safe Handling and Application
• 13.0 Curing, Drying Times and Access Control to Work Areas
• 14.0 Verification of Slip Resistance (Testing, Certificates and Documentation)
• 15.0 Inspection, Defect Rectification and Final Sign-Off
• 16.0 Housekeeping, Waste Management and Environmental Considerations
• 17.0 Training, Competency and Contractor Management Requirements
• 18.0 Emergency Procedures and Incident Reporting During Installation
• 19.0 Ongoing Maintenance, Cleaning Compatibility and Re-Assessment Guidelines
• 20.0 Recordkeeping, Checklists and Audit Tools

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 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 Plant in the Workplace (for surface preparation equipment)
• AS 4586: Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials
• AS 4663: Slip resistance measurement of existing pedestrian surfaces
• AS/NZS 3661.1 (superseded but often referenced): Slip resistance of pedestrian surfaces – Requirements
• AS 1428.1: Design for access and mobility – General requirements for access – New building work (for ramps, stairs and accessways)
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 2161: Occupational protective gloves
• AS/NZS 2210: Occupational protective footwear
• AS/NZS 1269: Occupational noise management