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Shoe Repair Safety Risk Assessment

Shoe Repair Safety 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

Shoe Repair Safety Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with Shoe Repair operations through a structured, management-level Risk Assessment that supports planning, policy development, training and safe equipment selection across your workshop. This document helps demonstrate Due Diligence under the WHS Act, reducing organisational exposure to operational liability and supporting ongoing WHS compliance.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • WHS Governance, Roles and Consultation: Assessment of safety leadership, allocation of WHS responsibilities, consultation mechanisms with workers, and integration of safety into business decision-making for shoe repair operations.
  • Competency, Training and Supervision: Management of skills, induction, task-specific training (including use of specialised shoe repair machinery), and supervision arrangements to ensure only competent personnel perform high-risk activities.
  • Plant and Equipment Safety Management (Including Sutton Finisher): Controls for selection, guarding, safe operation and isolation of shoe repair plant such as grinders, buffers and Sutton Finishers, including lockable controls, signage and authorised use protocols.
  • Plant Maintenance, Inspection and Asset Management: Systems for scheduled servicing, pre-start checks, defect reporting and decommissioning of unsafe equipment to minimise mechanical failure and contact with moving parts.
  • Electrical Safety and Energy Isolation: Management of electrical installations, testing and tagging, use of RCDs, and lock-out/tag-out procedures for powered shoe repair equipment and associated tools.
  • Hazardous Chemicals, Adhesives and Fumes Management: Assessment of solvent-based glues, cleaners, dyes and other chemicals, including SDS management, storage and decanting controls, ventilation requirements and exposure minimisation strategies.
  • Dust, Noise and Air Quality Control: Controls for airborne dust from grinding and sanding, noise from mechanical equipment, and general air quality management through extraction, local exhaust ventilation and PPE policies.
  • Ergonomics, Manual Handling and Work Design: Evaluation of bench heights, repetitive tasks, lifting of bulk materials, awkward postures and workflow design to reduce musculoskeletal disorders in shoe repair staff.
  • Safe Work Procedures and Change Management: Development and review of documented procedures for key shoe repair processes, and structured assessment of WHS impacts when new machinery, products or methods are introduced.
  • Housekeeping, Slips, Trips and General Workshop Layout: Management of floor surfaces, storage of tools and materials, control of cords and offcuts, and design of traffic routes to reduce slips, trips, falls and congestion.
  • Emergency Preparedness, Fire Safety and First Aid: Planning for fire and chemical incidents, placement and maintenance of extinguishers, spill kits and first aid resources, and training for emergency response in the workshop.
  • Incident Reporting, Investigation and Continuous Improvement: Systems for capturing near misses and incidents, root cause analysis, corrective actions and review processes to strengthen the WHS management system over time.
  • Contractor, Supplier and Visitor Management: Protocols for controlling access, induction, supervision and information sharing with contractors, delivery drivers and customers entering the shoe repair area.
  • Fatigue, Workload, Psychosocial and Lone Work Risks: Assessment of extended trading hours, peak workloads, customer aggression, isolated work and other psychosocial factors, with controls for staffing levels, communication and support.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Safety Managers and Workshop Supervisors responsible for planning, managing and reviewing Shoe Repair operations and facilities.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. WHS Governance, Roles and Consultation
  • • Absence of a documented WHS management system aligned to WHS Act 2011 and WHS Regulations
  • • Unclear WHS roles, responsibilities and accountabilities for owners, managers, supervisors and workers
  • • Limited worker consultation and failure to establish a health and safety committee or other agreed consultation arrangements
  • • No formal process to identify, assess and control risks specific to shoe repair operations (including Sutton Finisher use)
  • • Inadequate review of incidents, near misses and corrective actions at management level
  • • Failure to keep WHS records (training, inductions, inspections, maintenance, health monitoring) in an organised system
2. Competency, Training and Supervision
  • • Workers operating machinery (including Sutton Finisher, grinders, stitchers and presses) without appropriate competency or task-specific training
  • • Insufficient supervision of new or young workers, apprentices or casual staff in high-risk tasks
  • • No verification of prior experience or qualifications for specialised equipment maintenance or electrical work
  • • Failure to provide refresher training on key WHS procedures (e.g. lock out tag out, emergency stop use, manual handling, hazardous chemicals)
  • • Language, literacy or cultural barriers leading to misunderstanding of safety instructions or signage
  • • Ad-hoc on-the-job training without documented training plans, competency assessments or sign-off
3. Plant and Equipment Safety Management (Including Sutton Finisher)
  • • Use of Sutton Finisher and other rotating equipment without adequate guarding or emergency stop systems
  • • Inadequate selection, design or installation of plant not suitable for workshop layout or workload
  • • Failure to conduct plant risk assessments prior to introducing new machinery or modifying existing installations
  • • Missing or overridden safety devices, guards or interlocks due to production pressure or poor maintenance practices
  • • Uncontrolled exposure to entanglement, drawing-in, contact with moving parts, ejection of materials and abrasive surfaces
  • • Noise and vibration from plant not being assessed or controlled, leading to long-term health effects
  • • Inadequate workspace around machines causing congestion, collision or restricted emergency access
  • • Power tools, grinding wheels and accessories being used beyond their rated capacity or service life
4. Plant Maintenance, Inspection and Asset Management
  • • Lack of a scheduled preventive maintenance program for Sutton Finisher and other critical equipment
  • • Unrecorded breakdowns and ad-hoc repairs leading to recurring faults and unsafe conditions
  • • Use of unqualified persons for electrical or mechanical repairs on plant
  • • Failure to inspect and replace worn components such as abrasive belts, brushes, wheels, drive belts and guards
  • • Inadequate tagging and isolation of equipment during repairs or servicing
  • • Poor management of spare parts and consumables, leading to unsafe substitution of incompatible components
5. Electrical Safety and Energy Isolation
  • • Overloaded power boards and extension leads used to supply multiple machines and portable tools
  • • Damaged cords, plugs and outlets near grinding dust, adhesives and other contaminants
  • • Inadequate residual current device (RCD) protection on circuits feeding machinery and portable equipment
  • • Lack of routine test and tag program for portable electrical equipment
  • • Unauthorised alterations to electrical supply for Sutton Finisher or other fixed plant
  • • No documented procedure for isolating electrical energy during maintenance, cleaning or belt changes
6. Hazardous Chemicals, Adhesives and Fumes Management
  • • Use of solvent-based adhesives, cleaners, polishes and finishes without adequate ventilation or fume extraction
  • • Lack of current safety data sheets (SDS) and risk assessments for hazardous chemicals stored and used in the workshop
  • • Incompatible storage of flammable liquids with ignition sources, including near grinders, Sutton Finisher, electrical panels or open flames
  • • Inadequate labelling of decanted chemicals leading to misuse or accidental exposure
  • • Failure to manage skin and respiratory exposure to chemicals, causing dermatitis, sensitisation or respiratory illness
  • • Improper disposal of waste adhesives, contaminated rags and chemical containers, creating fire and environmental risks
7. Dust, Noise and Air Quality Control
  • • Generation of fine leather, rubber and abrasive dust from grinding, buffing and finishing operations (including Sutton Finisher) leading to respiratory issues and housekeeping hazards
  • • Noise from machinery, compressors and finishing equipment exceeding exposure standards and contributing to hearing loss and fatigue
  • • Accumulation of combustible dust in ducts, filters and workshop surfaces increasing fire and explosion risk
  • • Inadequate ventilation causing build-up of fumes from adhesives and polishes in combination with dust
  • • Lack of monitoring or assessment of noise and dust levels to verify compliance with standards
8. Ergonomics, Manual Handling and Work Design
  • • Poor workshop layout requiring excessive reaching, twisting or carrying of heavy items such as industrial lasts, shoe repair machinery attachments and bulk material stock
  • • Inadequate workbench heights around Sutton Finisher and other machines leading to awkward postures and repetitive strain
  • • Manual handling of heavy shoe repair equipment during installation, relocation or maintenance without mechanical aids
  • • Repetitive fine hand tasks (cutting, stitching, nailing) contributing to musculoskeletal disorders over time
  • • Lack of systematic task rotation or breaks in busy periods, increasing fatigue and strain
9. Safe Work Procedures and Change Management
  • • Critical tasks such as plant start-up/shutdown, abrasive belt changes, use of the Sutton Finisher and chemical handling being undertaken without documented safe work procedures
  • • Inconsistent work practices between workers, increasing likelihood of incidents and near misses
  • • Introduction of new machinery, materials or processes without formal change management or re-assessment of risks
  • • Outdated procedures not reflecting current equipment, regulations or industry best practice
  • • Workers not consulted or trained on new or revised procedures, leading to poor compliance
10. Housekeeping, Slips, Trips and General Workshop Layout
  • • Build-up of offcuts, dust, nails, tools and packaging on floors and walkways leading to slips, trips and puncture injuries
  • • Poor storage practices for shoes awaiting repair, completed work and materials, creating congested work areas and blocked access to emergency exits or fire equipment
  • • Improper routing of electrical leads, air lines and vacuum hoses, including around Sutton Finisher, across walkways
  • • Insufficient lighting at workstations, especially near rotating equipment and sharp tools
  • • Inadequate segregation between customer areas and the workshop, exposing members of the public to plant hazards
11. Emergency Preparedness, Fire Safety and First Aid
  • • Presence of flammable adhesives, finishes and dust near ignition sources such as grinding equipment, Sutton Finisher motors and electrical systems
  • • Inadequate fire detection, alarm and suppression equipment for workshop size and risk profile
  • • Blocked or poorly signed emergency exits, particularly in small or crowded retail/workshop environments
  • • Lack of documented emergency response procedures for fire, chemical spill, serious injury or plant entrapment
  • • Insufficient first aid equipment or trained first aiders on site during operating hours
  • • No practice of emergency drills leading to confusion and delays in real events
12. Incident Reporting, Investigation and Continuous Improvement
  • • Under-reporting of incidents, near misses and hazards due to fear of blame or lack of simple reporting channels
  • • Failure to investigate incidents and near misses to identify root causes and systemic issues, especially relating to plant such as Sutton Finisher
  • • Corrective actions not documented, implemented or verified, resulting in repeat incidents
  • • No analysis of incident trends, preventing targeted improvements in training, plant design or procedures
  • • Limited communication of lessons learned to workers, supervisors and management
13. Contractor, Supplier and Visitor Management
  • • External technicians working on Sutton Finisher or other plant without adequate induction to site-specific WHS requirements
  • • Supplied plant or materials not meeting Australian standards or WHS expectations for guarding, labelling and SDS provision
  • • Visitors or customers entering workshop areas without awareness of hazards or site rules
  • • Lack of coordination of work when multiple contractors are present (e.g. electricians, ventilation installers) creating overlapping risks
14. Fatigue, Workload, Psychosocial and Lone Work Risks
  • • Long operating hours, weekend work and peak retail periods increasing fatigue and error rates during detailed shoe repair tasks and plant operation
  • • Pressure to complete urgent jobs leading to shortcuts with safety controls on machinery such as Sutton Finisher
  • • Workers operating alone in the workshop, with delayed assistance in case of injury or entrapment
  • • Poor management of work-related stress, customer aggression or financial pressures impacting mental health and safety focus
  • • Lack of clear policies on working hours, breaks and after-hours work

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
  • Model Code of Practice – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Guidance on systematic risk management processes.
  • Model Code of Practice – Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace: Requirements for safe use, maintenance and guarding of machinery such as shoe repair equipment and Sutton Finishers.
  • Model Code of Practice – Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work: Controls for noise exposure from grinders, buffers and other powered equipment.
  • Model Code of Practice – Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace: Requirements for storage, labelling, SDS, and handling of adhesives, solvents and cleaning agents.
  • Model Code of Practice – Work Health and Safety Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination: Framework for effective worker engagement and shared duty management.
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines
  • AS/NZS 4801 / ISO 45001 (as applicable): Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements for systematic WHS governance.
  • AS/NZS 3000:2018 (Wiring Rules): Electrical installation requirements relevant to powered shoe repair equipment and workshop fit-out.
  • AS 1940: The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids, applicable to solvent-based adhesives and cleaners.
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

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