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Access Egress and Walking on Uneven Surfaces Risk Assessment

Access Egress and Walking on Uneven Surfaces Risk Assessment

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Access Egress and Walking on Uneven Surfaces Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with Access, Egress and Walking on Uneven Surfaces through a structured, management-level Risk Assessment focused on planning, design, procurement, training and ongoing control. This document supports executive Due Diligence under the WHS Act, helping to demonstrate effective WHS Risk Management and reduce operational liability exposure.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • WHS Governance, Policies and Legal Compliance: Assessment of organisational WHS responsibilities, policy frameworks, consultation arrangements and legal compliance related to pedestrian access and egress.
  • Access, Egress and Walkway Layout Design: Management of how walkways, corridors, ramps and access routes are planned, segregated and controlled to minimise congestion, trip hazards and pedestrian–vehicle interaction.
  • Stairway and Step Design, Construction and Certification: Evaluation of stair geometry, handrails, landings, slip resistance and certification processes to ensure compliance with relevant Australian Standards and building codes.
  • Walking Surface Specification, Materials and Installation: Assessment of surface types, slip resistance ratings, edging details, drainage and installation quality for both internal and external pedestrian areas.
  • Uneven and Unstable Ground Management (Including Loose Sand): Management of level changes, soft or unstable ground, loose materials and temporary infill, including engineering controls and access restrictions.
  • Temporary Works and Construction Staging Controls: Protocols for managing tile-laying areas, unfinished surfaces, wet areas, construction zones and staged works to protect workers, contractors and visitors.
  • Inspection, Monitoring and Preventive Maintenance: Systems for routine inspections, defect reporting, prioritisation of repairs and verification that walking surfaces, ramps and stairs remain fit for purpose.
  • Signage, Barriers and Pedestrian Traffic Management: Assessment of visual cues, barricades, exclusion zones, speed controls and wayfinding to guide safe pedestrian movement through changing environments.
  • Competency, Induction and Task-Specific Training: Management of training needs for workers, supervisors and contractors involved in access design, installation, cleaning and maintenance of walking surfaces.
  • Worker Fitness for Work, Footwear and Ergonomic Factors: Consideration of footwear policies, fatigue, environmental conditions and ergonomic issues that influence slip, trip and fall risk.
  • Incident Reporting, Investigation and Corrective Actions: Systems for capturing slip, trip and fall events, near misses and hazards, and ensuring root-cause analysis and close-out of corrective actions.
  • Emergency Planning and Safe Evacuation Routes: Evaluation of emergency egress routes, illumination, signage and capacity to ensure safe evacuation over stairs, ramps and uneven surfaces.
  • Procurement and Contractor Management for Access and Surface Works: Controls for selecting competent designers, installers and maintenance providers, including specifications, contracts and verification of delivered works.
  • Change Management, Design Review and Continuous Improvement: Processes for reviewing modifications, refurbishments, seasonal changes and lessons learned to continuously improve access and egress safety performance.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Safety Managers, Facilities Managers, Project Managers and WHS Advisors responsible for planning, approving and managing access, egress and walking surface conditions across their operations.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. WHS Governance, Policies and Legal Compliance
  • • Absence of a documented access and egress policy addressing uneven and unstable surfaces
  • • WHS responsibilities for managing walking and stairway risks not clearly assigned to officers, managers and supervisors
  • • Failure to align workplace procedures with WHS Act 2011 and WHS Regulations (plant, falls, hazard management)
  • • No systematic process to identify and control slip, trip and fall hazards across sites (including temporary work areas and tile-laying zones)
  • • Inadequate consultation with workers and HSRs regarding access, egress and stairway risks
2. Design of Access, Egress and Walkway Layout
  • • Poorly planned site layout resulting in workers having to walk across uneven, sloping or unstable surfaces as the primary access route
  • • Insufficient allowance for safe, separate pedestrian routes away from construction workfaces, tile laying zones and vehicle movements
  • • Narrow, congested or indirect walkways increasing exposure time on uneven terrain
  • • Uncontrolled pedestrian movement through areas containing loose sand, rubble, temporary ramps or unformed ground
  • • Inadequate design of temporary access routes during staging of works, leading to ad hoc shortcuts across unstable surfaces
3. Stairway and Step Design, Construction and Certification
  • • Non-compliant stair geometry (riser and going dimensions) increasing trip and mis-step risk when ascending or descending
  • • Absence of, or poorly designed, handrails and balustrades reducing stability and fall protection on stairs
  • • Inconsistent stair design across the site causing users to misjudge steps, particularly when carrying materials
  • • Stair surfaces without adequate slip resistance, especially where dust, water, grout or sand may be present
  • • Temporary or makeshift stairs (e.g. timber or site-built steps) not engineered or certified for load and slip resistance
4. Walking Surface Specification, Materials and Installation
  • • Selection of floor or ground finishes with inadequate slip resistance for the intended use (e.g. smooth tiles in areas exposed to water or sand)
  • • Substandard substrate preparation leading to lipping, uneven tiles or subsidence during tile laying activities
  • • Use of loose aggregate, uncompacted fill or unstable materials as walking surfaces without appropriate stabilisation
  • • Failure to coordinate tile laying with site access needs, resulting in workers walking across uneven and partially laid surfaces
  • • Inadequate specification for external pathways exposed to weather, ponding and loose sand accumulation
5. Uneven and Unstable Ground Management (Including Loose Sand)
  • • Pedestrian access over loose sand, rubble or un-compacted ground causing slips, ankle injuries or loss of balance
  • • Ground instability under temporary loads such as trolleys, mobile scaffolds or stacked materials
  • • Unmarked soft spots, holes or erosion channels hidden under vegetation or debris
  • • Ground conditions changing due to weather (e.g. rain softening soil, wind redistributing sand), making previously safe areas hazardous
  • • Failure to reassess ground stability when works extend, excavations occur or adjacent works disturb the surface
6. Temporary Works, Construction Staging and Tile-Laying Area Control
  • • Workers and visitors walking across partially laid tiles or unfinished screeded surfaces during construction or renovation
  • • Inadequate separation between active tile laying workfaces and designated pedestrian access routes
  • • Trip hazards from tools, tile packs, grout buckets and offcuts encroaching into walkways
  • • Uncontrolled changes in level between old and newly installed surfaces during progressive work staging
  • • Time pressure leading to removal of barriers too early before surfaces are fully cured or levelled
7. Inspection, Monitoring and Maintenance of Walking Surfaces and Stairs
  • • Degradation of surfaces over time (cracked tiles, subsidence, worn nosings, loose sand build-up) creating new slip and trip hazards
  • • Handrails, balustrades or stair treads becoming loose or damaged without timely repair
  • • Blocked or inadequate drainage allowing water and silt to accumulate on paths and stairs
  • • Cleaning and maintenance contractors not reporting or rectifying uneven or unstable surface defects
  • • No structured inspection schedule, leading to ad hoc or missed checks of high-risk areas
8. Signage, Barriers and Traffic Management for Pedestrian Safety
  • • Lack of clear wayfinding and warning signage leading workers to use unsafe shortcuts across uneven or unstable ground
  • • Insufficient barriers or delineation between pedestrian routes and work areas with loose materials, sand or uneven surfaces
  • • Pedestrian and vehicle interactions on shared, uneven surfaces exacerbating fall risk and distraction
  • • Temporary changes to access (e.g. stair closure, tile-laying zone) not adequately communicated or signposted
  • • Over-reliance on verbal instructions rather than physical controls to keep people off unstable or incomplete surfaces
9. Competency, Induction and Task-Specific Training
  • • Workers unaware of the risks associated with walking on uneven, unstable or partially completed surfaces
  • • Lack of training in safe use of stairs, including carrying loads, using handrails and managing visual or physical impairments
  • • Supervisors not trained to recognise systemic issues in access and egress arrangements
  • • Contractors and visitors not receiving adequate induction regarding local access routes and restricted areas
  • • No refresher training or toolbox talks addressing recurring slip, trip and fall incidents on uneven surfaces
10. Worker Fitness for Work, Footwear and Ergonomic Considerations
  • • Fatigue, medical conditions or reduced mobility increasing the likelihood of mis-steps when ascending or descending stairs or walking on uneven ground
  • • Inappropriate footwear reducing traction on loose sand, tiles or external paths
  • • Carrying awkward or heavy loads that obstruct vision or impair balance on stairs and uneven surfaces
  • • Work planning not accounting for older or less mobile workers needing safer access routes
  • • No system to manage temporary impairments (e.g. sprains, use of crutches) in relation to access and egress
11. Incident Reporting, Investigation and Corrective Actions
  • • Slip, trip and fall incidents on uneven or unstable surfaces not being reported or analysed, leading to repeat events
  • • Root causes such as design flaws, inadequate maintenance systems or poor staging not identified and addressed
  • • Focus on worker behaviour rather than systemic factors like surface selection, access route design or supervision
  • • Corrective actions from previous incidents not tracked to completion or evaluated for effectiveness
  • • Data on near misses (e.g. almost falling on loose sand or stairs) not captured to inform preventative measures
12. Planning for Emergencies and Safe Evacuation Routes
  • • Emergency egress routes requiring use of stairs, uneven or unstable surfaces that are not safe under high-traffic or low-visibility conditions
  • • Evacuation drills not accounting for people with reduced mobility using stairways or uneven external assembly paths
  • • Temporary works or tile-laying activities obstructing or degrading emergency exits and routes
  • • Inadequate lighting or signage along emergency paths, especially where surfaces are uneven or include loose sand
  • • Emergency responders unfamiliar with surface conditions and best access routes on site
13. Procurement and Contractor Management for Access and Surface Works
  • • Engagement of designers, builders or tilers who are unfamiliar with WHS requirements for stairs and walking surfaces
  • • Contracts that do not clearly specify performance requirements for slip resistance, surface evenness and stair safety
  • • Contractors altering access routes or ground conditions without consulting the principal contractor or PCBU
  • • Cost-driven decisions leading to lower-standard materials or short-cuts in surface preparation and stair construction
  • • Lack of verification that installed surfaces and stairs meet specified safety criteria before handover
14. Change Management, Design Review and Continuous Improvement
  • • Uncontrolled modifications to buildings, stairways or surface finishes introducing new uneven or unstable walking conditions
  • • Refurbishment or change-of-use projects not subject to WHS design review for access and egress impacts
  • • New equipment, storage systems or processes encroaching into established pedestrian routes and stair approaches
  • • Failure to incorporate learnings from incidents, audits or worker feedback into future designs and procedures
  • • Multiple small changes over time cumulatively degrading the safety of access routes and stairs

Need to add specific hazards for your workplace?

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Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines
  • AS 1657: Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders — Design, construction and installation
  • AS 1428.1: Design for access and mobility — General requirements for access — New building work
  • AS 4586: Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials
  • HB 198: Guide to the specification and testing of slip resistance of pedestrian surfaces
  • National Construction Code (NCC): Performance requirements for safe access, egress and stairway design
  • Safe Work Australia Codes of Practice: Including How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks and Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
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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Safe Work Australia Aligned