Product Overview

Summary: This Slope Stability Analysis Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, defensible framework for assessing and managing the risk of slope failure on Australian worksites and infrastructure projects. It standardises how geotechnical data is collected, analysed, documented and communicated so you can protect workers, the public and adjoining assets while meeting WHS and regulatory expectations.

Unstable slopes present a critical safety and business risk across civil construction, mining, quarrying, road and rail projects, and local government infrastructure. Failures can occur suddenly and without obvious warning, leading to worker injury or fatality, damage to plant and structures, environmental harm, and significant project delays. This Slope Stability Analysis Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, repeatable process for identifying, analysing and managing slope stability risks throughout the lifecycle of a project or operation.

The SOP guides your team through the full workflow: from initial site reconnaissance and data collection, through selection of appropriate analysis methods and factors of safety, to documentation of assumptions, verification of results, and translation of findings into practical controls on site. It embeds WHS risk management principles into technical geotechnical practice, ensuring that outputs are not only technically robust but also usable by supervisors and workers in the field. By implementing this SOP, organisations can demonstrate due diligence, improve communication between designers and site teams, and reduce the likelihood of catastrophic slope failures that attract regulator scrutiny and reputational damage.

Developed with the Australian regulatory context in mind, this procedure supports compliance with WHS legislation, relevant Australian Standards and industry best practice for geotechnical risk management. It is suitable for both new designs and ongoing monitoring of existing cuttings, embankments, waste dumps, tailings storage facilities and natural slopes affected by works.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the likelihood of slope failures that can cause serious injury, fatality, or major asset damage.
• Ensure slope design and assessment processes are consistent, auditable and aligned with Australian WHS expectations.
• Improve communication between geotechnical specialists, engineers, site supervisors and frontline workers regarding slope risks and controls.
• Streamline decision-making on acceptable factors of safety, monitoring requirements and trigger action response plans (TARPs).
• Demonstrate due diligence to regulators, clients and insurers through clear documentation of assumptions, calculations and risk controls.

Who is this for?

• Geotechnical Engineers
• Civil Engineers
• Mine Planning Engineers
• Tailings Engineers
• Construction Project Managers
• Site Supervisors
• WHS Managers
• Risk and Compliance Managers
• Local Government Infrastructure Managers
• Quarry Managers
• Open Cut Mine Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Sudden slope or batter collapse impacting workers, plant or public areas
• Progressive slope movement leading to failure of roads, rail lines or services
• Rock falls and toppling from cut slopes and quarry faces
• Embankment and retaining structure failure due to inadequate design or drainage
• Tailings dam or waste dump instability and potential catastrophic failure
• Undermining of adjacent structures or services due to excavation
• Vehicle rollovers or loss of control due to slope instability or deformation
• Secondary hazards such as flooding or debris flow following slope failure

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Terminology
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Guidance
• 5.0 Slope Risk Screening and Classification
• 6.0 Site Investigation and Data Collection Requirements
• 7.0 Geotechnical Model Development and Assumptions
• 8.0 Selection of Analysis Methods (Limit Equilibrium, Numerical, Empirical)
• 9.0 Factors of Safety, Design Criteria and Acceptance Thresholds
• 10.0 Consideration of Groundwater, Drainage and Seismic Effects
• 11.0 Analysis Procedure – Step-by-Step Workflow
• 12.0 Verification, Peer Review and Validation of Results
• 13.0 Documentation, Reporting and Drawing Requirements
• 14.0 Translation of Analysis into Site Controls (Design, Setbacks, Berms, Drainage)
• 15.0 Monitoring, Instrumentation and Trigger Action Response Plans (TARPs)
• 16.0 Change Management and Reassessment Triggers
• 17.0 Communication of Slope Risks to Site Personnel
• 18.0 Training and Competency Requirements
• 19.0 Recordkeeping and Audit Requirements
• 20.0 Continuous Improvement and Review of the SOP

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 Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Excavation Work
• AS 5100.5: Bridge design – Concrete (for embankment and approach stability interfaces)
• AS 4678: Earth-retaining structures
• AS/NZS ISO 31000: Risk management – Guidelines
• ANCOLD Guidelines on Tailings Dams – Planning, Design, Construction, Operation and Closure (where applicable)
• Relevant state-based Department of Resources / Mining or Transport geotechnical and slope stability guidelines