Product Overview

Summary: This Stormwater Management on Roofs SOP sets out clear, practical steps for safely managing rainwater, overflows and roof drainage on Australian workplaces. It helps you protect people, property and the environment by controlling flood, slip and structural risks while demonstrating due diligence under WHS and environmental legislation.

Poorly managed roof stormwater can quickly escalate from a minor maintenance issue into a serious safety, structural and environmental problem. Blocked gutters, undersized downpipes, failed overflows and uncontrolled discharge can lead to water ingress, slips and trips, electrical hazards, mould growth, and even partial structural failure. This Stormwater Management on Roofs Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, repeatable approach for assessing, maintaining and operating roof drainage systems on commercial, industrial and multi‑residential sites across Australia.

The SOP breaks down responsibilities and step‑by‑step controls for planning works, accessing roofs safely, inspecting gutters, downpipes and sumps, clearing debris, managing overflows and directing stormwater to lawful points of discharge. It supports compliance with WHS duties, plumbing and drainage requirements, and environmental protection obligations by embedding inspection schedules, pre‑storm checks and post‑event reviews into everyday practice. By implementing this procedure, organisations can significantly reduce the risk of flooding incidents, roof leaks, internal damage, and uncontrolled discharges to neighbouring properties or waterways, while providing clear documentation to demonstrate due diligence to regulators, insurers and building owners.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of slips, trips, falls and electrical hazards caused by roof leaks and uncontrolled water ingress.
• Ensure roof stormwater systems are inspected, maintained and operated in line with Australian WHS, plumbing and environmental expectations.
• Standardise how staff and contractors access, inspect and clear roofs, gutters and downpipes across all sites.
• Minimise costly damage to buildings, stock, equipment and fit‑outs resulting from blocked gutters and overflows.
• Demonstrate proactive risk management and due diligence to building owners, insurers, regulators and tenants.

Who is this for?

• Facilities Managers
• Building and Asset Managers
• Maintenance Supervisors
• Roof Plumbers
• Commercial Property Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Construction Project Managers
• Site Supervisors
• Local Government Building and Parks Maintenance Teams
• Strata and Body Corporate Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Slips and trips from water ingress onto walkways, stairs and internal floors
• Falls from height during roof access and inspection activities
• Structural overloading of roofs due to ponding water and blocked drainage points
• Electrical hazards from water entering ceiling spaces, plant rooms and electrical installations
• Biological hazards such as mould growth and degraded indoor air quality from chronic leaks
• Environmental contamination from uncontrolled discharge of polluted roof runoff to soil, stormwater systems and waterways
• Manual handling and musculoskeletal injuries during debris removal and gutter cleaning

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Facilities, Contractors, Workers)
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Roof Access and Work at Height Safety Requirements
• 6.0 Pre‑Work Planning and Risk Assessment (including weather and storm forecasts)
• 7.0 Required Tools, Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• 8.0 Roof Stormwater System Overview (gutters, sumps, downpipes, overflows, drains)
• 9.0 Routine Inspection and Maintenance Schedule
• 10.0 Step‑by‑Step Procedure – Roof and Gutter Inspection
• 11.0 Step‑by‑Step Procedure – Debris Removal and Cleaning
• 12.0 Management of Overflows, Ponding and Blockages During Heavy Rain
• 13.0 Environmental Controls for Sediment, Litter and Contaminant Management
• 14.0 Managing Contractors and Permit‑to‑Work Requirements
• 15.0 Incident, Leak and Overflow Response Procedure
• 16.0 Reporting, Recordkeeping and Corrective Actions
• 17.0 Training, Competency and Induction Requirements
• 18.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement 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 and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice
• AS/NZS 3500 Plumbing and drainage series (particularly roof drainage and stormwater)
• AS/NZS 1170.1: Structural design actions – Permanent, imposed and other actions (including roof loads from water ponding)
• AS/NZS 1891 series: Industrial fall‑arrest systems and devices (for roof access and work at height)
• Relevant state and territory Environmental Protection Acts and stormwater management guidelines
• National Construction Code (NCC) – Performance requirements for roof drainage and overflow provisions