Communicate Floor Cleaning Slip Risks and Controls

Section 21 requires employers who share a place of work to co-operate and keep each other and employees informed

Section 12 of the 2005 Act requires employers to assess the competence of a contractor

Section 10 requires employers to provide instruction, training and supervision in a form, manner and language reasonably likely to be understood 

For wet cleaning of slippery surfaces, it is important to communicate

  • The wet slipperiness of the floor
  • The danger of damp and drying floors - particularly hazardous as they look dry but are still slippery
  • The very limited impact of signs alone and the requirement to remove them when no longer needed

Floor Cleaning Instructions

Step-by-step floor cleaning instructions should include the correct specification and combination of the three types of energy required for cleaning

  • Physical energy – type of mop/ brush/ scrubber
  • Chemical energy – incorrect chemicals (some could damage a floor), correct chemical, not mixing chemicals, dilution (including required dilution equipment), contact time and rinse advice
  • Thermal energy – required water temperature

Chemical information sheet

  • Clear advice on the prohibition of polish
  • Specific times when areas will be unoccupied, times when cleaning is scheduled, times when areas can be segregated for cleaning
  • Clear instructions on segregation of wet, damp or drying floors

Assessment of Slip Risks from Floor Cleaning

Floor cleaning is an important part of Slip Risk Assessment and Prevention

risk assessment approach to Floor Wet Cleaning slips (trips and falls) can include the following steps

  1. Identify Risks
  2. Communicate
  3. Replace
  4. Reschedule
  5. Equip
  6. Segregate

See Cleaning Floors Further Information