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Showers and wet areas

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One of the simplest ways for employers to promote healthy work life balance is to make it easier for workers to ride their bicycle or walk to work and exercise during breaks.

Providing shower facilities at the office can encourage employees to incorporate movement and fitness into their daily routine.

Tips

  • Keep the floor clear of objects.
  • Rinse the shower cubicle to remove soap residue.
  • Dry off before moving around the room.

Potential harm

  • Slips, trips and falls

Identified hazards and controls

Slips and falls

Cause

  • Slippery or wet floor surface.
  • Items left on the floor.

What workers can do

  • Pick up after yourself.
  • If you notice the floor is wet, quickly wipe it up. If the wet area is too big for you to clean, report it to the maintenance or property management team to mop it up.
  • Dry yourself before walking around the change area to avoid dripping water.
  • Do not leave behind hair care product or soap residue that others could slip on.

What employers can do

  • Choose a non-slip floor material or one with a textured surface that can be wet-mopped.
  • Use only non-slip floor cleaners or polishes for floor maintenance.
  • Provide appropriate drainage.
  • Conduct regular inspections to ensure that the drainage is operating.
  • Provide appropriate storage, such as bins, towel racks and dispensers.
  • Display appropriate signage to encourage good housekeeping habits such as picking up towels after use and disposing of paper towels appropriately.
  • Provide regular cleaning of the showers and toilet floors.

More information

Guidance

  • See Ergonomic hazards for more information on physical factors in the environment that may cause musculoskeletal injuries, such as sedentary work and slips, trips and falls, and how to eliminate these hazards.

Legislation

Codes

Page last reviewed: 30 April 2021

Comcare (Office Safety tool)
GPO Box 9905, Canberra, ACT 2601
1300 366 979 | www.comcare.gov.au

Date printed 22 Dec 2024

https://www.comcare.gov.au/office-safety-tool/spaces/bathrooms/showers-and-wet-areas