Kitchen floors have some unique health and safety hazards. Kitchen floors are usually not carpeted and therefore the surface will offer less grip or traction. Also, kitchens can be high traffic areas and spills can be more frequent.
Tips
- Watch where you are walking.
- Wear appropriate footwear.
- Maintain good housekeeping.
Potential harm
- Slips, trips and falls
Identified hazards and controls
Slips, trips and falls
Cause
- Highly polished floors.
- Smooth surfaces used in wet areas.
- Occasional spills.
- Cracked tiles or damaged floor surface.
What workers can do
- Pay attention to where you are walking and changes in the surface from carpet to tiles.
- Be mindful of what shoes you are wearing. A shoe with a tread will have better grip than a smooth soled shoe.
- Clean up small spills when you notice them.
- Turn the lights on before entering the kitchen.
What employers can do
- Choose a non-slip floor material or one with a textured surface.
- Use slip-resistant floor tiles.
- Use a non-slip polish or cleaner.
- If floors are terrazzo or a similar surface, have the walk areas abraded or roughened to remove shine.
- Choose plain floor patterns without swirls or 3D images.
- Install good lighting in areas which transition between floor textures to help people see the changes.
- Clean kitchens regularly and remove waste.
- Have a procedure in place for quickly cleaning reported spills.
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
- Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 – Refer to part 3.2, division 2 General working environment.
Codes
Page last reviewed: 08 May 2021