Rubber Flooring Install SWMS

Rubber flooring installation covers the installation of rubber flooring — laying rubber sheet, tiles or rolls over the subfloor with the adhesives, common in gyms, commercial and industrial settings. It combines the flooring installation with the considerations of rubber flooring: the heavy rubber rolls and manual handling, the adhesives and their vapour, the cutting tools, the substrate preparation, and any asbestos in old floor coverings removed first. This document is written on the basis that rubber flooring installation is carried out by competent installers with the manual-handling, adhesive, cutting and asbestos controls in place.

Rubber flooring installation is carried out with the heavy rubber rolls handled with mechanical aids, the adhesives managed to their safety data sheets, the cutting tools used safely, and — where old floor coverings are removed first — any asbestos identified and removed by a licensed asbestos removalist. The manual handling, the adhesives, the cutting tools, and any asbestos are the considerations. This document coordinates the manual-handling, adhesive, cutting and asbestos controls so the rubber flooring is installed safely.

Hazards identified

9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.

1. 1Engineering: use mechanical aids and team lifting for the heavy rolls, packs, bags and panels, and manage the awkward kneeling and bending postures of flooring work with knee protection, task rotation and breaks.
2. 2Engineering: provide ventilation where using solvent-based adhesives, primers, finishes or coatings, and control the flammable vapour and ignition sources, managing the chemicals to their safety data sheets.
3. 3Administrative: use the cutting knives and tools safely, with sharp blades, correct technique and cut-resistant protection, to prevent lacerations.
4. 4Administrative: assume floor coverings, adhesives, levelling compounds and underlays in buildings built or refurbished before 1990 contain asbestos until determined otherwise by a licensed asbestos assessor — including sheet vinyl, vinyl and cork tiles, black bitumen adhesive (blackjack), and old levelling compounds — and do not disturb, grind or sand them uncontrolled.
5. 5Administrative: where asbestos-containing floor coverings or adhesives are present, have them removed by a licensed asbestos removalist to the asbestos Codes of Practice, and where removal requires grinding or sanding that makes the material friable, a Class A asbestos removal licence holder must carry out the work, with the appropriate respiratory protection, dust suppression and licensed disposal.
6. 6Engineering: where substrate preparation is required, control any respirable crystalline silica and dust at the source with water suppression or extraction and respiratory protection.
7. 7Engineering: provide ventilation where working in enclosed areas with adhesives, and manage slips, trips and the work area.
8. 8Administrative: maintain housekeeping and manage slips, trips and the work area, and coordinate with other trades and any occupants where working in an occupied or fit-out space.
9. 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001) where the work is construction work, with the flooring, asbestos-awareness and any other competencies required for the work.
10. 10Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, required PPE and emergency procedures, and record attendance in the consultation section.
11. 11Administrative: consult workers and any health and safety representatives on the work and its risks, record the consultation, and keep this document available at the workplace.
12. 12PPE: eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1, hearing protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, knee protection for kneeling work, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
13. 13Administrative: review and update this SWMS whenever the work scope changes, after any incident or near miss, when a worker or health and safety representative raises a concern, when new hazards are identified, or at minimum every 12 months.
14. 14Administrative: ensure the work is carried out by competent flooring installers, with any electrical work by a licensed electrician and any asbestos removal by a licensed asbestos removalist, under the applicable requirements.

Applicable Codes of Practice

Worked example

An installer is engaged to lay rubber flooring in a gym. The heavy rubber rolls and tiles are handled with mechanical aids and team lifting, controlling the manual-handling hazard, and the kneeling and bending postures managed with knee protection, task rotation and breaks. The adhesives are managed to their safety data sheets with ventilation, particularly in enclosed areas, and the cutting tools and knives used safely. Where old floor coverings are removed first, any asbestos is assumed present until determined otherwise by a licensed assessor and removed by a licensed asbestos removalist. Where substrate preparation is required, any respirable crystalline silica and dust is controlled at the source. Slips, trips and the work area are managed, and housekeeping maintained, with the work coordinated with any occupants. The rubber flooring is installed, and the records retained.

Related legislation

• Model Work Health and Safety Act — primary duty of care; the duty to consult workers; the reckless-conduct offence; and notifiable-incident provisions, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations — the asbestos provisions and licensing, the hazardous chemicals and silica provisions, and the Section 291 high risk construction work and SWMS duties where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• The asbestos Codes of Practice (managing and controlling asbestos, and safely removing asbestos), the hazardous chemicals and silica requirements, and the respiratory protection standards AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716, are called up by the relevant safety legislation, together with the construction and product requirements.
• Asbestos removal is licensed under each state and territory's asbestos licensing scheme, with friable asbestos and asbestos made friable by the removal method requiring a Class A asbestos removal licence holder; electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician.
• Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the asbestos, hazardous chemicals and high risk construction work provisions applying in place of the model instruments.

Frequently asked questions