Floor Sanding & Polishing SWMS

Floor sanding and polishing covers the sanding and polishing of floors as part of flooring installation — sanding the floor with sanding plant and applying the finish or polish to achieve the finished surface. As with timber floor sanding, the defining hazards are the wood dust, which is a respiratory hazard and a carcinogen in the case of hardwood dust, the fire and explosion risk of fine wood dust and flammable finishes, and the sanding plant. This document is written on the basis that floor sanding and polishing is carried out by competent sanders with the wood-dust, fire, finish-chemical and plant controls in place.

Floor sanding and polishing is carried out with the wood dust controlled at the source, recognising hardwood dust as a carcinogen and the workplace exposure standard for wood dust as it transitions from the workplace exposure standard to the workplace exposure limit framework, the fire and explosion risk of fine wood dust and flammable finishes managed, and the sanding plant operated safely. The wood dust, the fire and explosion risk, the finish chemicals, and the plant are the considerations. This document coordinates the wood-dust, fire, finish-chemical and plant controls so the floor sanding and polishing is carried out safely.

Hazards identified

9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

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

1. 1Engineering: control wood dust at the source with on-tool dust extraction and ventilation, never relying on dry sweeping or compressed air, because wood dust — and hardwood dust in particular as a carcinogen — causes serious respiratory harm, with respiratory protection as required, recognising the workplace exposure standard for wood dust as it transitions from the workplace exposure standard to the workplace exposure limit framework.
2. 2Engineering: manage the fire and explosion risk of fine wood dust by controlling dust accumulation and ignition sources, and store and use flammable lacquers, polishes and solvent finishes away from ignition with ventilation.
3. 3Engineering: 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.
4. 4Engineering: use the sanders, grinders, mixers and tools safely to the plant requirements, with guarding and the manufacturer's instructions, and have any electrical work and connection by a licensed electrician.
5. 5Engineering: provide ventilation where applying the finishes, particularly in enclosed areas, and control the vapour with respiratory protection.
6. 6Engineering: control the noise from the sanding plant, and manage the manual handling and kneeling postures.
7. 7Administrative: where engineered timber is sanded, manage the formaldehyde with ventilation and respiratory protection.
8. 8Administrative: 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.
9. 9Administrative: 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.
10. 10Administrative: 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.
11. 11PPE: 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.
12. 12Administrative: 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.
13. 13Administrative: 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

A sander is engaged to sand and polish a floor. The wood dust is controlled at the source with on-tool dust extraction and ventilation, never relying on dry sweeping or compressed air, because wood dust — and hardwood dust in particular as a carcinogen — causes serious respiratory harm, with respiratory protection, recognising the workplace exposure standard for wood dust as it transitions to the workplace exposure limit framework. The fire and explosion risk of fine wood dust is managed by controlling dust accumulation and ignition sources, and the flammable finishes and polishes stored and used away from ignition with ventilation. The sanding plant is used safely to the plant requirements, with the electrical work by a licensed electrician. Ventilation is provided where applying the finishes, and the vapour controlled. Noise is controlled, and the manual handling and kneeling postures managed. Where engineered timber is sanded, the formaldehyde is managed. The floor is sanded and polished, 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