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Stump Grinder Risk Assessment

Stump Grinder Risk Assessment

  • • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
  • • Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
  • • Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
  • • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Stump Grinder Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with Stump Grinder Risk Assessment activities through structured planning, governance, and WHS management systems. This management-level document supports Due Diligence under the WHS Act, helping to demonstrate compliance and reduce operational liability across your business.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • Governance, Legal Compliance and Environmental Ethics: Assessment of organisational WHS governance, duty of care, environmental stewardship, and alignment of stump grinding operations with statutory and ethical obligations.
  • Procurement of Stump Grinders, Attachments and Chemicals: Management of supplier selection, equipment specification, guarding, safety features, and chemical selection to ensure compliant, fit-for-purpose plant and substances.
  • Planning, Site Selection and Job Approval: Evaluation of pre-start planning, site access, underground services, terrain, overhead obstructions, and formal job approval processes before stump grinding work is authorised.
  • Training, Competency and Authorisation: Protocols for verifying operator competency, high-risk task training, licence and ticket requirements, and written authorisation to operate stump grinders and associated equipment.
  • Safe Systems of Work and Procedures: Development of documented procedures, exclusion zones, communication protocols, lock-out/tag-out, and supervision arrangements to manage stump grinding activities at a system level.
  • Maintenance, Inspection and Equipment Integrity: Controls for scheduled servicing, pre-use inspections, blade and cutter head integrity, guarding, braking systems, and defect reporting to prevent mechanical failure.
  • Environmental Management and Chemical Use: Management of noise, dust, vibration, soil disturbance, fuel and oil handling, and use of herbicides or stump treatment chemicals to minimise environmental impact and contamination.
  • Debris, Chip Handling and Waste Logistics: Assessment of chip ejection risks, spoil stockpiling, manual handling, loading and transport of waste, and disposal routes to ensure safe and compliant waste management.
  • Traffic, Public Interface and Community Impact: Controls for vehicle movements, work near roads, pedestrian management, public exclusion, signage, and community notification where stump grinding affects public areas.
  • Incident Management, Monitoring and Continuous Improvement: Systems for incident reporting, investigation, corrective actions, performance monitoring, and periodic review of stump grinding risk controls to drive continual improvement.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Operations Managers, and Safety Professionals who plan, approve, or oversee stump grinding operations within their organisation or contractor network.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. Governance, Legal Compliance and Environmental Ethics
  • • Failure to comply with WHS Act 2011 and WHS Regulation leading to unsafe systems of work for stump grinding operations
  • • Lack of clear organisational policy on ethical environmental practices for stump grinding (e.g. unnecessary use of stump grinding, excessive soil disturbance, failure to protect biodiversity)
  • • Inadequate consideration of local council by-laws, vegetation protection orders and environmental legislation (including native vegetation and habitat protections)
  • • Absence of a documented framework to avoid excessive use of stump grinding chemicals or unapproved herbicides
  • • Failure to incorporate principles of waste minimisation, recycling and responsible disposal of stump grindings, chips and root material into organisational policies
  • • Poor consultation mechanisms with workers and subcontractors resulting in inconsistent understanding of legal and ethical obligations
  • • Use of generic or imported procedures that do not reflect Australian standards, codes of practice and local conditions
2. Procurement of Stump Grinders, Attachments and Chemicals
  • • Procurement of stump grinders that do not comply with Australian standards or are poorly suited to site conditions, including uneven terrain and sloping ground
  • • Inadequate guarding, emergency stop systems or safety features on stump grinders and associated mechanical attachments
  • • Selection of machines without effective controls for managing flying debris and wood chips during grinding
  • • Purchase and use of stump grinding chemicals or herbicides that are hazardous, unnecessary, or not approved for intended application
  • • Lack of standardisation in equipment types and controls leading to operator confusion and inconsistent risk controls
  • • Acquisition of machines without adequate vibration and noise controls resulting in long-term health risks (HAVS, hearing loss)
  • • Procurement decisions based solely on cost without reference to WHS, environmental performance, service support and training availability
3. Planning, Site Selection and Job Approval
  • • Inadequate pre-planning for stump grinding on uneven or unstable terrain, increasing risk of machine rollover or loss of control
  • • Failure to assess underground and surface services, structures and root spread before determining grinding depth and method
  • • Planning stump grinding activities where root removal may compromise nearby structures, pavements, retaining walls or soil stability
  • • Insufficient assessment of potential impact on waterways, drainage lines or erosion-prone areas when grinding or removing roots
  • • Failure to identify sensitive receptors (neighbours, public spaces, schools, traffic corridors) that may be affected by noise, dust, and flying debris
  • • Poor scheduling of stump grinding during unsuitable weather conditions, such as heavy rain, high winds or extreme heat
  • • Inadequate consideration of manual removal alternatives where mechanical grinding poses excessive environmental or stability risks
  • • Lack of structured process to decide between leaving grindings on-site, reusing as mulch, or hauling away chips and root material
4. Training, Competency and Authorisation
  • • Operators using stump grinders without adequate competency in machine controls, stability management and hazard recognition
  • • Supervisors lacking knowledge of stump grinding system risks and therefore unable to verify control implementation
  • • Inadequate training on environmental obligations, including ethical considerations around when to grind, how deep to grind and when to avoid chemical use
  • • Lack of competency in managing flying debris, exclusion zones and interaction with other workers or public
  • • Insufficient instruction on safe handling, storage and use of chemicals related to stump treatment where these are used
  • • No structured process for assessing competency in working on uneven or sloped terrain with stump grinders
  • • Absence of refresher training leading to skill fade and normalisation of unsafe shortcuts
5. Safe Systems of Work and Procedures
  • • Lack of documented safe work procedures for stump grinding, manual stump removal and root removal activities
  • • Procedures focusing only on basic operation and omitting system-level controls such as planning, supervision and environmental management
  • • Inconsistent application of controls for flying debris, exclusion zones and public interface across different jobs and crews
  • • No documented process for setting maximum grinding depth relative to root spread, underground services and surrounding infrastructure
  • • Absence of standardised process for decision-making on whether to leave grindings in place, remove chips, or conduct additional cleanup activities
  • • Inadequate guidance on manual handling and ergonomic controls for manual stump removal and handling of heavy grindings or root segments
  • • Failure to integrate chemical use (if any) into safe work procedures, including environmental and WHS safeguards
6. Maintenance, Inspection and Equipment Integrity
  • • Inadequate preventative maintenance of stump grinders leading to mechanical failure, loss of control or increased emissions and noise
  • • Failure to inspect and maintain safety systems such as guards, emergency stops, interlocks and debris control devices
  • • Use of stump grinders with worn or damaged cutting components increasing risk of kickback, flying debris and uncontrolled movement
  • • Lack of documented inspection criteria for machines used on uneven terrain and slopes (e.g. brakes, tracks, tyres, stability devices)
  • • Poor maintenance of attachments, trailers and vehicles used for hauling chips, grindings and root material
  • • Inadequate inspection and management of tools and equipment used for manual stump removal and root cleanup
  • • Failure to manage out-of-service equipment, leading to accidental use of unsafe grinders
7. Environmental Management and Chemical Use
  • • Excessive or inappropriate use of stump grinding chemicals or herbicides leading to soil and water contamination, harm to non-target species and regulatory breaches
  • • Over-grinding of stumps beyond what is necessary, resulting in excessive soil disturbance, erosion and damage to adjacent root systems or vegetation
  • • Grinding stumps below minimum safe root spread near structures, retaining walls or slopes causing instability or damage over time
  • • Poor management of grinding chips and root debris leading to blocked drains, nutrient loading in waterways or spread of pathogens and weeds
  • • Failure to manage stump grindings left on uneven terrain, creating erosion channels, trip hazards or unsafe walking surfaces
  • • Removal of stumps and root systems that should ethically be retained for habitat, heritage or soil stabilisation purposes
8. Debris, Chip Handling and Waste Logistics
  • • Unsafe collection, loading and hauling of stump grindings, chips and root material leading to manual handling injuries and vehicle incidents
  • • Unsecured loads of grinding chips and root debris falling from vehicles or trailers and endangering road users
  • • Inadequate planning for on-site stockpiling of chips and roots creating fire hazards, access obstructions or instability on slopes
  • • Poor segregation of contaminated material (e.g. chemically treated stumps, diseased wood) from general green waste streams
  • • Failure to manage dust and airborne particles when moving or dumping dry grindings
  • • Environmental harm from dumping grindings or roots in unauthorised locations or sensitive environments
9. Traffic, Public Interface and Community Impact
  • • Inadequate segregation of stump grinding work areas from public and vehicle traffic leading to potential contact with machines or flying debris
  • • Insufficient communication with nearby residents, businesses and road users about noise, access changes and timing of stump grinding work
  • • Failure to provide appropriate wayfinding or detours for pedestrians and cyclists around grinding sites and debris stockpiles
  • • Public exposure to airborne dust, noise and vibration from stump grinding operations and hauling of grindings and root material
  • • Inconsistent application of traffic management plans when stump grinding occurs near roads, driveways or carparks
  • • Reputational damage and complaints due to poor cleanup, noise at inappropriate times and perceived environmental harm
10. Incident Management, Monitoring and Continuous Improvement
  • • Lack of effective incident and near miss reporting related to stump grinding, manual stump removal and root cleanup
  • • Failure to investigate system-level causes of incidents, focusing only on worker behaviour rather than planning, equipment and supervision
  • • No structured process to review and update stump grinding risk assessments and procedures following incidents or regulatory changes
  • • Inadequate emergency preparedness for foreseeable stump grinding incidents such as contact with underground services, flying debris injuries or equipment rollovers
  • • Poor monitoring of long-term health impacts such as noise-induced hearing loss, vibration-related disorders and chemical exposure where applicable
  • • Failure to identify emerging risks from new equipment, new chemicals or changes to work practices

Need to add specific hazards for your workplace?

Don't worry if a specific hazard isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom hazards at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the risk ratings and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines
  • Safe Work Australia – Managing risks of plant in the workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on managing risks associated with plant such as stump grinders.
  • Safe Work Australia – Hazardous chemicals Code of Practice: Requirements and guidance for safe selection, use, storage and disposal of chemicals used in stump treatment and maintenance.
  • Safe Work Australia – Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work Code of Practice: Controls for noise exposure from stump grinding plant.
  • Safe Work Australia – Managing the risk of falls at workplaces Code of Practice: Risk controls for uneven terrain, embankments and fall hazards around stump grinding sites.
  • AS/NZS 4024 series – Safety of machinery: Principles for the design and guarding of machinery including rotating cutters and feed mechanisms.
  • AS 1742 series – Manual of uniform traffic control devices: Requirements for temporary traffic management where stump grinding is conducted near roads or public access ways.
  • AS/NZS 4801 / ISO 45001 (OHS Management Systems): Frameworks for integrating stump grinding risks into an organisation’s WHS management system.
Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)
  • Comprehensive hazard identification for all activities
  • Risk rating matrix with likelihood and consequence analysis
  • Existing control measures evaluation
  • Residual risk assessment after controls
  • Hierarchy of controls recommendations
  • Action priority rankings
  • Review and monitoring requirements
  • Consultation and communication records
  • Legal compliance references
  • Sign-off and approval sections

$79.5

Safe Work Australia Aligned