BlueSafe
Beekeeping SWMS

Beekeeping SWMS

  • • 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

Beekeeping SWMS

Product Overview

This Beekeeping Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) sets out the step-by-step procedures and risk controls required to manage hazards associated with professional apiculture activities and hive handling. It is a comprehensive document that covers multiple aspects of beekeeping operations to support robust WHS compliance on Australian worksites and in the field.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

  • Planning and preparation of apiculture work, including site assessment and seasonal risk considerations
  • Safe handling and management of bee colonies during routine inspections and maintenance
  • Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as bee suits, veils, gloves and appropriate footwear
  • Selection, lighting and safe operation of smokers and hive tools to minimise bee agitation
  • Apiculture tasks including hive inspections, brood checks, honey extraction preparation and pest control
  • Safe hive relocation procedures, including securing hives, transport vehicle loading and unloading
  • Traffic management and vehicle operation when transporting hives between sites or along public roads
  • Removing hives from trees, including assessment of tree stability, access methods and fall-from-height controls
  • Use of ladders, elevated platforms or climbing equipment when accessing hives in trees or at height
  • Manual handling of hives, supers and honey frames to reduce the risk of sprains, strains and crush injuries
  • Management of bee stings, anaphylaxis risk and emergency response procedures on remote or rural sites
  • Environmental controls to protect nearby workers, the public and sensitive areas during hive work
  • Safe storage, transport and handling of chemicals used for hive treatment and pest management

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for commercial beekeepers, apiarists, pest and wildlife removal contractors, arborists involved in hive removal, and site supervisors responsible for managing beekeeping-related activities on or near workplaces.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Job Step / Activity Potential Hazards
1. Preparation
  • Improper equipment, Lack of training
2. Bee Transfer
  • Allergic reactions, Bee stings
3. Feeding Bees
  • Ingestion of harmful substances, Bee sting
4. Hive Inspections
  • Spillage, Bee sting
5. Frame Rotation
  • Bee sting, Inhuman handling
6. Harvesting Honey
  • Bee sting, Fall from height
7. Processing Honey
  • Machine related injuries, Burns
8. Packaging
  • Muscle strain, repspetitive action injuries
9. Cleaning Up
  • Slips, trips and falls, chemical exposures
10. Equipment Maintenance
  • Cuts, Caught in machinery
11. Storage of Tools
  • Incorrect lifting techniques, storage racking collapse
12. Waste Management
  • Chemical exposure, Incorrect manual handling
13. Site Inspection
  • Slips, trips and falls, Sharp objects
14. Training & Supervision
  • Mishandling of equipment, Lack of knowledge leading to dangers
15. Emergency Response Planning
  • Lack of preparation, inadequate resources
16. Record Keeping
  • Errors, Omission of important data
17. Post-Operation Evaluation
  • Incorrect reporting, Lack of feedback
18. Safety Equipment Check
  • Inadequate/Faulty safety equipment
19. Transportation Of Bees
  • Bee sting, Traffic accidents
20. Sales and Marketing
  • Financial losses, Misrepresentation of product
Various hazards managed

Need to add specific site requirements?

Don't worry if a specific job step isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom job steps at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the hazards 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
  • Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on safe use, storage and handling of chemicals used in hive treatment and pest management
  • First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice: Requirements for first aid facilities, equipment and response to bee stings and anaphylaxis
  • Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Direction on providing safe access, amenities and environmental controls during beekeeping operations
  • How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing controls for apiculture work
  • Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Applicable where powered extraction equipment or machinery is used in associated beekeeping activities
Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)
  • Operational guidelines, with a step-by-step approach to safe work
  • Possible hazards that may be encountered
  • Step-by-step safety procedures to follow
  • Before work starts – Guidelines and Checks
  • Safety measures and guides
  • Operational Safety Checks
  • Before and After Risk Ratings
  • Risk Assessment Matrix
  • High Risk Work Involved
  • Emergency Evacuation Procedure
  • Plant and Equipment
  • Qualifications and Permits
  • Specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Company Personnel Sign-off form

$96.8

Safe Work Australia Aligned