Product Overview

This Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) sets out the step-by-step safety, environmental and operational controls for domestic animal handling, stables work and pet care activities, helping you maintain WHS compliance on every job. It is a comprehensive, ready-to-use document that covers multiple aspects of Domestic Animal Handling, Stables and Pet Care safety, from routine care tasks through to emergency response.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Administering medication to animals, including safe restraint, dosage checks and sharps handling procedures
• Animal bite and scratch prevention strategies, including use of muzzles, PPE and safe approach techniques
• Applying first aid to injured animals while managing manual handling, zoonotic disease and animal behaviour risks
• Capturing escaped animals safely using appropriate equipment, containment methods and traffic/pedestrian controls
• Cleaning large animal enclosures with controls for slips, trips, falls, biosecurity, chemicals and manual handling
• Cleaning stables, including safe mucking-out techniques, waste handling, dust control and use of cleaning agents
• Conducting public animal showings with crowd management, animal welfare, noise and stress minimisation controls
• Dealing with aggressive pets using behaviour assessment, isolation, escalation procedures and emergency response
• Direct contact with live animals, including hygiene controls, zoonoses prevention and appropriate PPE selection
• Handling livestock in yards, races and pens with safe movement, segregation and escape-route planning
• Handling aggressive animals using restraint tools, barriers, team lifting and risk-based decision-making
• Handling animals for shows or events, including transport, loading/unloading and temporary enclosure safety
• Installing cat and dog rescue equipment up a tree, with controls for working at height, ladders and falling objects
• Managing heat stress in animals through monitoring, shade, hydration, work/rest planning and emergency treatment
• Preparation of raw meat for feeding, including knife safety, cross-contamination controls and cold-chain management
• General housekeeping in animal care areas to minimise slip hazards, odours, pests and fire risk
• Safe storage and use of veterinary medicines, chemicals and cleaning products in accordance with SDS requirements

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for animal shelters, boarding kennels, catteries, pet resorts, riding schools, stables, mobile and fixed pet groomers, animal trainers, livestock handlers, veterinary practices and site supervisors responsible for domestic animal handling and care activities.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on safe storage, handling and use of cleaning agents, disinfectants and veterinary medicines
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Risk management framework for identifying, assessing and controlling animal handling hazards
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Requirements for stables, kennels, catteries and animal holding facilities
• Safe Work Australia – Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice: Controls for lifting, restraining animals and cleaning heavy or awkward items
• Safe Work Australia – First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on first aid provisions for animal-related workplaces, including treatment of bites and scratches
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Applicable to noisy animal housing, shows and events
• Australian Standard AS 1319 – Safety signs for the occupational environment: Requirements for safety signage in stables, kennels and animal care facilities
• Australian Standard AS/NZS 4024 (Safety of machinery – relevant parts): Guidance for powered gates, doors, feed mixers and other machinery used around animals
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017