Product Overview

Summary: This SOP sets out safe, humane and compliant methods for identifying, treating and eliminating pest colonies in Australian workplaces. It provides clear, step‑by‑step guidance to control health risks, protect workers and customers, and ensure pesticide use and physical controls are managed in line with WHS and environmental obligations.

Uncontrolled pest colonies—such as ants, termites, wasps, rodents or other invasive species—can compromise food safety, damage structures, spread disease and create serious health and safety risks for workers and visitors. The Colony Elimination Techniques Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, defensible approach for assessing infestations, selecting appropriate control methods and implementing colony elimination activities without exposing workers or the public to unnecessary harm. It focuses on integrating chemical, physical and environmental controls in a way that aligns with Australian WHS legislation and relevant environmental requirements.

This SOP helps organisations move beyond ad‑hoc pest treatment towards a consistent, risk‑based system that can be applied across multiple sites. It details how to conduct pre‑treatment inspections, assess access and egress points, manage hazardous substances, communicate with affected stakeholders, and verify that colonies have been effectively eliminated. By standardising documentation, signage, exclusion zones and post‑treatment monitoring, the procedure supports compliance with due diligence obligations, reduces the likelihood of re‑infestation and minimises business disruption, particularly in sensitive environments such as food production, healthcare, education and accommodation.

The document is written specifically for the Australian regulatory context and can be readily integrated with existing WHS management systems, contractor management processes and food safety programs (e.g. HACCP). It is suitable for both in‑house maintenance teams and contracted pest management providers who must demonstrate robust, auditable safety practices.

Key Benefits

• Ensure colony elimination activities are planned and executed in accordance with Australian WHS and environmental requirements.
• Reduce worker, contractor and public exposure to hazardous chemicals, bites, stings and allergenic materials during treatment.
• Standardise pest control practices across multiple sites, improving consistency, record‑keeping and audit readiness.
• Minimise business disruption, product contamination and property damage through controlled, well‑timed interventions.
• Support integration of pest management with broader food safety, infection control and facility maintenance programs.

Who is this for?

• Pest Control Technicians
• Facilities Managers
• WHS Managers
• Site Supervisors
• Property Managers
• Food Safety Supervisors
• Hotel and Accommodation Managers
• Aged Care and Healthcare Facility Managers
• Warehouse and Logistics Managers
• Local Government Environmental Health Officers

Hazards Addressed

• Exposure to hazardous chemicals and pesticides (inhalation, skin contact, ingestion)
• Bites, stings and allergic reactions from insects and other pests
• Biological contamination from droppings, nesting materials and carcasses
• Slips, trips and falls when accessing roof spaces, voids, ladders and external areas
• Confined space and poorly ventilated area risks during treatment
• Manual handling injuries from moving equipment, ladders and treatment materials
• Fire and explosion risks from flammable aerosols or fumigants
• Environmental contamination of soil, waterways or non‑target species from misapplied chemicals

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Colony Types (Insects, Rodents and Other Pests)
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Pre‑Treatment Site Assessment and Risk Identification
• 5.0 Selection of Colony Elimination Methods (Chemical, Physical and Environmental Controls)
• 6.0 Required PPE, Tools and Equipment
• 7.0 Hazardous Chemicals Management and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Requirements
• 8.0 Step‑by‑Step Colony Elimination Procedure
• 9.0 Isolation, Signage and Public/Worker Notification Requirements
• 10.0 Environmental Protection and Non‑Target Species Considerations
• 11.0 Emergency Procedures, First Aid and Incident Response
• 12.0 Post‑Treatment Verification, Monitoring and Re‑entry Criteria
• 13.0 Waste Handling, Carcass Disposal and Decontamination
• 14.0 Record Keeping, Reporting and Regulatory Compliance
• 15.0 Training, Induction and Competency Assessment
• 16.0 Review, Continuous Improvement and Audit Checklist

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 and state/territory equivalents
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Code of Practice
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 2161: Occupational protective gloves
• AS/NZS 2243.3: Safety in laboratories – Microbiology safety and containment (relevant where laboratory or bio‑risk is present)
• AS 3660 series: Termite management (where termite colony elimination is applicable)
• Environment Protection legislation and pesticide control requirements applicable in the relevant state or territory