Product Overview

Summary: This Dairy Milking Process Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, step‑by‑step method for carrying out milking safely, hygienically and consistently on Australian dairy farms. It supports animal welfare, protects workers from common farm hazards, and helps ensure milk quality meets processor and regulatory requirements every milking, every day.

Milking is the core operation of any dairy enterprise, but it also brings together a unique mix of WHS, animal welfare and food safety risks. Workers are exposed to powerful plant and equipment, unpredictable animal behaviour, wet and contaminated surfaces, chemicals, and biosecurity concerns—all while under pressure to complete milking on time. This Dairy Milking Process Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, easy‑to-follow framework that standardises how milking is planned, set up, carried out and shut down, so every operator knows exactly what “good practice” looks like on your farm.

The SOP details safe start‑up checks, animal handling techniques in the yard and dairy, correct use of the milking plant, teat preparation and cup attachment, monitoring of milk quality, and safe wash‑down and plant cleaning procedures. It embeds WHS controls alongside quality and animal welfare requirements, helping your business demonstrate due diligence under Australian WHS law and meet processor and assurance program expectations. By implementing this procedure, you reduce the likelihood of injuries, mastitis outbreaks, milk contamination incidents and costly downtime, while making it easier to train new staff and maintain consistent performance across all shifts.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, hygienic milking practices that support premium milk quality and reduce contamination risks.
• Reduce worker injuries from animal handling, slips, trips, falls and contact with moving milking equipment.
• Streamline training and onboarding of new and casual milking staff with clear, visual and step‑by‑step instructions.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS duties, animal welfare expectations and dairy processor requirements.
• Minimise equipment damage, unplanned downtime and mastitis-related production losses through structured checks and routines.

Who is this for?

• Dairy Farm Owners
• Dairy Farm Managers
• Herd Managers
• Milking Shed Supervisors
• Milk Harvesting Operators
• Farm Hands and Milking Staff
• WHS Coordinators (Agriculture)
• Relief Milkers and Casual Milking Staff
• Veterinarians providing herd health advice

Hazards Addressed

• Kicks, crush injuries and other trauma from handling cattle in yards, races and the dairy
• Slips, trips and falls on wet, uneven or contaminated dairy shed surfaces
• Entanglement or crush injuries from moving parts of the milking plant and yard equipment
• Exposure to cleaning and sanitising chemicals used in plant and vat wash cycles
• Manual handling injuries from lifting buckets, hoses, bales of consumables and heavy components
• Electrical hazards associated with pumps, motors, controllers and wet environments
• Biological exposure to manure, urine, blood and potentially infectious material
• Noise exposure from vacuum pumps and associated plant in enclosed dairy sheds
• Fatigue and stress from early starts, long shifts and repetitive tasks during peak calving and milking periods

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Farm-Specific Terms
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (Owners, Managers, Milkers)
• 4.0 Required Competencies and Training for Milking Staff
• 5.0 Plant and Equipment Overview (Milking System, Yard and Ancillary Equipment)
• 6.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 7.0 Pre‑Start Safety and Hygiene Checks
• 8.0 Animal Handling and Movement into the Yard and Dairy
• 9.0 Milking Preparation (Teat Preparation, Cup Attachment and Monitoring)
• 10.0 Milking Operation – Step‑by‑Step Procedure
• 11.0 Managing Abnormal Milk, Sick or Treated Cows
• 12.0 Post‑Milking Procedures (Cup Removal, Teat Spraying, Cow Exit)
• 13.0 Plant Rinse, Cleaning and Sanitising Procedure
• 14.0 Chemical Handling, Dilution and Storage Requirements
• 15.0 Housekeeping, Wash‑Down and Wastewater Management
• 16.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Controls Specific to the Dairy
• 17.0 Emergency Procedures (Injury, Chemical Exposure, Power Failure, Plant Malfunction)
• 18.0 Lock‑Out/Tag‑Out for Milking Plant Maintenance and Faults
• 19.0 Environmental and Biosecurity Considerations
• 20.0 Record Keeping (Maintenance, Incidents, Milk Quality, Treatments)
• 21.0 Review, Consultation and Continuous Improvement of the Milking SOP

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory WHS Acts)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory WHS Regulations)
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Guide: Working with Large Animals (where applicable via state guidance)
• AS/NZS 4024 Safety of machinery (series)
• AS 2865: Confined spaces (for any enclosed vat or plant cleaning tasks if applicable)
• Dairy Australia and state dairy food authority guidelines on milk harvesting and hygiene