Product Overview

Summary: This Emergency Wildlife Rescue Safe Operating Procedure provides clear, step‑by‑step guidance for safely responding to injured, distressed or displaced wildlife in and around Australian workplaces. It helps organisations protect workers, the public and native animals while meeting WHS obligations and relevant wildlife protection requirements during emergency situations.

Wildlife encounters in Australian workplaces are common, particularly on construction sites, road corridors, utilities easements, airports, parks, bushland interfaces and regional facilities. When animals are injured, trapped or displaced by work activities or natural events such as storms or bushfires, there is a heightened risk of bites, scratches, vehicle incidents and public distress if the situation is not managed correctly. This Emergency Wildlife Rescue Safe Operating Procedure establishes a structured, defensible method for assessing the scene, protecting people, contacting appropriate wildlife authorities or carers, and managing the animal with minimal stress and harm.

The SOP provides a practical framework that integrates WHS risk management with environmental and animal welfare responsibilities. It clearly defines roles, communication pathways and decision points so workers know exactly what to do, when to stop work, and who to call. By implementing this procedure, businesses can minimise the risk of worker injury, avoid ad‑hoc handling of native fauna, reduce project delays, and demonstrate due diligence under WHS legislation and relevant wildlife protection laws. It also supports positive community perception by ensuring that wildlife emergencies are handled professionally, humanely and transparently.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of bites, scratches and zoonotic disease transmission to workers and members of the public.
• Ensure a consistent, legally defensible approach to wildlife incidents across all sites and projects.
• Streamline communication with wildlife rescue organisations, veterinarians and regulators during emergencies.
• Minimise project disruption and reputational damage arising from poorly managed wildlife encounters.
• Support compliance with WHS duties and environmental and wildlife protection obligations in Australian jurisdictions.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Environmental and Sustainability Managers
• Rangers and Field Officers
• Construction and Civil Site Supervisors
• Facilities and Grounds Maintenance Managers
• Utilities and Infrastructure Operations Managers
• Airport Operations Managers and Wildlife Control Officers
• Mining and Resources HSE Advisors
• Parks and Recreation Coordinators
• Emergency Response Team Leaders
• Animal Control Officers
• Local Government Compliance and Environment Officers

Hazards Addressed

• Bites and scratches from stressed or injured animals (e.g. possums, kangaroos, bats, reptiles, birds)
• Zoonotic disease transmission (e.g. Australian bat lyssavirus, salmonella, leptospirosis, Q fever)
• Vehicle and plant collisions with wildlife during emergency response or on active worksites
• Manual handling injuries when moving or containing animals or debris to access animals
• Psychological stress for workers exposed to animal suffering or euthanasia decisions
• Slips, trips and falls when accessing difficult terrain, roadside verges or watercourses to reach wildlife
• Heat stress, dehydration or environmental exposure for responders during prolonged rescue operations
• Public safety risks where wildlife is distressed in public spaces, car parks, roads or recreational areas

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Terminology (Including Wildlife Categories and Zoonoses)
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Pre‑Planning and Site Preparation for Wildlife Encounters
• 5.0 Risk Assessment and Hierarchy of Control for Wildlife Emergencies
• 6.0 Initial Response: Scene Safety, Stop Work and Area Isolation
• 7.0 Communication Protocols and Notification (Internal and External)
• 8.0 Contacting Wildlife Rescue Organisations and Veterinarians
• 9.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 10.0 Safe Approach and Observation of Injured or Distressed Wildlife
• 11.0 Prohibited Actions and Handling Limitations for Untrained Personnel
• 12.0 Interim Containment and Protection of Wildlife (If Required and Safe)
• 13.0 Traffic, Plant and Public Interface Controls During Rescue Operations
• 14.0 Coordination with Emergency Services, Rangers and Regulators
• 15.0 Post‑Incident Actions, Site Clean‑up and Biosecurity Considerations
• 16.0 Incident Reporting, Recordkeeping and Regulatory Notifications
• 17.0 Psychological Support and Debriefing for Involved Workers
• 18.0 Training, Induction and Toolbox Talk Requirements
• 19.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement of the Procedure
• 20.0 Appendices: Contact Lists, Example Risk Assessment, Wildlife Identification and Response Guides

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and state/territory equivalents)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (and state/territory equivalents)
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace
• AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems
• Relevant state and territory wildlife or biodiversity conservation legislation (e.g. Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW), Nature Conservation Act 2014 (ACT), Wildlife Act 1975 (VIC), Nature Conservation Act 1992 (QLD))
• Local wildlife handling and rescue guidelines issued by state/territory environment departments or wildlife authorities