Garden Maintenance and Softscaping Risk Assessment

Product Overview

This risk assessment covers garden maintenance and softscaping activities, including site set-up, plant and equipment use, soil disturbance and outdoor conditions. It supports planning work and managing risks arising from access, manual tasks, vehicles, chemicals, biological hazards and changing weather.

Activities & Risks Covered

This assessment addresses activities and risks including:

• Inspecting site access and setting up work areas
• Handling plants, soil, mulch, pavers and tools
• Using hand tools and powered garden equipment
• Managing plant and vehicle movements on site
• Digging, trenching and disturbing soil
• Working near overhead services, structures and uneven levels
• Managing noise, vibration and airborne dust
• Handling chemicals, fuels and irrigation additives
• Managing biological hazards and contaminated waste
• Planning for heat, UV, weather and emergency response

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out garden maintenance and softscaping activities.

Activities & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template records model guidance used to inform the documented controls. Applicable WHS/OHS laws and adopted Codes vary by state or territory, so confirm the current local requirements when tailoring the assessment:

• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace — Assessing plant risks — work practices and procedures; p. 20.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Excavation work — 2.3. Controlling the risks; p. 17.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of fatigue at work — Provide sufficient breaks while at work; p. 30.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks — 4.1 The hierarchy of control measures; p. 31.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing electrical risks in the workplace — 2.1 Identifying the hazards; p. 14.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: First aid in the workplace — 3. First aid equipment, facilities and training; p. 12.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities — 2. The work environment; p. 13.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Biological hazards — Clinical waste management; p. 88.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work — 5. Controlling the risks; p. 29.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks — 2. Step 1 — How to identify hazards; p. 12.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace — 2.2 Safety Data Sheets (SDS); p. 16.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Construction work — 6.2 Workplace specific induction training; p. 41.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: How to manage and control asbestos in the workplace — 2.1. What is involved in managing risks?; p. 12.

---

Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)

• Activity-specific hazard identification and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each activity
• Risk matrix and assessment classification
• Review, monitoring and sign-off fields
• Site-specific customisation before use