Product Overview

Summary: This Groundskeeping Tools Safety Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical steps for safely selecting, using, transporting and maintaining hand-held and powered groundskeeping tools. It helps Australian workplaces control common landscaping hazards, protect workers and visitors, and demonstrate compliance with WHS obligations across parks, schools, facilities and open spaces.

Groundskeeping teams routinely work with a wide range of tools – from simple hand tools such as rakes, loppers and secateurs, through to powered equipment like hedge trimmers, brushcutters, blowers and small chainsaws. Without a structured procedure, variations in how these tools are selected, inspected, used and stored can quickly lead to injuries, property damage and non-compliance with Australian WHS requirements. This Groundskeeping Tools Safety SOP provides a consistent, step-by-step framework that ensures every worker knows what “safe” looks like before, during and after each task.

The procedure addresses the real-world risks faced by grounds staff: cuts and puncture wounds, flying debris, muscular strains from repetitive work, vibration and noise exposure, slips and trips in outdoor environments, and the additional hazards created when working near the public. It defines mandatory pre-start checks, correct PPE, safe body positioning and handling techniques, controls for noise and dust, and clear rules for operating around vehicles, pedestrians and other workers. By implementing this SOP, organisations can standardise training, reduce incident rates, and provide documented evidence of due diligence that aligns with Australian WHS legislation and relevant Codes of Practice.

Whether you manage a single school campus or a multi-site council parks team, this SOP helps embed a culture of safety in day-to-day grounds maintenance. It supports supervisors to brief new staff and contractors quickly, ensures tools are kept in safe working order, and outlines what to do when something goes wrong – from equipment faults to injuries and near misses.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of lacerations, eye injuries, strains and other common groundskeeping incidents through clear, practical controls.
• Ensure consistent, defensible compliance with Australian WHS legislation for the use of hand-held and powered groundskeeping tools.
• Standardise training and inductions so new staff and contractors quickly understand safe tool selection, use and maintenance requirements.
• Extend the service life of groundskeeping tools by embedding routine inspection, maintenance and storage practices.
• Improve public and worker safety in shared outdoor spaces by defining controls for working around pedestrians, vehicles and other activities.

Who is this for?

• Groundskeepers
• Gardeners and Landscapers
• Parks and Gardens Supervisors
• School Grounds Staff
• Facilities and Maintenance Managers
• Local Council Works Supervisors
• WHS Advisors and Safety Officers
• Sports Turf Managers
• Aged Care and Healthcare Facility Managers
• Horticulture Team Leaders

Hazards Addressed

• Cuts, punctures and lacerations from sharp blades, tines and cutting edges
• Impact and eye injuries from flying debris, stones and sticks
• Musculoskeletal disorders from repetitive movements, awkward postures and manual handling of tools and equipment
• Hand–arm vibration exposure from prolonged use of powered tools
• Noise-induced hearing loss from blowers, trimmers and other powered equipment
• Slips, trips and falls on uneven, wet or obstructed ground surfaces
• Contact with moving parts and entanglement in rotating or reciprocating components
• Electrical shock when using electric or battery-powered tools, especially in damp environments
• Exposure to dust, plant material, allergens and exhaust fumes
• Struck-by incidents involving vehicles, ride-on mowers or mobile plant in shared work areas
• Injuries to members of the public in parks, schools and open spaces due to uncontrolled work zones

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Types of Groundskeeping Tools
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment for Groundskeeping Activities
• 6.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 7.0 Pre-use Inspection and Tag-out of Defective Tools
• 8.0 Safe Use of Hand Tools (rakes, shovels, loppers, secateurs, etc.)
• 9.0 Safe Use of Powered Tools (trimmers, blowers, edgers, small chainsaws, etc.)
• 10.0 Manual Handling and Ergonomic Practices for Grounds Work
• 11.0 Controls for Noise, Vibration, Dust and Flying Debris
• 12.0 Working in Public and Shared Spaces (schools, parks, facilities)
• 13.0 Environmental Considerations and Housekeeping
• 14.0 Maintenance, Sharpening, Storage and Transport of Tools
• 15.0 Emergency Procedures, Incident Reporting and First Aid
• 16.0 Training, Induction, Supervision and Review of Procedure
• 17.0 Document Control and Record Keeping

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
• AS/NZS 4024 (series): Safety of machinery
• AS/NZS 2161 (series): Occupational protective gloves
• AS/NZS 1337.1: Personal eye protection
• AS/NZS 1270: Acoustics – Hearing protectors
• AS/NZS 2210.1: Occupational protective footwear – Guide to selection, care and use