Product Overview

Summary: This Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, compliant system for receiving, storing, tracking and disposing of pesticides in Australian workplaces. It helps businesses control hazardous chemicals, prevent environmental contamination, and demonstrate due diligence under WHS and environmental legislation.

Pesticides are classified as hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods, bringing together WHS, environmental and product stewardship obligations. Poor inventory control can quickly lead to expired stock, incompatible storage, unlabelled containers, and uncontrolled disposal – all of which increase the risk of worker exposure, spills, off‑target damage and regulatory enforcement action. This Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, auditable approach to managing pesticide inventories across their full lifecycle, from procurement and delivery through to use, return and disposal.

Designed for Australian agricultural, horticultural, pest management and local government operations, the procedure outlines how to set up and maintain a compliant pesticide register, segregate and store products safely, manage quantities on hand, and ensure only approved, in‑date chemicals are used. It also supports accurate record‑keeping for application history and stock reconciliation, making it easier to respond to regulator queries, customer audits and incident investigations. By implementing this SOP, organisations can significantly reduce chemical‑related risks while improving purchasing discipline, minimising waste, and supporting sustainable, legally defensible pesticide use.

Key Benefits

• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS hazardous chemicals requirements and state-based pesticide control laws.
• Reduce the risk of chemical exposure, spills and environmental contamination through disciplined stock control and storage practices.
• Streamline purchasing and stock rotation to minimise expired or obsolete pesticide inventory and associated disposal costs.
• Improve traceability and record-keeping to support audits, incident investigations and customer or regulator enquiries.
• Standardise pesticide handling and documentation across sites, contractors and seasonal workforces.

Who is this for?

• Farm Managers
• Production Managers
• Warehouse and Store Supervisors
• Agronomists
• Grounds and Parks Managers
• Pest Control Business Owners
• Chemical Storekeepers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Compliance and Risk Managers
• Laboratory and Research Facility Managers
• Golf Course and Turf Managers
• Local Government Operations Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Worker exposure to toxic, irritant or sensitising pesticide formulations
• Chemical burns from concentrated liquid or powder pesticides
• Inhalation of vapours, aerosols or dusts from opened or degraded containers
• Fire and explosion risks from flammable or oxidising pesticide products
• Incompatible storage leading to dangerous reactions or container failure
• Environmental contamination of soil, waterways and stormwater systems from leaks or spills
• Off-target damage to crops, native vegetation, animals or beneficial insects due to mismanaged stock or mislabelled containers
• Manual handling injuries from lifting and moving pesticide containers and drums

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Regulatory Context
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Pesticide Procurement and Approval Process
• 5.0 Receiving and Inspecting Pesticide Deliveries
• 6.0 Pesticide Inventory Register Setup and Maintenance
• 7.0 Storage Requirements and Segregation of Pesticides
• 8.0 Labelling, Decanting and Container Management
• 9.0 Stock Rotation, Shelf-Life and Expiry Management
• 10.0 Issuing, Using and Returning Pesticides to Store
• 11.0 Record-Keeping for Usage, Application Batches and Reconciliation
• 12.0 Management of Obsolete, Damaged or Contaminated Stock
• 13.0 Spill Prevention, Leak Detection and Incident Reporting
• 14.0 Emergency Response and First Aid Considerations
• 15.0 Training, Competency and Authorisation Requirements
• 16.0 Inspection, Audit and Continuous Improvement
• 17.0 Document Control and Review

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations (Hazardous Chemicals), Safe Work Australia
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Labelling of workplace hazardous chemicals
• AS 2507:2023 – The storage and handling of agricultural and veterinary chemicals
• AS/NZS 3833:2007 – Storage and handling of mixed classes of dangerous goods in packages and intermediate bulk containers
• Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994 (Cth)
• Relevant State/Territory pesticides and hazardous chemicals legislation (e.g. NSW Pesticides Act, QLD Chemical Usage laws)