Product Overview

Summary: This Landscaping Best Practices Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, safe and efficient way to plan, deliver and maintain landscaping works across Australian sites. It combines WHS-driven safe work methods with quality-focused horticultural practices, helping you protect workers, the public and property while presenting consistently professional results.

Landscaping work in Australia often involves powered equipment, hazardous manual tasks, outdoor environmental exposure and interaction with the public, all while delivering high presentation standards. Without a structured procedure, teams can fall into inconsistent work methods, shortcuts and unsafe habits that expose workers to injury and businesses to WHS breaches, rework and reputational damage. This Landscaping Best Practices SOP provides a practical, step‑by‑step framework for planning and carrying out landscaping tasks safely, efficiently and in line with Australian legislation and industry expectations.

The document covers the full lifecycle of typical landscaping activities – from pre‑start site assessments, traffic and public interface controls, and vegetation handling through to chemical use, equipment operation, manual handling and end‑of‑day clean‑up. It defines clear roles and responsibilities, minimum PPE, and task‑specific controls for mowing, trimming, pruning, planting, mulching, irrigation work and minor hardscape tasks. By embedding this SOP into your operations, you create a consistent standard across crews and sites, support effective onboarding and toolbox talks, and demonstrate due diligence in managing outdoor work risks under WHS law.

Designed specifically for the Australian context, the SOP aligns with key Safe Work Australia guidance and relevant Australian Standards, taking into account local climate conditions, native vegetation, wildlife risks and council expectations. It helps landscaping businesses, councils, schools, body corporates and contractors lift both safety performance and service quality, reducing incidents, downtime and complaints while keeping projects on schedule and within budget.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, safe work methods for all landscaping tasks across multiple sites and crews.
• Reduce the risk of injuries from powered equipment, hazardous manual tasks, chemicals and outdoor environmental exposure.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant Codes of Practice for outdoor and grounds maintenance work.
• Streamline training, inductions and toolbox talks with a clear, ready‑to‑use reference document.
• Improve quality and presentation standards, minimising rework, damage to assets and client complaints.

Who is this for?

• Landscaping Business Owners
• Landscape Supervisors
• Team Leaders and Leading Hands
• Grounds Maintenance Managers
• WHS Managers and Safety Advisors
• Local Government Parks Coordinators
• Facilities and Property Managers
• Civil Construction Project Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Contact with moving parts of mowers, brushcutters, hedge trimmers and other powered equipment
• Noise exposure from powered landscaping equipment
• Flying debris, projectiles and dust during mowing, edging and trimming
• Hazardous manual tasks including lifting, carrying, shovelling, raking and repetitive movements
• Slips, trips and falls on uneven ground, wet grass, mulch and garden edging
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers
• Sun exposure, heat stress, dehydration and UV radiation
• Bites and stings from insects, spiders, snakes and other wildlife
• Traffic interaction and mobile plant movement around roads, car parks and shared spaces
• Public interface risks when working in parks, schools, strata complexes and commercial sites
• Tree and branch failure hazards during pruning and vegetation removal
• Hand and eye injuries from sharp tools, thorns and splinters

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Competency, Training and Licensing Requirements
• 6.0 Required PPE and Safety Equipment
• 7.0 Pre‑Start Planning and Site Risk Assessment
• 8.0 Public Safety, Traffic Management and Site Security
• 9.0 Safe Use of Powered Landscaping Equipment (mowers, brushcutters, blowers, hedge trimmers)
• 10.0 Hand Tools and Sharps Management
• 11.0 Hazardous Manual Tasks and Ergonomic Best Practices
• 12.0 Vegetation Management, Pruning and Tree Work (low‑risk tasks)
• 13.0 Chemical Handling, Mixing and Application (herbicides, pesticides, fertilisers)
• 14.0 Environmental Considerations (run‑off, waste, noise and dust control)
• 15.0 Outdoor Work, Weather and Heat Stress Management
• 16.0 Wildlife, Insects and Biological Hazards
• 17.0 Housekeeping, Waste Disposal and Site Handover
• 18.0 Incident Reporting, Near Misses and Corrective Actions
• 19.0 Inspection, Maintenance and Storage of Tools and Equipment
• 20.0 Review, Consultation and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS legislation
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Guide for Managing the Risks of Working in Heat
• AS/NZS 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems
• AS/NZS 1337.1:2010 Personal eye protection
• AS/NZS 2161 series: Occupational protective gloves
• AS/NZS 2210.1:2010 Safety, protective and occupational footwear
• AS/NZS 1269 series: Occupational noise management
• AS/NZS 1891 series: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices (where work at height is involved)