Product Overview

Summary: This Lawn Mowing Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, safe and efficient method for operating lawn mowers in Australian workplaces. It helps businesses control common mowing hazards, protect workers and the public, and demonstrate compliance with WHS obligations when maintaining grounds and outdoor areas.

Lawn mowing is a routine task in many Australian workplaces, from schools and local councils to aged care facilities, golf courses and commercial properties. Despite being common, it involves high‑risk plant, projectiles, noise, vibration and interaction with the public, all of which can lead to serious injury or property damage if not controlled. This Lawn Mowing Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step‑by‑step approach to planning, conducting and finalising mowing work so that it is done safely, consistently and in line with WHS requirements.

The SOP covers the full lifecycle of the activity: pre‑start inspections, site hazard assessment, safe operation of push and self‑propelled mowers, refuelling and maintenance, and shutdown and storage. It clarifies responsibilities, specifies required PPE, and sets out practical controls for managing risks such as flying debris, slopes, noise exposure and working around pedestrians, vehicles and other contractors. By adopting this procedure, organisations can standardise training, reduce incident rates, and demonstrate that they have a documented system of work for lawn mowing consistent with Australian legislation and relevant Codes of Practice.

Key Benefits

• Ensure lawn mowing tasks are completed in line with Australian WHS legislation and duty of care requirements.
• Reduce the risk of injuries from flying debris, moving blades, noise and manual handling during mowing activities.
• Standardise how staff and contractors plan, conduct and complete mowing work across all sites.
• Demonstrate due diligence to regulators, clients and insurers through a documented safe system of work.
• Support faster onboarding and competency assessment for new grounds and maintenance personnel.

Who is this for?

• Grounds Maintenance Workers
• Gardeners and Landscapers
• Parks and Gardens Staff
• School Groundskeepers
• Council Maintenance Teams
• Facility and Property Managers
• WHS Advisors and Safety Officers
• Aged Care and Healthcare Facility Managers
• Sports Turf Managers
• Contract Cleaning and Maintenance Supervisors

Hazards Addressed

• Contact with rotating mower blades and moving parts
• Flying debris striking workers, bystanders or property
• Slips, trips and falls on uneven, wet or sloped ground
• Rollover or loss of control on steep or unstable surfaces (where ride‑on or self‑propelled mowers are used)
• Noise exposure leading to hearing damage
• Hand‑arm vibration from prolonged mower use
• Exposure to exhaust fumes and airborne dust, pollen and allergens
• Burns or fire risk during refuelling or contact with hot engine components
• Manual handling strains from lifting, pushing or loading mowers
• Interaction with vehicles, pedestrians, children and other workers in shared areas
• Contact with hidden obstacles such as rocks, sprinklers, tree roots or rubbish
• Electrical shock risk when mowing near buried or above‑ground electrical services (e.g. cables, lighting)

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Types of Lawn Mowers
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• 6.0 Tools, Equipment and Pre‑start Inspection Checklist
• 7.0 Site Assessment and Hazard Identification (People, Traffic, Terrain, Weather)
• 8.0 Safe Operating Procedure – Push and Self‑propelled Mowers
• 9.0 Working on Slopes, Uneven Ground and Near Edges
• 10.0 Controls for Public Areas, Schools and Shared Spaces
• 11.0 Refuelling, Handling Fuels and Managing Fire Risk
• 12.0 Noise, Vibration and Fatigue Management
• 13.0 Manual Handling and Transport of Mowers
• 14.0 Environmental Considerations (dust, debris, waterways and wildlife)
• 15.0 Post‑operation Shutdown, Cleaning and Storage
• 16.0 Maintenance, Fault Reporting and Tag‑out
• 17.0 Emergency Procedures and Incident Response
• 18.0 Training, Induction and Competency Records
• 19.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts)
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth and corresponding 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 4501.1: Occupational protective clothing – General requirements
• AS/NZS 2210.1: Safety, protective and occupational footwear – Guidelines for selection and use
• AS/NZS 1270: Acoustics – Hearing protectors
• AS/NZS 1337.1: Personal eye protection