Product Overview

Summary: This SOP sets out clear, practical requirements for planning and conducting work in, on, or near the marine environment while protecting workers, the public, and sensitive ecosystems. It helps Australian businesses manage WHS risks alongside environmental obligations, ensuring marine operations are safe, compliant, and defensible.

Working in and around the marine environment introduces a unique combination of WHS, environmental, and operational risks. From vessel movements and diving activities to piling, dredging, and coastal construction, poor planning can expose workers to drowning, entanglement, hazardous marine life, and extreme weather, while also causing spills, sediment plumes, and damage to sensitive habitats. This Marine Environment Considerations Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured framework to identify, assess, and control these risks before work starts and as conditions change.

The SOP is designed for Australian marine and coastal operations, aligning WHS duties with environmental expectations under Commonwealth and State legislation. It guides users through pre-start environmental and safety assessments, marine weather and tide planning, vessel and equipment controls, waste and spill management, marine fauna interaction protocols, and emergency response arrangements specific to marine settings. By implementing this SOP, organisations can demonstrate due diligence, protect their people and the marine environment, and maintain strong relationships with regulators, clients, and local communities.

This document is particularly valuable for businesses involved in ports and harbour works, offshore and nearshore construction, aquaculture, dredging, coastal infrastructure maintenance, and marine transport. It helps standardise how marine risks are managed across projects and contractors, supporting consistent training, easier inductions, and clear expectations for everyone working on or near the water.

Key Benefits

• Ensure marine operations are planned and executed in line with Australian WHS and environmental obligations.
• Reduce the risk of marine-related incidents such as drowning, vessel collisions, spills, and exposure to hazardous conditions.
• Demonstrate due diligence to regulators, clients, and community stakeholders through a documented, defensible procedure.
• Standardise how supervisors and contractors assess tides, weather, marine fauna, and environmental sensitivities before starting work.
• Minimise project delays and rework by integrating safety and environmental considerations into marine work planning from the outset.

Who is this for?

• Marine Operations Managers
• Ports and Harbour Masters
• Offshore Construction Supervisors
• Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Managers
• WHS Advisors
• Diving Supervisors
• Skippers and Vessel Masters
• Marine Project Engineers
• Coastal and Marine Site Supervisors
• Environmental Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Drowning and immersion in water
• Vessel collisions and contact with moving plant on the water
• Falls from vessels, pontoons, jetties, and marine structures
• Adverse weather, rough seas, and rapidly changing marine conditions
• Tidal currents, surges, and changes in water level affecting access and stability
• Exposure to hazardous marine life (stings, bites, envenomation)
• Hypothermia and cold stress from water and wind exposure
• Heat stress and UV exposure during prolonged outdoor marine work
• Entanglement or entrapment in lines, nets, moorings, and underwater equipment
• Chemical and fuel spills into the marine environment
• Noise and vibration impacts from marine plant (e.g. piling, dredging) on workers and fauna
• Manual handling injuries associated with loading/unloading vessels and marine equipment
• Reduced visibility and navigation risks during night operations or fog
• Slips, trips, and falls on wet, algae-covered, or uneven marine surfaces

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Masters, Skippers, Supervisors, Workers, Contractors)
• 4.0 Planning Marine Work (Site Assessment, Approvals, Permits, Notifications)
• 5.0 Marine Environmental Risk Assessment and Controls
• 6.0 Weather, Tides, and Sea State Considerations
• 7.0 Vessel and Marine Plant Requirements and Pre-Start Checks
• 8.0 Access, Egress, and Working from Vessels, Pontoons, and Marine Structures
• 9.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PFDs, Thermal Protection, UV Protection)
• 10.0 Marine Fauna and Sensitive Habitat Considerations
• 11.0 Spill Prevention, Response, and Waste Management in the Marine Environment
• 12.0 Communication, Navigation, and Traffic Management on the Water
• 13.0 Contractor Management and Induction for Marine Operations
• 14.0 Emergency Preparedness and Response (Man Overboard, Capsize, Medical, Spill)
• 15.0 Monitoring, Inspection, and Review of Marine Activities
• 16.0 Training and Competency Requirements
• 17.0 Recordkeeping, Reporting, and Incident Investigation
• 18.0 References and Related Documents

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and harmonised State/Territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent State/Territory regulations
• National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) – Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)
• Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012
• Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983
• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems
• AS/NZS ISO 31000: Risk management – Guidelines
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
• Relevant State/Territory marine safety and environmental protection legislation (e.g. Marine Safety Acts, Coastal Management Acts)