Product Overview

Summary: This Native Wildlife Awareness Safe Operating Procedure provides clear guidance for recognising, managing and reporting interactions with Australian native wildlife in and around the workplace. It helps protect workers, visitors and animals by setting out safe, legally compliant practices that minimise bite, sting and disease risks while supporting environmental and biodiversity obligations.

Many Australian workplaces operate in or near habitats occupied by snakes, spiders, kangaroos, birds, bats and other native species. Unplanned encounters can lead to bites, stings, vehicle collisions, disease exposure, worker anxiety and reputational damage if animals are harmed. This Native Wildlife Awareness SOP establishes a structured, easy-to-follow approach for identifying local wildlife risks, working safely in shared environments and responding appropriately to sightings or incidents. It supports organisations to meet both their WHS duties and their responsibilities under environmental and wildlife protection laws.

The procedure covers pre‑work planning, site inductions, signage, and training so that workers understand which species are likely to be present, what behaviours to avoid and how to report concerns. It outlines safe work practices for outdoor tasks, vegetation clearing, night work, driving, waste management and food storage that can attract or disturb wildlife. It also details clear steps for managing wildlife on site, including when to stop work, who to notify, how to engage licensed wildlife handlers, and what to do in the event of bites, stings or collisions. By implementing this SOP, businesses can reduce the risk of injury, prevent unnecessary harm to wildlife, and demonstrate due diligence to regulators, clients and the community.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of bites, stings and aggressive encounters through consistent, practical wildlife-aware work practices.
• Ensure compliance with WHS duties and relevant state and territory wildlife protection legislation.
• Improve worker confidence and competence when operating in environments shared with native animals.
• Minimise disruption, project delays and reputational damage arising from unmanaged wildlife incidents.
• Support organisational environmental, ESG and biodiversity commitments through humane and lawful wildlife management.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Site Supervisors
• Environmental and Sustainability Managers
• Park Rangers
• Field Technicians
• Construction Project Managers
• Facilities and Grounds Maintenance Staff
• Utilities and Infrastructure Workers
• Local Government Operations Managers
• Mining and Resources HSE Advisors
• Agricultural and Horticultural Supervisors
• Outdoor Education Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Bites and stings from venomous snakes, spiders and insects
• Aggressive behaviour or physical impact from kangaroos, emus and large birds
• Zoonotic disease transmission from bats, birds, rodents and other wildlife
• Vehicle collisions with wildlife, particularly at dawn, dusk and night
• Manual handling risks when attempting to move or avoid wildlife without proper technique
• Psychological stress or panic in workers due to unexpected wildlife encounters
• Legal and reputational risks associated with harming protected wildlife or damaging habitat

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Native Wildlife Risks
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Planning and Risk Assessment for Wildlife-Affected Work
• 5.0 Training, Induction and Communication Requirements
• 6.0 Wildlife-Aware Work Practices (Outdoor, Night and Remote Work)
• 7.0 Vehicle Operation and Driving in Wildlife-Prone Areas
• 8.0 Site Housekeeping, Waste and Food Management to Deter Wildlife
• 9.0 Wildlife Sighting, Reporting and Escalation Procedure
• 10.0 Managing Wildlife on Site (Exclusion, Relocation and Use of Licensed Handlers)
• 11.0 Bite, Sting and Incident Response, Including First Aid and Emergency Procedures
• 12.0 Interaction with Regulators, Wildlife Authorities and Community Stakeholders
• 13.0 Recordkeeping, Monitoring and Continuous Improvement
• 14.0 References, Related Documents and Legislative Requirements

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS legislation
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and equivalent state and territory regulations
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – First Aid in the Workplace: Code of Practice
• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)
• Relevant state and territory wildlife and biodiversity conservation legislation (e.g. National Parks and Wildlife Acts)
• AS/NZS ISO 14001: Environmental management systems – Requirements with guidance for use