Product Overview

Summary: This Safe Operating Procedure sets out a safe, consistent approach to identifying, treating and monitoring pests and diseases in trees across Australian workplaces. It helps organisations protect workers, the public and property from falling branches, chemical exposure and biosecurity risks while maintaining tree health and meeting WHS and environmental obligations.

Unmanaged pests and diseases in trees present more than a horticultural problem – they can create serious safety hazards such as falling limbs, structural tree failure and increased chemical exposure for workers and the public. This Pest and Disease Control in Trees SOP provides a clear, step‑by‑step framework for safely inspecting trees, diagnosing common pests and diseases, selecting appropriate control methods, and implementing treatments in line with Australian WHS and environmental requirements. It covers both urban and rural settings, including streetscapes, parks, campuses, industrial sites, farms and private estates.

The procedure is designed to reduce guesswork and inconsistency by standardising how your teams assess risk, handle tools and chemicals, and document their work. It integrates hazard identification (such as unstable trees, overhead powerlines, working at heights and manual handling) with safe use of pesticides and biological controls, ensuring your pest and disease management program is defensible, auditable and aligned with your duty of care. By adopting this SOP, businesses can protect people and assets, maintain the amenity and value of their trees, and demonstrate responsible stewardship of the environment and surrounding community.

Key Benefits

• Ensure a consistent, defensible process for assessing and treating tree pests and diseases across all sites.
• Reduce the risk of injury from falling branches, tree failure and unsafe work practices during inspection and treatment.
• Minimise worker and public exposure to hazardous chemicals through clear guidance on selection, mixing, application and disposal.
• Support compliance with Australian WHS, pesticide use and environmental protection requirements.
• Improve tree health, longevity and amenity value through early detection, targeted treatment and ongoing monitoring.

Who is this for?

• Arborists
• Grounds and Parks Maintenance Teams
• Horticulture Supervisors
• Local Government Parks and Gardens Managers
• Facilities and Asset Managers
• Landscape Contractors
• Environmental and Biosecurity Officers
• WHS Managers and Coordinators
• Golf Course and Sports Turf Managers
• Cemetery and Botanical Garden Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Falling branches or whole-tree failure during inspection or treatment activities
• Working at heights in trees or from ladders, elevated work platforms and climbing systems
• Contact with overhead and underground services, including powerlines and irrigation
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals (inhalation, skin contact, eye contact and ingestion)
• Allergic reactions or bites/stings from insects, spiders and other pests
• Manual handling injuries from handling tools, equipment, ladders and treatment materials
• Slips, trips and falls on uneven, wet or vegetated ground surfaces
• Noise and vibration from chainsaws, chippers, drills and powered application equipment
• Environmental contamination of soil, waterways and non-target plants from misapplied chemicals
• Traffic-related risks when working near roads, car parks or shared paths

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Terminology (Pests, Diseases, Thresholds, Control Methods)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Competency, Licensing and Training Requirements
• 6.0 Required Tools, Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• 7.0 Pre-Work Planning and Site Assessment
• 8.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment for Tree Pest and Disease Work
• 9.0 Tree Inspection and Diagnosis Procedure
• 10.0 Selection of Control Methods (Cultural, Biological, Mechanical, Chemical)
• 11.0 Safe Chemical Handling, Mixing, Application and Storage
• 12.0 Working at Heights and Access Methods for Tree Treatment
• 13.0 Traffic and Public Access Management Around Tree Works
• 14.0 Environmental Protection and Biosecurity Considerations
• 15.0 Step-by-Step Treatment and Follow-Up Monitoring Procedure
• 16.0 Waste Management, Chemical Disposal and Decontamination
• 17.0 Incident Reporting, Near Misses and Corrective Actions
• 18.0 Emergency Procedures (Exposure, Spills, Structural Tree Failure)
• 19.0 Recordkeeping, Monitoring and Continuous Improvement
• 20.0 Review, Audit and Document Control

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and relevant state and territory WHS legislation
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces
• AS 4373: Pruning of amenity trees
• AS 1744: Standard for road signs – relevant to traffic management around tree works
• AS/NZS 1891 series: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices
• AS/NZS 1337.1: Personal eye protection
• AS/NZS 2161 series: Occupational protective gloves
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• State and territory pesticide control legislation and environmental protection regulations