Product Overview

Summary: This Poultry Farm Operations Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, practical framework for running day-to-day poultry activities safely, humanely and efficiently. It helps Australian farms control key WHS, biosecurity and animal welfare risks while standardising tasks such as feeding, shed entry, bird handling, cleaning and waste management across all shifts.

Poultry farms operate in a high-risk environment where people, animals and biosecurity intersect. Workers are exposed to hazards such as slips and trips on wet floors, dust and ammonia in sheds, aggressive birds, moving machinery, manual handling of feed and crates, and exposure to chemicals used for cleaning and pest control. At the same time, farms must meet strict expectations around animal welfare, food safety, environmental management and WHS legislation. This Poultry Farm Operations SOP brings these requirements together into a single, structured procedure that can be followed by all staff and contractors on site.

The document lays out step-by-step instructions for core tasks including shed entry and exit, personal hygiene and biosecurity, bird handling and catching, feeding and watering routines, litter management, cleaning and disinfection, chemical use, and basic equipment operation. It clarifies who is responsible for each activity, what PPE is required, and what checks must be completed before, during and after work. By implementing this SOP, poultry businesses can reduce incident rates, support consistent training for new and seasonal workers, and demonstrate due diligence to auditors, integrators and regulators under Australian WHS and primary production standards.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, safe work practices across all poultry sheds, shifts and sites.
• Reduce worker injuries related to manual handling, slips, trips, falls and exposure to dust and chemicals.
• Strengthen biosecurity and animal welfare outcomes through clear hygiene, handling and shed management procedures.
• Streamline induction and refresher training for new, casual and contractor staff on poultry farms.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS, biosecurity and animal welfare requirements during audits and inspections.

Who is this for?

• Poultry Farm Managers
• Broiler Farm Supervisors
• Layer Farm Supervisors
• Poultry Shed Hands and Farm Workers
• WHS Managers and Coordinators
• Livestock and Operations Managers
• Contract Growers for Integrators
• Agribusiness Compliance Officers

Hazards Addressed

• Exposure to poultry dust, feathers and bioaerosols leading to respiratory irritation or disease
• Exposure to ammonia and poor air quality in enclosed sheds
• Manual handling injuries from lifting feed bags, crates, equipment and bird catching activities
• Slips, trips and falls on wet, uneven or littered shed floors and around wash-down areas
• Injuries from bird pecking, scratching or aggressive behaviour during handling and catching
• Contact with zoonotic pathogens (e.g. Salmonella, Campylobacter, avian influenza) via birds, faeces or contaminated surfaces
• Chemical exposure from disinfectants, detergents, pesticides and rodenticides used in sheds and surrounds
• Noise exposure from ventilation fans, machinery and equipment
• Entanglement or crush injuries from moving machinery such as augers, conveyors, fans and mobile equipment
• Heat stress and dehydration for workers in hot shed environments or during summer operations

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (Owners, Managers, Supervisors, Workers, Contractors)
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Farm Policies
• 5.0 Required Training and Competency for Poultry Farm Workers
• 6.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 7.0 Biosecurity and Shed Entry/Exit Procedures
• 8.0 Daily Shed Inspection and Environmental Checks (Ventilation, Temperature, Litter, Water, Feed)
• 9.0 Bird Handling, Catching and Transfer Procedures
• 10.0 Feeding, Watering and Litter Management
• 11.0 Cleaning, Disinfection and Waste Management Procedures
• 12.0 Chemical Handling, Storage and Spill Response
• 13.0 Operation of Farm Equipment and Machinery in Poultry Sheds
• 14.0 Manual Handling and Ergonomic Controls
• 15.0 Health Monitoring, Hygiene and Zoonoses Control
• 16.0 Incident Reporting, Near-Miss Management and Corrective Actions
• 17.0 Emergency Procedures (Fire, Power Failure, Heat Stress Events, Disease Outbreak)
• 18.0 Record Keeping, Audits and Continuous Improvement
• 19.0 Document Review and Version Control

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act and Regulations (as implemented in each state and territory)
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks
• Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines – Poultry
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 2161: Occupational protective gloves
• AS/NZS 45001 (ISO 45001): Occupational health and safety management systems
• Relevant state and territory biosecurity legislation and guidelines for poultry production
• Primary Production and Processing Standard for Poultry Meat (Standard 4.2.2, Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code)