Product Overview

This Veterinary Safety SWMS is a comprehensive Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify, control, and minimise risks associated with veterinary procedures and animal handling in Australian workplaces. It provides detailed, practical controls across multiple aspects of veterinary safety to support robust WHS compliance for clinics, hospitals, mobile services, and field operations.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Safe handling, storage, preparation, and administration of cytotoxic substances in veterinary settings
• Use of appropriate PPE and decontamination procedures when working with cytotoxic drugs and contaminated waste
• Disease inspection, diagnosis, and treatment application for companion animals, livestock, and wildlife
• Infection prevention and control measures, including isolation, biosecurity, and disinfection protocols
• Conducting equine dentistry, including horse restraint, sedation, and use of powered and manual dental tools
• Performing routine and emergency animal health checks, including physical examinations and diagnostic procedures
• Providing veterinary rehabilitation and physiotherapy, including safe use of equipment and animal handling techniques
• Use, handling, and storage of radioactive substances and radiopharmaceuticals in veterinary practice
• Radiation safety controls for X‑ray, imaging, and nuclear medicine procedures on animals
• Assessment, selection, and administration of sedatives and tranquilisers for various species
• Safe use of tranquiliser guns, including transport, loading, firing, and post‑immobilisation monitoring
• Manual handling risk controls for lifting, restraining, and moving animals, cages, and equipment
• Sharps, needle-stick, and medication administration safety, including disposal of clinical and cytotoxic waste
• Emergency response procedures for animal bites, scratches, kicks, chemical exposure, and radiation incidents
• Communication, training, and supervision requirements for veterinary staff, students, and animal handlers

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, equine and large-animal practitioners, mobile and field veterinarians, veterinary nurses, animal rehabilitation providers, and site supervisors responsible for veterinary operations.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks – Guidance on identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing controls in veterinary environments
• Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace – Requirements for safe handling of cytotoxic substances, sedatives, disinfectants, and other veterinary chemicals
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace – Safe use and maintenance of veterinary equipment, dental tools, X‑ray machines, and rehabilitation devices
• Model Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work – Controls for noisy animal handling areas and powered veterinary equipment
• Model Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace – First aid facilities and procedures for animal-related injuries and exposure incidents
• Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) Codes and Guides – Radiation protection principles for use of X‑ray and radioactive substances in veterinary practice
• Safe Work Australia Guidance on Occupational Exposure to Cytotoxic Drugs – Handling, administration, and disposal of cytotoxic substances in healthcare and veterinary settings
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017