Product Overview

Summary: This Rodent Control Techniques Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, compliant framework for preventing, monitoring and controlling rodent activity in Australian workplaces. It helps protect workers, customers and the public from disease, contamination and chemical exposure while supporting businesses to meet their WHS and food safety obligations.

Rodent activity presents a significant health, safety and reputational risk for Australian businesses, particularly in food handling, warehousing, hospitality, healthcare and commercial property settings. Beyond the obvious contamination of food and surfaces, rodents can spread disease, damage electrical wiring and infrastructure, and trigger enforcement action from regulators and local councils. This Rodent Control Techniques SOP provides a structured, defensible approach to managing these risks, ensuring that rodent control activities are undertaken safely, consistently and in line with Australian WHS and public health expectations.

The procedure covers the entire lifecycle of rodent management: from initial site inspection and risk assessment, through to selection and placement of traps and baits, safe handling of rodenticides, monitoring programs, and documentation. It balances effective pest control with worker safety, environmental protection and animal welfare considerations. By implementing this SOP, organisations can demonstrate due diligence, reduce the likelihood of infestations and chemical incidents, and provide clear guidance to staff and contractors on how rodent control must be planned, executed and reviewed on site.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of disease transmission, food contamination and infrastructure damage caused by rodents.
• Ensure safe selection, handling, storage and disposal of rodenticides and traps in line with WHS and environmental requirements.
• Standardise rodent control practices across sites, contractors and shifts to improve consistency and audit readiness.
• Demonstrate due diligence to regulators, auditors, clients and certification bodies through clear, documented procedures.
• Support integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that minimise reliance on chemicals and reduce long-term control costs.

Who is this for?

• Pest Control Technicians
• Facilities Managers
• Warehouse Managers
• Food Safety Managers
• Production Supervisors
• Hotel and Accommodation Managers
• Restaurant and Café Owners
• Property and Strata Managers
• WHS Managers and Coordinators
• Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Officers

Hazards Addressed

• Exposure to rodent-borne diseases (e.g. leptospirosis, salmonellosis, hantavirus) via contact with urine, droppings or carcasses
• Food and surface contamination leading to public health incidents and product recalls
• Use and handling of rodenticides, including poisoning risks to workers, non-target animals and the environment
• Manual handling risks associated with moving bait stations, traps and storage containers
• Bites and scratches from live or trapped rodents
• Allergic reactions and respiratory irritation from rodent droppings, hair and nesting materials
• Slips, trips and falls while inspecting roof spaces, ceiling voids, plant rooms and external perimeters
• Electrical fires and equipment failure due to gnawed wiring and cabling

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment for Rodent Control Activities
• 6.0 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Approach and Prevention Strategies
• 7.0 Site Inspection, Monitoring and Rodent Activity Mapping
• 8.0 Selection and Use of Control Methods (Traps, Baits and Non-chemical Controls)
• 9.0 Safe Handling, Storage and Disposal of Rodenticides
• 10.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 11.0 Safe Work Procedures for Setting, Servicing and Collecting Traps and Bait Stations
• 12.0 Cleaning, Decontamination and Waste Management (Droppings, Carcasses and Contaminated Materials)
• 13.0 Environmental and Non-target Species Protection Measures
• 14.0 Incident Reporting, Exposure Management and First Aid
• 15.0 Recordkeeping, Maps, Service Reports and Audit Documentation
• 16.0 Training, Competency and Contractor Management
• 17.0 Review, Continuous Improvement and Corrective Actions

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts and Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Hazardous Chemicals: Managing Risks in the Workplace: Code of Practice
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 2161: Occupational protective gloves
• Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) – Food Standards Code (particularly for food premises pest control)
• APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority) requirements for the use of registered rodenticide products
• Local council public health and environmental health guidelines relating to pest control