Product Overview

Summary: This Site Rehabilitation and Landscaping Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step-by-step framework for safely restoring disturbed sites and delivering compliant landscaping works. It helps Australian businesses manage environmental and WHS risks while achieving durable, fit-for-purpose finishes that satisfy client, regulator, and community expectations.

Site rehabilitation and landscaping are often the final, highly visible stages of a project, yet they involve significant safety and environmental risks if not tightly controlled. This SOP sets out a practical, WHS-focused process for planning, executing, and verifying rehabilitation and landscaping works on construction, civil, mining, utilities, and local government sites across Australia. It covers everything from pre-start assessment and service locating, through safe plant and equipment use, soil handling, and vegetation establishment, to inspection and handover requirements.

By implementing this procedure, businesses can demonstrate due diligence under Australian WHS and environmental legislation while protecting workers, subcontractors, and the public. The SOP addresses common pain points such as uncontrolled access to unstable ground, unmanaged interaction between mobile plant and pedestrians, exposure to contaminated soils, manual handling injuries from turf, plants, and materials, and inadequate erosion and sediment controls. It also supports consistent quality outcomes—ensuring that rehabilitation areas are stable, safe, and maintainable, and that landscaping works meet design intent, client specifications, and long-term maintenance needs.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, safe execution of site rehabilitation and landscaping activities across all projects and teams.
• Reduce the risk of injuries associated with mobile plant, manual handling, slips, trips, falls, and environmental exposures.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS, environmental, and local council requirements for site closure and landscaping.
• Streamline handover by clearly defining acceptance criteria, inspection requirements, and documentation for rehabilitated areas.
• Improve long-term performance of rehabilitated and landscaped areas, reducing rework, defects, and maintenance costs.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Civil Construction Project Managers
• Landscaping Team Leaders
• Environmental Advisors
• WHS Managers
• Rehabilitation and Closure Specialists
• Local Government Parks and Gardens Coordinators
• Mining and Resources Site Managers
• Utilities and Infrastructure Maintenance Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Interaction between mobile plant (excavators, loaders, skid steers) and pedestrians
• Slips, trips, and falls on uneven, unstable, or vegetated ground
• Excavation and trenching hazards, including ground collapse and underground services strikes
• Manual handling injuries from lifting and placing turf, plants, pavers, sleepers, and landscape materials
• Exposure to contaminated soils, dusts, organic matter, and allergens
• Noise and vibration from powered landscaping equipment
• Use of herbicides, pesticides, and soil additives (chemical exposure and handling risks)
• Heat stress, UV exposure, and adverse weather conditions during outdoor work
• Musculoskeletal strain from repetitive tasks such as raking, shovelling, and wheelbarrowing
• Water hazards associated with irrigation systems, ponds, and water features

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 4.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 5.0 Planning and Pre-Start Requirements
• 5.1 Site Assessment and Rehabilitation Objectives
• 5.2 Review of Drawings, Specifications and Environmental Conditions
• 5.3 Dial Before You Dig and Services Locating
• 5.4 Permits, Approvals and Notifications
• 6.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
• 6.1 Typical Rehabilitation and Landscaping Hazards
• 6.2 Risk Control Hierarchy and Selection of Controls
• 7.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 8.0 Plant, Tools and Equipment – Selection, Inspection and Use
• 9.0 Site Preparation and Access Control
• 9.1 Establishment of Work Zones, Exclusion Zones and Traffic Management
• 9.2 Erosion, Sediment and Runoff Controls
• 9.3 Protection of Existing Vegetation, Services and Assets
• 10.0 Soil Stripping, Stockpiling and Placement
• 10.1 Handling of Topsoil and Subsoil
• 10.2 Management of Contaminated or Suspect Materials
• 11.0 Earthworks, Shaping and Stabilisation
• 11.1 Working on Slopes and Unstable Ground
• 11.2 Compaction, Batter Stabilisation and Retaining Structures
• 12.0 Landscaping Installation Activities
• 12.1 Planting of Trees, Shrubs and Groundcovers
• 12.2 Turf Laying and Establishment
• 12.3 Mulching, Edging and Garden Bed Construction
• 12.4 Hard Landscaping (paving, edging, minor structures) – Safe Work Methods
• 13.0 Irrigation and Drainage Works
• 13.1 Trenching and Pipework Installation
• 13.2 Testing, Commissioning and Backfilling
• 14.0 Use of Chemicals, Fertilisers and Soil Additives
• 14.1 Chemical Storage, Handling and Application Controls
• 14.2 Environmental Protection and Spill Response
• 15.0 Manual Handling and Ergonomic Controls
• 16.0 Working in Outdoor Environments (Weather, UV, Heat and Wildlife)
• 17.0 Environmental Management and Rehabilitation Performance Criteria
• 17.1 Vegetation Establishment and Monitoring
• 17.2 Weed, Pest and Disease Management
• 18.0 Quality Control, Inspection and Acceptance Criteria
• 18.1 Defect Rectification and Rework Process
• 19.0 Emergency Preparedness and Response
• 19.1 First Aid, Incident Reporting and Escalation
• 20.0 Training, Induction and Communication
• 21.0 Recordkeeping, Auditing and Continuous Improvement
• 22.0 Review and Revision History

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts and Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Construction Work
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Excavation Work
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still widely referenced)
• AS ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
• AS 4419: Soils for landscaping and garden use
• AS 4454: Composts, soil conditioners and mulches
• AS 4970: Protection of trees on development sites
• Local council development control plans and environmental management requirements (varies by jurisdiction)