Product Overview

Summary: This Stump Grinding Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical steps for carrying out stump grinding works safely and efficiently on Australian worksites. It helps businesses control the significant risks associated with rotating plant, flying debris, underground services and public interface, while demonstrating compliance with WHS obligations and local council requirements.

Stump grinding is a common but high‑risk activity in arboriculture, landscaping and civil works. Operators are exposed to rotating cutting wheels, flying debris, underground utilities, noise, vibration and public interface risks, often while working in constrained or high‑traffic areas. This Stump Grinding Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step‑by‑step method for planning and undertaking stump grinding tasks in a way that prioritises worker safety, protects the public and safeguards underground services and nearby assets.

Developed for Australian conditions, this SOP supports businesses to meet their duties under WHS legislation by clearly defining responsibilities, pre‑start checks, exclusion zones, communication protocols and emergency response actions. It standardises how stump grinding is set up, operated and shut down, reducing reliance on informal practices and individual experience. By implementing this procedure, organisations can improve training consistency, reduce incident rates, and provide evidence of a robust, documented system of work for councils, principal contractors and regulators.

Whether you operate a small tree services business or manage large grounds maintenance teams, this SOP helps you integrate stump grinding safely into your broader WHS management system, align with relevant Australian Standards and Codes of Practice, and protect your people, equipment and reputation.

Key Benefits

• Ensure a consistent, defensible method of work for stump grinding across all crews and sites.
• Reduce the likelihood of injury from flying debris, entanglement, noise and vibration exposure.
• Minimise the risk of damaging underground services such as gas, electricity, water and telecommunications.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation, local council conditions and principal contractor requirements.
• Streamline induction and refresher training for new and existing stump grinding operators.

Who is this for?

• Arborists
• Grounds Maintenance Workers
• Landscapers
• Civil Construction Workers
• Tree Services Business Owners
• Site Supervisors
• WHS Managers
• Local Government Parks and Gardens Teams
• Facilities and Asset Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Contact with rotating cutting wheel and moving parts
• Flying debris striking workers, bystanders, vehicles or nearby property
• Underground service strikes (electricity, gas, water, telecommunications)
• Machine roll‑over or instability on sloping or uneven ground
• Noise‑induced hearing loss from prolonged equipment use
• Hand–arm vibration and whole‑body vibration exposure
• Manual handling strains during setup, relocation and clean‑up
• Exposure to exhaust fumes and dust
• Slips, trips and falls around work area and spoil piles
• Public access into the work zone and interaction with traffic or pedestrians
• Entanglement in controls, belts, guards or moving components
• Fire risk from hot exhausts, sparks or contact with dry vegetation

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 References, Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Required Competencies, Training and Licensing
• 5.0 Plant, Tools and Materials
• 6.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 7.0 Pre‑Start Planning and Site Assessment
• 8.0 Underground Services Identification and Permits
• 9.0 Traffic and Public Access Management
• 10.0 Pre‑Operational Checks and Machine Setup
• 11.0 Establishing Exclusion Zones and Signage
• 12.0 Step‑by‑Step Stump Grinding Operating Procedure
• 13.0 Clean‑up, Demobilisation and Waste Management
• 14.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Control Measures
• 15.0 Environmental Considerations (noise, dust, spoil disposal)
• 16.0 Emergency Procedures and Incident Response
• 17.0 Lock‑Out/Tag‑Out and Isolation Requirements
• 18.0 Inspection, Maintenance and Servicing Requirements
• 19.0 Training, Induction and Competency Verification
• 20.0 Recordkeeping, Review and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
• AS/NZS 4024 series: Safety of machinery
• AS/NZS 3012: Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites (for temporary power where applicable)
• AS/NZS 4501: Occupational protective clothing
• AS/NZS 2161 series: Occupational protective gloves
• AS/NZS 1337.1: Personal eye protection
• AS/NZS 1801: Occupational protective helmets
• AS/NZS 1270: Acoustics – Hearing protectors
• Dial Before You Dig / Before You Dig Australia service guidelines (for locating underground services)