Product Overview

Summary: This Surveying and Land Mapping Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, step‑by‑step method for planning and undertaking surveying activities safely, accurately and in full alignment with Australian WHS and land management requirements. It helps field crews manage on-site risks, protect equipment, and deliver reliable data that can be confidently used for design, construction, planning and compliance purposes.

Surveying and land mapping work often takes place in dynamic, high‑risk environments such as active construction sites, road corridors, rail corridors, mine sites, agricultural land and remote bushland. This Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, practical framework for planning and executing field surveys, from desktop preparation and site access approvals through to on‑site set‑up, data capture, verification and demobilisation. It embeds WHS risk management into every stage, ensuring that survey teams operate safely around plant and traffic, manage environmental conditions, and protect the integrity of their equipment and data.

By adopting this SOP, organisations can standardise how surveying tasks are performed across projects and locations, reducing variability, rework and exposure to WHS breaches. The procedure supports compliance with Australian surveying and mapping standards, WHS legislation and client specifications, while also improving the quality and traceability of survey outputs. Whether you are undertaking topographic surveys, set‑out for civil works, cadastral surveys, UAV/drone mapping or as‑constructed surveys, this SOP helps you demonstrate due diligence, defend your decisions, and deliver reliable information that downstream designers, builders and regulators can trust.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, defensible surveying and mapping practices across all projects and field teams.
• Reduce the risk of worker injury when operating in traffic corridors, construction zones, remote areas and uneven terrain.
• Improve data accuracy and reliability through standardised field checks, calibration routines and quality assurance steps.
• Streamline planning, permissions and stakeholder communication for site access and fieldwork scheduling.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant surveying and geospatial standards.

Who is this for?

• Surveyors
• Engineering Surveyors
• Survey Party Leaders
• Construction Project Managers
• Civil Engineers
• Town Planners
• WHS Managers
• Field Technicians
• GIS and Mapping Specialists
• Site Supervisors
• Local Government Infrastructure Officers
• Mining and Resources Project Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Vehicle and mobile plant interactions in road, rail and construction environments
• Working in or near live traffic and work zones
• Slips, trips and falls on uneven, sloping or unstable ground
• Heat stress, UV exposure and adverse weather conditions during outdoor fieldwork
• Remote and isolated work, including limited communications and delayed emergency response
• Manual handling injuries from carrying tripods, GNSS gear, total stations and batteries
• Electrical hazards when working near overhead and underground services
• Drowning risks when working near watercourses, coastal areas or flood‑prone land
• Drone/UAV operation risks including loss of control, collision and public safety impacts
• Wildlife, vegetation and environmental hazards (e.g. snakes, insects, dense scrub)
• Fatigue risks from extended field days, travel and repetitive tasks

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (Survey Party Leader, Surveyor, Spotter, WHS Representative)
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Company Policies
• 5.0 Pre‑Survey Planning and Desktop Assessment
• 6.0 Risk Assessment and Safe Work Methodology for Survey Activities
• 7.0 Site Access, Permits and Stakeholder Notifications
• 8.0 Traffic Management and Working Near Roads and Rail
• 9.0 Remote and Isolated Work Controls
• 10.0 Environmental and Weather Considerations
• 11.0 Required Equipment, Calibration and Pre‑Use Checks (GNSS, Total Station, Levels, UAVs)
• 12.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 13.0 On‑Site Set‑Up and Establishing Control Points
• 14.0 Field Data Collection Procedures (Topographic, Cadastral, Construction Set‑Out, As‑Constructed)
• 15.0 UAV/Drone Surveying and Airspace Safety Requirements
• 16.0 Working Near Services, Water and Other Specific Hazards
• 17.0 Data Validation, Quality Assurance and Documentation
• 18.0 Demobilisation, Equipment Care and Data Backup
• 19.0 Incident Reporting, Near Misses and Corrective Actions
• 20.0 Training, Competency and Authorisation Requirements
• 21.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement of the SOP

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS legislation
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 and state/territory equivalents
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 Risk management – Guidelines
• AS/NZS 4801:2001 Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still widely referenced)
• AS 5488:2019 Classification of subsurface utility information
• AS/NZS 4360 (and ISO 19011 references in internal auditing, if applicable to QA processes)
• Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 and CASA guidance for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) operations
• State and territory survey practice regulations and guidelines (e.g. Surveying and Spatial Information Acts and Regulations)