Product Overview

Summary: This Wildlife Control Methods Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, defensible framework for managing wildlife interactions in and around Australian workplaces. It focuses on protecting workers, visitors and animals by setting out humane, WHS-compliant control methods tailored to local species and site conditions.

Australian workplaces routinely intersect with native and introduced wildlife – from snakes, spiders and swooping birds to possums, kangaroos, feral animals and protected species. Without a structured approach, ad‑hoc responses can put workers at risk, breach wildlife protection laws, and damage community and stakeholder trust. This Wildlife Control Methods SOP establishes a consistent, risk-based process for identifying wildlife hazards, assessing their impact on work activities, and implementing humane, legally compliant control measures.

The procedure guides businesses through planning, consultation with licensed wildlife handlers where required, safe work methods for common wildlife scenarios, and clear escalation and emergency response steps. It helps duty holders balance their WHS obligations with environmental and animal welfare responsibilities, ensuring that control actions are justified, proportionate and documented. By adopting this SOP, organisations can reduce wildlife-related incidents, support safe continuity of operations, and demonstrate due diligence under Australian WHS and environmental legislation.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of wildlife-related injuries, bites, stings and vehicle incidents on and around the worksite.
• Ensure humane and legally compliant wildlife control that aligns with state and territory environmental and animal welfare requirements.
• Standardise how workers report, assess and respond to wildlife encounters across multiple sites and teams.
• Demonstrate WHS due diligence through documented risk assessments, control methods and consultation with competent wildlife specialists.
• Minimise operational disruption by planning proactive wildlife management around seasonal patterns and site-specific risks.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Site Supervisors
• Facilities Managers
• Pest and Wildlife Control Contractors
• Environmental Managers
• Ranger and Field Operations Coordinators
• Farm and Station Managers
• Construction Project Managers
• Local Government Operations Managers
• Event and Venue Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Bites and stings from venomous snakes, spiders and insects
• Aggressive behaviour from territorial birds (e.g. magpies), kangaroos and other fauna
• Zoonotic disease transmission from bats, rodents and other animals
• Vehicle collisions with wildlife on access roads and within work sites
• Trips, falls or other injuries while attempting to avoid or capture wildlife
• Psychological stress or anxiety among workers due to frequent wildlife encounters
• Uncontrolled use of traps, poisons or deterrents creating secondary safety and environmental risks

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Common Wildlife Scenarios
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Consultation with Licensed Wildlife Controllers and Regulators
• 5.0 Hazard Identification and Wildlife Risk Assessment Process
• 6.0 Hierarchy of Control for Wildlife Management
• 7.0 Approved Wildlife Deterrent and Control Methods
• 8.0 Species-Specific Procedures (Snakes, Birds, Bats, Kangaroos, Feral Animals, etc.)
• 9.0 Use of Contractors and Third-Party Wildlife Services
• 10.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 11.0 Safe Work Practices for Capture, Relocation and Exclusion
• 12.0 Vehicle and Traffic Management in Wildlife-Prone Areas
• 13.0 Incident, Bite and Sting Response and First Aid
• 14.0 Reporting, Recordkeeping and Notification Obligations
• 15.0 Training, Induction and Awareness Requirements
• 16.0 Environmental, Cultural and Animal Welfare Considerations
• 17.0 Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
• 18.0 References and Related Documents

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – First Aid in the Workplace: Code of Practice
• AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 Risk management – Guidelines
• AS/NZS 4801:2001 Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still commonly referenced)
• Relevant state and territory wildlife and biodiversity conservation legislation (e.g. Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW), Nature Conservation Act 2014 (ACT))
• Relevant state and territory animal welfare legislation and codes of practice for the humane control of pest animals