This Livestock Handling SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled for mustering, yard work, crush handling, husbandry, loading and caring for cattle, sheep and other stock. It covers 34 activities, from assessing the stock and inspecting the yards to shutting down and emergency response, with the hazards, control measures and risk ratings before and after controls for each. It's written by WHS specialists, aligned to Australian WHS legislation, and fully editable in Microsoft Word.
Who it's for
Beef, dairy, sheep and pig farms
Stock contractors and musterers
Feedlots and saleyard operators
Livestock transport operators who load and unload stock
Agistment and rural property managers
A SWMS isn't only for construction. Plenty of farms use one as the written risk assessment for stock work, the same way others use a JSA or Safe Work Procedure.
Use it to
Show clients, insurers and auditors how you manage the risks
Apply for tenders, contracts and supplier panels
Get through prequalification with Avetta, Cm3 and other contractor portals
Induct new workers and train them in the task
What this SWMS covers
Assessing stock temperament and inspecting yards, races, crushes and ramps
Receiving stock off trucks and loading and unloading at the ramp
Bike, side-by-side and vehicle pre-starts, refuelling and rollover risk
Mustering on foot, with working dogs, on bikes and on horseback
Forcing yards, races and drafting, including crush and climbing injuries
Restraining stock in the crush and head bail
Drenching, vaccinating and tagging, including needlestick self injection
Husbandry procedures, calving, lambing and handling bulls, rams and boars
Moving stock on public roads, feeding out and handling downed animals
Zoonotic disease such as Q fever and leptospirosis, snakes and effluent pit gases
Heat, fatigue and working alone in remote paddocks
Emergency response to crush, trampling, needlestick or remote injury
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 34 work activities
Risk ratings before and after controls, with a 5x5 risk matrix and the hierarchy of controls
PPE requirements checklist and high risk construction work checklist
Plant and equipment list, materials, maintenance checks and the training each worker needs
Relevant Australian Standards, including AS 5340 for livestock loading ramps and forcing pens
Training in stock behaviour, flight zone and point of balance, plus needlestick response and Q fever awareness
Site specific hazards section for anything unique to your job
Worker sign-off sheet and worker consultation record
Why use this template
Saves hours compared with writing a SWMS from a blank page
Covers the most common hazards and control measures for this work, ready to use out of the box
Fully editable, so you can add, remove or change anything to suit your site and how your team works
Helps your business stay compliant, with risk ratings, worker sign-off and consultation records already set up
How it works
Buy online and download straight away. You'll also get an email with your link.
Add your logo, ABN, project and site details.
Check it suits your site and task, edit anything you need to, and consult your workers before you finalise it.
Brief your team and collect signatures.
Common questions
Do I need a SWMS for livestock handling?
No. Livestock handling isn't high risk construction work, so a SWMS isn't a legal requirement. You still have to manage the risks, including crush injuries in the yards and quad bike rollovers, and a SWMS is a practical way to record how. Clients, insurers and prequalification portals often ask for one.
Does it cover needlestick injuries from animal vaccines?
Yes. It covers needlestick self injection, which can cause severe tissue damage with oil based adjuvant vaccines, along with sharps handling and needlestick response training for workers.
Can I change it?
Yes. It's a Microsoft Word file, so you can add, remove or change any hazard, control or rating, and add your own logo and details.
Does it suit my state?
Yes. It's written to the model WHS laws and suits all states and territories, including Victoria under the OHS Act and Regulations.
What if it doesn't suit my work?
You're covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee if it isn't fit for purpose.
