Orchard Pruning / Harvesting SWMS
SWMS template for orchard pruning / harvesting. Covers Tree fruit + nut harvest, orchard ladders.. 8-state AU coverage, CIH-reviewed editable DOCX delivered within 24 hours of payment.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Orchard pruning and harvesting operations across Australian tree-fruit and nut enterprises expose workers to a distinct combination of biomechanical, falls-from-height, plant, chemical residue and environmental hazards. Tasks such as pruning stone fruit, picking apples or pears from orchard ladders, shaking almond or macadamia trees, and operating elevated work platforms in citrus blocks are governed by the model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the WHS Regulation 2017 (or state equivalents — including OHS Act 2004 (Vic) and WHS Act 2020 (WA)). Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs) carry a primary duty of care under section 19 of the WHS Act to eliminate or minimise risks so far as is reasonably practicable.
While orchard work is not classified as 'construction work' under WHS Regulation r291, a Safe Work Method Statement remains the recognised compliance tool to demonstrate consultation, hazard identification and risk control under regulations 34–38 (managing risks to health and safety). Where workers ascend orchard ladders above 2 metres, perform sustained repetitive cutting motions, or apply post-harvest chemicals, the PCBU must document controls in line with the Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice and the Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice.
This SWMS template has been reviewed by a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and is current to WHS Regulation 2025 amendments. It is supplied as an editable DOCX with state-specific legislative schedules for all eight Australian jurisdictions, enabling orchardists, labour-hire contractors and farm managers to demonstrate due diligence to SafeWork inspectors, Fair Farms auditors and major retail supply-chain auditors.
Hazards identified
6 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Fractures, spinal injury or fatality from ladder instability on soft or sloping ground; ranked the leading cause of orchard fatalities in SafeWork Australia data
Chronic tendinopathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff injury and lower-back disorders — notifiable as occupational disease
Deep tissue lacerations, tendon severance and infection requiring surgical intervention and lost-time injury
Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, dehydration, and long-term skin cancer risk (melanoma) under AS/NZS 4399 sun protection
Dermal absorption, respiratory irritation and cholinesterase inhibition where re-entry intervals (REI) on APVMA labels are breached
Anaphylaxis, envenomation, sepsis or tetanus infection requiring emergency medical response in remote orchard locations
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Inspect every orchard ladder before each shift against AS/NZS 1892.1 — reject ladders with bent rungs, split timber stiles or missing tripod feet; tag out and remove from service
- 2Position tripod ladders only on firm, level ground with the third leg pointing into the tree canopy; never use straight extension ladders for picking unless tied off at the top
- 3Implement task rotation every 90 minutes between pruning, picking, bin-running and ground duties to reduce cumulative repetitive strain (per Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice)
- 4Issue ergonomically designed bypass secateurs, holster belts and powered/pneumatic pruners for high-volume cuts; mandate use of harvest aprons rather than over-the-shoulder picking bags exceeding 9 kg
- 5Enforce minimum PPE: cut-resistant gloves (EN 388), AS/NZS 1067 wide-brim hat, AS/NZS 1067 sunglasses, SPF 50+ sunscreen reapplied 2-hourly, long sleeves and enclosed leather boots
- 6Strictly observe APVMA-mandated re-entry intervals (REI) for every chemical applied; maintain a chemical application register at the orchard gate and brief workers at toolbox meeting
- 7Provide cool potable water within 50 metres of every work crew, mandatory shade breaks when WBGT exceeds 28°C, and stop-work trigger at 32°C ambient under the heat stress management plan
- 8Equip every crew with a stocked first-aid kit including snake-bite compression bandages, EpiPen access protocol, and a charged UHF/satellite communicator for remote blocks beyond mobile coverage
- 9Conduct documented site induction covering ladder use, manual handling techniques, chemical re-entry, emergency procedures and the location of the nearest hospital with helipad access
- 10Maintain currency of HLTAID011 first-aid certification for at least one nominated person per crew of 10 workers, in line with First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice
Applicable Codes of Practice
Directly applies to orchard ladder work above 2 metres; prescribes hierarchy of controls and inspection requirements
Governs repetitive pruning and picking motions, force, posture and duration risk factors
Construction and inspection standard for orchard tripod and straight ladders
Applies to re-entry intervals, SDS access and PPE for residue exposure
Heat, hydration, shade, amenities and remote-work provisions for outdoor orchard crews
First-aid kit contents, trained first-aider ratios and emergency response in remote agricultural settings
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Orchard ladder pruning and picking routinely places workers between 2.5 m and 4 m above ground on tripod ladders. While orchards fall outside the construction-work definition, the same r291(4) risk threshold informs the SWMS standard expected by SafeWork inspectors and Fair Farms auditors.
Although orchard work is not 'construction work' under WHS Regulation r291, PCBUs remain bound by the general risk-management duty under regs 34–38. Failure to document falls-from-height controls in a written risk assessment (such as this SWMS) is routinely cited as evidence of breach of the primary duty of care under s.19 of the WHS Act, with Category 2 penalties up to $1.5M for a body corporate.
Who this is for
- →Orchardists and family-owned tree-fruit and nut enterprises
- →Labour-hire contractors supplying seasonal pickers and pruners under the PALM scheme
- →Farm managers and supervisors responsible for harvest crew safety
- →Agricultural contractors providing mechanical pruning and shake-and-catch services
- →Fair Farms, Freshcare and SQF certified growers requiring documented SWMS for audit
- →WHS consultants and farm advisors supporting horticultural clients
What you receive
- ✓Fully editable Microsoft Word (DOCX) SWMS template — unlocked, no watermarks
- ✓State-specific legislation schedule covering NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT
- ✓Pre-populated hazard register with 6 orchard-specific hazards and consequence ratings
- ✓Worker sign-on register with induction acknowledgement and competency fields
- ✓CIH-reviewed control measures aligned to current Codes of Practice
- ✓Toolbox-talk template for daily pre-start briefings
- ✓Emergency response and first-aid contact insert page
- ✓Delivery within 24 hours of payment via secure download link
Worked example
A Goulburn Valley pear orchard engages a 12-person PALM-scheme picking crew for a six-week harvest. Before work commences, the farm supervisor opens this SWMS template, inserts the orchard address, the names of the nominated first-aider (HLTAID011-certified) and the chemical residue REI dates from the most recent fungicide application. Each picker signs the worker register at the morning toolbox meeting, where the supervisor walks through tripod-ladder positioning, the 9 kg picking-bag limit, and the 32°C stop-work trigger. On day nine, a SafeWork Victoria inspector arrives following a complaint about ladder safety. The supervisor produces the completed SWMS, the signed worker register, the daily ladder inspection log and the chemical application records. Because the controls match the Managing the Risk of Falls Code of Practice and AS/NZS 1892.1, the inspector closes the visit with no improvement notice — the documented system demonstrates the PCBU has met its s.19 duty so far as is reasonably practicable.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth model) — s.19 primary duty of care
- Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 — regs 34–38 risk management
- Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) and OHS Regulations 2017
- Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and WHS (General) Regulations 2022
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994 (Cth) — APVMA label compliance
- Workers Compensation legislation in each state for notifiable injury reporting
- Migration Regulations 1994 — PALM scheme worker welfare obligations
Frequently asked questions
Is a SWMS legally required for orchard work if it isn't construction work?
A SWMS is only legally mandated for High Risk Construction Work under WHS Regulation r291. Orchard work is not construction. However, regulations 34–38 require PCBUs to identify hazards and document controls, and a SWMS is the standard format used by SafeWork inspectors, Fair Farms auditors and supply-chain customers (Coles, Woolworths, Costa) to verify that duty has been met. We strongly recommend it.
Does this SWMS cover both tree-fruit and nut operations?
Yes. The template addresses pome fruit (apples, pears), stone fruit (cherries, peaches, plums), citrus and tree nuts (almonds, macadamias, walnuts, pistachios). It covers manual picking, ladder pruning, pole-pruning and oversight of mechanical shake-and-catch contractors.
Is the document valid in all Australian states?
Yes. The DOCX includes a legislation schedule for all eight jurisdictions. Victoria operates under the OHS Act 2004 rather than the model WHS Act, and Western Australia adopted the WHS Act 2020 — both variations are addressed in the schedule so you can simply select your state.
How quickly will I receive the SWMS after purchase?
The editable DOCX is delivered via secure download link within 24 hours of payment confirmation. For most purchases, delivery is automated and immediate.
Has this been reviewed by a qualified hygienist?
Yes. Every SWMS on this platform is authored and reviewed by a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and cross-checked against the current WHS Regulation 2025 amendments and the latest Safe Work Australia Codes of Practice.
Can I edit the template to match my specific orchard?
Absolutely. The DOCX is fully unlocked with no watermarks or restrictions. You should customise site-specific details such as block layout, chemical register, emergency contacts, nearest hospital and named first-aiders before issuing it to workers.