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The sun is out and so are the snakes. Make sure your staff, particularly outdoor and depot workers are snake aware.

Did you know - there are approximately 3000 snakebites each year in Australia, with 500 requiring hospital admission. Snakebites are an ever-present risk for local government workers, especially those who work in snake habitat, such as parks and gardens, or in places of refuge such as depots and work sheds.

Members should make sure that staff are aware of snake safety and that first aiders know what to do in the event of a snakebite.

There are various risks to be aware of when in the vicinity of a snake, which should be taught by trained professionals. During the workshop with Fauna for the Future, you will learn about these risks, including:

Understanding where a snake has gone

When you see a snake, it is very important to be able to track it. The reason, of course, is that by knowing the snake's whereabouts, you are most able to keep your colleagues safe. 

When looking for the snake, it will almost always leave a track – but are you able to spot the track of a retreating snake? Snake tracks on sand look remarkably different to those on tiled, painted, or smooth surfaces. You should not attempt to track a snake unless you have been trained.

Searching for hidden danger

Snakes are natural hiders who often ambush their prey. When clearing clutter from workspaces and yards, you may encounter snakes amongst the objects. It is essential to approach this situation correctly, to protect yourself and your colleagues – do not assume noise will send the snake away; often it will drive the snake to stay hidden.

In the workshop

Snakes will always find the smallest spots to hide. Pressure against their body makes them feel comfortable, and they will often enter an area and curl up with their tail visible but their head hidden and waiting.

The side of the road

When clearing rubbish from the roadside, you must always conduct a risk assessment before commencing any work.

Entering an area

Snakes need water to survive, so you could come across a snake in your worksites, air conditioners, and water coolers, to name a few.

Know your snakes

It's useful to be able to recognise different snake species. Although most are, not all Western Australian snakes are venomous. Can you tell the difference between a dugite, tiger snake, carpet python or mulga snake?

Knowing how to act when snakes are present could prevent you or a colleague from being injured or even be the difference between life and death.

For more information on determining how to manage the risk of snakes takes to your Regional Risk Consultant or the LGIS People Risk team.