Environmental & WHS Policies

Organisation: Sydney Shooters & Hunting Association (SSHA)
Contact: info@ssha.org.au
Phone: 0404 081 818
Emergency: 000

Field	Value
Document status	Club approved
Version	1.0
Effective date	8 October 2026
Next review	8 October 2027
Related framework	NSW WHS laws; venue/range standing orders; club conduct & firearms policies; SSHA Constitution Appendices 3–4
Shooting range	Range Rd, Cecil Park NSW 2178
ABN	40 388 949 185
Insurance	Precision Underwriting
Governing document	SSHA Club Constitution — prevails on conflict

1. Purpose

This policy sets SSHA’s approach to work health and safety (WHS) and environmental responsibility for club activities, including target shooting, training, competitions, club days, dealer handling activities, and hunting-related club pathways.

SSHA aims to provide a safe environment so far as reasonably practicable for members, guests, volunteers, officers, and others who may be affected by club activities.

Consistent with the constitutional mission (Appendix 3), SSHA promotes shooting and hunting as safe, ethical, and responsible, and as beneficial to the environment, conservation, and the economy.

2. Scope

Applies to:

Activities organised or supervised by SSHA at affiliated ranges and other approved sites
Sydney International Shooting Centre (Cecil Park) and Southern Highlands Regional Shooting Complex (Hill Top), and any other venues used by the club
Club administrative work involving physical handling of firearms/ammunition under dealer processes
Hunting trips and field activities promoted or coordinated through club pathways
Volunteers and officers acting for SSHA

Host venue rules apply in addition to this policy. Where venue rules are stricter, venue rules prevail on that site.

3. WHS responsibilities

3.1 Committee

Approve WHS policy and ensure resources for safe operations
Review serious incidents and near misses
Ensure officer delegations for safety control are clear

3.2 Activity controllers / ROs / MOs / club officers

Exercise immediate safety authority at activities
Stop activities where conditions are unsafe
Enforce range rules, eye/ear protection requirements, and cease-fires
Report incidents and hazards

3.3 Members, guests, and participants

Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others
Follow all safety directions and range standing orders
Use required PPE
Report hazards, incidents, and near misses promptly
Not participate while impaired

3.4 Administrators / dealer-authorised persons

Follow safe handling, storage, transport, and chain-of-custody procedures for firearms and ammunition under club control
Maintain secure storage and accurate registers

4. Range and activity safety controls

4.1 Authority to shoot / participate — Only eligible, checked-in participants under officer control may take part in live-fire activities.

4.2 Briefings — Participants new to a discipline or venue should receive an appropriate safety briefing before shooting.

4.3 PPE — Eye and ear protection (and any other venue-required PPE) must be worn in designated areas. Constitution Appendix 3 also requires proper protective equipment including safety glasses, ear protection, and enclosed shoes.

4.4 Firearms handling — Actions open/safe as required; muzzles in safe directions; load only on the line when authorised; obey cease-fire immediately. Members must also follow the NSW Firearms Safety Awareness Handbook and the constitutional safe-handling guide (treat every firearm as loaded; muzzle safe; finger off trigger until intending to shoot; know the target and beyond; unload when not in use; shoot only where legally allowed; no drugs/alcohol).

4.5 Ammunition — Only permitted ammunition for the firearm, discipline, and venue. Damaged or unsafe ammunition must not be used.

4.6 Malfunctions — Follow RO/MO directions; do not leave the line with a loaded malfunctioning firearm except as directed.

4.7 Movement and housekeeping — Keep firing points tidy; dispose of spent cases and rubbish as directed; no running or horseplay in live-fire areas.

4.8 Weather and environment — Activities may be delayed or cancelled for lightning, extreme heat, smoke, high wind, or other hazards.

4.9 First aid — Know the location of first aid and emergency assembly points at the venue. Call 000 in emergency, then notify range control / officers.

5. Try Shooting and novice safety

5.1 Novices and Try Shooting participants must be supervised in accordance with club and venue requirements.

5.2 Required declarations (including P650) must be completed before participation. Sessions end immediately if requirements are not met.

5.3 Instructors/officers may refuse or terminate a session where safety cannot be assured.

6. Junior participant safety

6.1 Juniors (minimum age 12 for membership) require compliant supervision. A parent or guardian must be present whenever a person under 18 attends a club activity.

6.2 Equipment must be suitable for the participant’s size and competence.

6.3 Officers may impose additional restrictions for junior participation in specific disciplines. Committee members and club officers must hold a WWCC; other officials only where designated (see Member Conduct & Protection Policies).

6.4 Minor hunters (Constitution Appendix 4): Minors (over 12 and under 18) may apply for a Minors Game Hunting Licence (NSW) and must hunt under the close personal supervision of a licensed person at least 18 years old who holds the same type of licence. If using firearms, the minor must also hold a Minors Firearms Training Permit as well as a Minors Game Hunting Licence.

7. Fatigue, heat, and hydration

7.1 Officers should consider rotation, shade, and rest in hot conditions, especially for longer competitions and club days.

7.2 Participants are responsible for hydration and sun protection appropriate to outdoor venues.

8. Hazardous substances and noise

8.1 Lead exposure, propellant residues, and noise are inherent hazards of shooting sports. Participants should practise hygiene (e.g. wash hands before eating) and use hearing protection.

8.2 Club cleaning or maintenance involving solvents or lead-contaminated materials must follow safe work practices [TO BE CONFIRMED — site procedures].

9. Firearms and ammunition under club control (dealer / acquisition)

9.1 Firearms held under club dealer processes must be stored, transported, and recorded in accordance with licence conditions and law.

9.2 Only authorised persons may access secure storage and acquisition evidence.

9.3 Transfers and Police process steps must follow the current acquisition procedure and acknowledgements.

10. Hunting and field environmental standards

10.1 Hunting and pest control through club pathways must be:

Lawful (licences, permissions, seasons, methods)
Humane and ethical
Limited to approved areas and authorities’ conditions

10.2 Members must minimise environmental harm: no illegal dumping, no unnecessary damage to vegetation/habitat, respect fire bans and landholder rules, and remove rubbish.

10.3 Carcass and waste disposal must follow landholder and legal requirements.

10.4 Members must not present club hunting as authorisation to enter land or take game without proper permission.

10.5 Constitution Appendix 4 — additional hunting / environmental rules:

Legislation awareness: Comply with relevant hunting, animal welfare, firearms, and weapons laws (including NSW examples listed in the Firearms Governance policy and guidelines such as the National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Non-Commercial Purposes). Where protected species require management, the landowner must hold a valid pest mitigation or destruction permit.
Land permission: Express authority of the occupier is required before hunting (written where required).
Target identification and safety: Do not fire unless the animal is clearly seen and identified and the shot poses no discernible risk of injury to any person or significant property damage.
Avoid suffering: Target for a humane kill; shoot within accepted killing range; use firearm/ammunition or bow reasonably expected to humanely kill the target species.
Lactating females: If killed, every reasonable effort to locate and humanely kill dependent young.
Wounded animals: Take all reasonable steps to locate and humanely kill.
Carcasses: Dispose as requested by the landholder and within law; it is desirable to cut the stomach to speed decomposition; under no circumstances dump carcasses along public roads, on public land, or at Council tips unless at a specified dead-animal facility.
Blaze orange: All hunters and non-hunting companions must wear at least one item of blaze orange clothing on the upper body, clearly visible (not an undergarment).
Companions: Licensed hunters remain responsible for ensuring non-hunting companions act within applicable laws/rules.

11. Environmental responsibility at ranges and events

11.1 Participants must use designated bins and spent-case procedures.

11.2 Avoid unnecessary single-use waste at club events where practical.

11.3 Report fuel, oil, or other spills to venue management / officers.

11.4 Respect flora, fauna, and neighbouring community expectations around noise and access.

12. Incident, hazard, and near-miss reporting

12.1 Report immediately to the RO/MO/activity controller:

Injury or illness
Negligent discharge or serious safety breach
Lost/found ammunition or firearm control issues
Facility hazards (berms, target frames, flooring, lighting, venomous animals, etc.)

12.2 After the activity, notify info@ssha.org.au with date, location, people involved, and summary.

12.3 Serious incidents may require Regulator/Police/venue notification. The Committee coordinates external notifications.

12.4 Do not disturb an incident scene where Police or serious investigation may be required, except to provide first aid or prevent further harm.

13. Injury management and return to activity

13.1 Injured persons should seek appropriate medical care.

13.2 Return to shooting after significant injury should be cleared as appropriate by the individual (and medical advice where needed); officers may refuse participation if safety remains in doubt.

14. Training and induction

14.1 Officers and instructors should be competent for their role (including Hunter Leap trainer competency where relevant).

14.2 Members are expected to understand basic range commands and discipline-specific safety rules before unsupervised participation (noting supervision rules always prevail).

14.3 Formal induction checklist: [TO BE CONFIRMED].

15. Insurance

15.1 Optional club insurance products may be offered as a membership add-on; members should understand what is and is not covered.

15.2 Venue or third-party insurance arrangements may also apply. Members should not assume all risks are insured.

15.3 Club insurance is arranged through Precision Underwriting. Current certificates of currency / policy schedules are held by the Treasurer and Secretary. Members should confirm with the club what cover applies to a given activity.

15.4 Constitutional insurance controls (clause 32): The Association may effect and maintain insurance as required by Association needs and legislation. The insurance policy must not be used by anyone outside the Association in the Association’s name. Use of the policy is limited to authorised Association events and functions documented in minutes.

16. Continuous improvement

The Committee will review WHS and environmental incidents periodically, update procedures, and align with venue requirements and legislative change.

17. Related documents

SSHA Club Constitution (including Appendices 3 and 4)
Member Conduct & Protection Policies
Firearms Governance & Compliance Policies
Terms and Conditions
Administrative & Corporate Governance Policies
Venue / range standing orders (external)

18. Policy ownership

Owner: The Club
Approver: The Club
Review cycle: At least annually, or after a serious incident

On any inconsistency with the Constitution, the Constitution prevails.