Dog attacks and prevention strategies

Dog attacks pose a significant WHS risk for delivery workers and are unfortunately rather common. Please follow the guidelines on dealing with dogs.

When you spot an aggressive dog at the delivery location, but you are still out of its reach:

Prevention is the best medicine. Before you enter the recipient’s premises:

1. Call the recipient. 
1. If the recipient is home, please call them and ask them to come to the door/gate.
2. If the recipient is not home, ask what they would like to do. Such as book a return or redelivery.
2. Call the client If the recipient did not provide a phone number or does not answer the phone and see if they can get ahold of the client or ask what they would like you to do.
3. If both the recipient and the client are unavailable, please contact Sherpa live support via call or chat and we will assist you.

If you’re already within the dogs attack range:

1. Stay calm and don’t run! Doing so will make the dog more likely to attack or chase you.
1. Stand your ground and face the dog instead
2. Don’t make eye contact with the dog, a dog can see this behaviour as threatening 
3. Try firmly telling the dog a common cue, such as “sit” or “stay.”
4. Use an object between you and the dog as a barrier, like an umbrella or even the parcel and back away slowly

If you have been attacked by a dog:

1. After a dog attack, you should make sure you remove yourself from the location and out of the dog’s reach and seek medical treatment as a priority.
2. When it is safe to do so, you must report the attack to Sherpa and to the local council as soon as possible. Taking photos of the wound straight after it happens can be helpful.
3. If the attack occurred outside local council hours, you may call your local police station.
4. You may want to talk to the dog’s owner, but only after you are sure that it's been secured and cannot attack you again.