Sutherland Shire Council reviews use of glyphosate in parks, playgrounds, gardens and other public places

Staff have been asked to advise on the safety, handling, public notification and management and use of glyphosate, which is an active ingredient of the commonly used brand Roundup.

A report, to be completed within two months, will also identify any alternative, non-glyphosate solutions.

The move follows a petition, with about 150 names, gathered by Grays Point resident Susanna Foran, which was presented for urgent debate by Cr Barry Collier at this month's council meeting.

Ms Foran said she was concerned for the safety of council workers, whom she sees spraying Roundup without the protection of gloves or a mask, as well as the general public and pets.

Concern about the herbicide, which is used around the world by farmers, government bodies and home gardeners, increased last month when a US jury awarded damages of $80.3 million to a former farmer.

It was the second such verdict in the US in a year, with man more cases pending.

Regulator, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) said in March, "Glyphosate is registered for use in Australia and APVMA approved products containing glyphosate can continue to be used safely according to label directions".

The authority said product label warnings included relevant poisons scheduling, first aid, and safety directions detailing personal protective equipment.

The authority said it considered glyphosate in 2016 "and found no grounds to place it under formal reconsideration."

Ms Foran said the World Health Organisation (WHO) had confirmed glyphosate was a probable human carcinogen.

France had banned the use of Roundup, councils and states globally had stopped using it and hundreds of compensation claims were pending in the US, she said.

Manufacturer Bayer insists glyphosate is safe to use. The company said four WHO programs had reviewed it and only one had "incorrectly classified" the herbicide as a "probable carcinogen".