Animal Transport and Livestock Loading Risk Assessment

Product Overview

This risk assessment covers animal transport and livestock loading activities, including site preparation, vehicle movements, livestock handling, loading, securing and incident response. It supports planning and risk management by addressing interactions between animals, people, vehicles, equipment and changing site conditions.

Activities & Risks Covered

This assessment addresses activities and risks including:

• Assess the site, yard layout, weather, work roles and communication arrangements before starting
• Position trucks, utes, trailers and other mobile plant while managing traffic movements
• Inspect vehicles, trailers, ramps, gates, latches, floors, partitions and restraints
• Move livestock through yards while managing unpredictable animal movement and manual tasks
• Load livestock using ramps, catwalks, access points and compartments
• Secure animals, gates and partitions while considering load distribution and vehicle stability
• Handle gates, panels, tools, hoses and other handling equipment
• Manage hygiene, contamination and exposure to animal-borne material
• Work safely in heat, dust, noise, mud, rain and fatigue-prone conditions
• Prepare for animal escape, vehicle movement, injuries and other incidents

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses involved in animal transport and livestock loading activities.

Activities & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template records model guidance used to inform the documented controls. Applicable WHS/OHS laws and adopted Codes vary by state or territory, so confirm the current local requirements when tailoring the assessment:

• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of fatigue at work — Provide sufficient breaks while at work; p. 30.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks — 4.1 The hierarchy of control measures; p. 31.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace — Plant hazard identification — Traffic movements in the workplace; p. 17.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Work health and safety consultation, cooperation and coordination — 3. What is effective consultation?; p. 13.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: First aid in the workplace — 3. First aid equipment, facilities and training; p. 12.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities — 2.8 Heat and cold; p. 21.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work — 5. Controlling the risks; p. 29.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks — 4. Step 3 — How to control risks; p. 20.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces — 3.2 Identifying the hazards; p. 16.

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Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)

• Activity-specific hazard identification and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each activity
• Risk matrix and assessment classification
• Review, monitoring and sign-off fields
• Site-specific customisation before use