Product Overview

This Bobcat Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a site-ready safety document designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement controls for the safe use of Bobcats on Australian worksites. It is a comprehensive, task-specific SWMS that covers multiple aspects of Bobcat operation to support WHS compliance and effective risk management.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Pre-start inspections of the Bobcat, including tyres, attachments, safety devices, fluids, and warning systems
• Safe mounting and dismounting of the Bobcat, including three points of contact and maintaining exclusion zones
• Starting, operating, and shutting down the Bobcat in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and site procedures
• Safe manoeuvring of the Bobcat in confined or congested work areas, including traffic management and spotter use
• Operation of Bobcat buckets, forks, and other attachments for lifting, loading, and shifting materials
• Management of ground conditions, slopes, and unstable surfaces to prevent rollovers and loss of control
• Controls for working around pedestrians, other plant, and public areas, including designated exclusion zones
• Loading and unloading the Bobcat from trailers or trucks, including securing plant for transport
• Controls for working near services, trenches, edges, and excavations to avoid collapse or plant rollover
• Noise, dust, vibration, and diesel fume risk management for operators and nearby workers
• Emergency procedures for plant failure, tip-over, collision, or injury involving Bobcat operations
• Lock-out/tag-out and isolation procedures for maintenance, cleaning, and repair of the Bobcat

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for earthmoving contractors, civil construction crews, landscapers, demolition and building contractors, hire companies, and site supervisors who manage or operate Bobcats on Australian worksites.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Model Code of Practice: Construction Work – Guidance on managing risks associated with construction activities involving mobile plant
• Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace – Requirements for the safe use, inspection, and maintenance of plant such as Bobcats
• Model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks – Framework for hazard identification, risk assessment, and control measures
• Model Code of Practice: Traffic Management in Workplaces – Guidance for managing interactions between mobile plant and pedestrians
• AS 2359 Powered Industrial Trucks (where applicable) – Relevant principles for safe operation of powered mobile plant
• AS/NZS 4024 Safety of Machinery (series) – General principles for machinery safety and guarding
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017