Product Overview

This Car Carrier SWMS is a site-ready Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify, control, and minimise the risks associated with loading, securing, transporting, and unloading vehicles on car carriers and flatbeds. It is a comprehensive, task-specific document that supports WHS compliance and safe management of all key stages of car carrier loading and unloading operations.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Planning of car carrier operations, including route selection, site access, and traffic management around loading zones
• Pre-start inspection of the car carrier, flatbed, ramps, winches, hydraulics, and safety systems prior to use
• Safe positioning and stabilisation of the car carrier or flatbed to prevent movement, roll-away, or tipping during loading
• Load and unload vehicles on flatbed trucks, including alignment, approach, and controlled driving on and off ramps
• Car carrier loading and unloading operations using ramps, tilt trays, or hydraulic decks to minimise fall and crush risks
• Selection, use, and inspection of tie-downs, chains, ratchet straps, and wheel chocks to correctly secure vehicles in transit
• Working around moving vehicles, including spotter use, exclusion zones, and communication between drivers and ground personnel
• Managing risks from vehicle roll-away, including use of park brakes, wheel chocks, gear selection, and gradient assessment
• Control of slips, trips, and falls while accessing decks, walking on trays, and working on wet, oily, or uneven surfaces
• Manual handling of ramps, chocks, straps, and equipment to reduce strain, sprain, and crush injuries
• Managing exposure to traffic, reversing vehicles, and public interfaces in depots, workshops, and roadside environments
• Emergency procedures for vehicle movement incidents, load shift, equipment failure, and personal injury during operations

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for car carrier operators, tilt-tray and flatbed transport companies, vehicle logistics providers, and site supervisors responsible for loading and unloading vehicles on Australian worksites and roads.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
• Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace – guidance on safe use, inspection, and control of plant such as car carriers and flatbeds
• Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks – control measures for lifting, carrying, and handling ramps, chocks, and load restraint equipment
• Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces – requirements for preventing falls when accessing trays, ramps, and elevated decks
• Code of Practice: Traffic Management in Workplaces (or equivalent state guidance) – separation of vehicles and pedestrians during loading and unloading
• AS/NZS 4380: Cargo Restraint Systems – requirements for load restraint devices such as webbing straps and assemblies
• AS/NZS 4344: Cargo Restraint Systems – Transport Webbing and Fittings – performance and selection of webbing and associated hardware used for securing vehicles