Product Overview

Summary: This Collision Avoidance Strategies Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, practical framework for preventing vehicle and mobile plant collisions in Australian workplaces. It helps organisations control high-risk interactions between people, vehicles and fixed assets, supporting compliance with WHS laws while reducing serious incident potential in yards, warehouses, construction sites and depots.

Vehicle and mobile plant collisions remain one of the leading causes of serious injuries and fatalities in Australian workplaces, particularly where pedestrians, forklifts, trucks and other equipment share the same space. This Collision Avoidance Strategies Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step-by-step approach to separating people and vehicles, controlling traffic flows, and managing high‑risk activities such as loading, reversing, parking and manoeuvring in confined spaces. It is designed for use across a wide range of environments, including warehouses, distribution centres, construction sites, manufacturing facilities, ports and transport depots.

The SOP translates legislative duties and best-practice guidance into clear, actionable controls: from traffic management plans, signage and line‑marking, to spotter use, speed limits, technology-based aids (such as proximity sensors and cameras), and communication protocols between drivers, operators and ground personnel. It helps businesses move beyond ad‑hoc practices by standardising how collision risks are identified, assessed and controlled, and by embedding pre‑start checks, exclusion zones and safe systems of work into daily operations. Implementing this procedure supports due diligence under Australian WHS law, reduces the likelihood of catastrophic incidents, and provides a defensible, documented system that can be used for training, contractor management and incident investigation.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of collisions between vehicles, mobile plant, pedestrians and fixed structures through clearly defined traffic management controls.
• Ensure alignment with Australian WHS legislation and relevant guidance on traffic and mobile plant safety, supporting regulatory compliance and due diligence.
• Standardise collision avoidance practices across sites, shifts and contractors, improving consistency and reducing reliance on informal rules.
• Improve situational awareness for drivers, operators and pedestrians through structured communication protocols, signage, and use of collision avoidance technologies.
• Minimise operational disruptions, property damage and insurance costs by preventing near misses and serious vehicle-related incidents.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Transport and Logistics Managers
• Warehouse Managers
• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• Fleet Managers
• Operations Managers
• Traffic Controllers
• Forklift Operators
• Mobile Plant Operators
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)

Hazards Addressed

• Vehicle–pedestrian collisions in shared work areas
• Mobile plant–mobile plant collisions (e.g. forklifts, loaders, EWPs)
• Vehicle impact with racking, plant, structures and stored goods
• Reversing and blind-spot incidents involving trucks and mobile plant
• Loss of control due to congestion, poor traffic flow or inadequate signage
• Struck-by incidents during loading, unloading and coupling/uncoupling
• Collisions arising from poor communication between drivers and spotters
• Night-time or low-visibility vehicle operations
• Incidents caused by fatigue, distraction or non-compliance with speed limits

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Guidance
• 5.0 Risk Assessment for Vehicle and Mobile Plant Movements
• 6.0 Traffic Management Planning and Site Layout Requirements
• 7.0 Pedestrian and Vehicle Separation (Exclusion Zones and Walkways)
• 8.0 Speed Limits, Signage, Line-Marking and Physical Barriers
• 9.0 Collision Avoidance Technologies (Cameras, Sensors, Alarms and Telematics)
• 10.0 Safe Work Procedures for Reversing, Parking and Manoeuvring
• 11.0 Loading, Unloading and Dock Operations
• 12.0 Communication Protocols for Drivers, Operators, Spotters and Pedestrians
• 13.0 Pre-Start Checks and Vehicle Condition Requirements
• 14.0 Contractor and Visitor Vehicle Management
• 15.0 Fatigue, Distraction and Impairment Controls for Drivers and Operators
• 16.0 Training, Competency and Induction Requirements
• 17.0 Incident, Near-Miss Reporting and Investigation
• 18.0 Monitoring, Audit and Continuous Improvement
• 19.0 Document Control and Review

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory variants)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory variants)
• Safe Work Australia – General Guide for Workplace Traffic Management
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Traffic Management for Warehousing: Guidance material
• AS 2359 series: Powered industrial trucks
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still commonly referenced)
• ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use