Product Overview

Summary: This Steel Delivery and Storage Procedures SOP sets out clear, step‑by‑step requirements for receiving, unloading, handling and storing steel safely on Australian worksites. It helps businesses control crushing, falling load and manual handling risks while maintaining stock integrity, traceability and compliance with WHS obligations.

Steel deliveries and on-site storage present significant safety and operational risks if they are not tightly controlled. From unstable loads and inadequate dunnage to poor traffic management and ad‑hoc stacking, many serious incidents in Australian yards and construction sites occur around steel handling. This SOP provides a structured, repeatable method for planning deliveries, receiving and inspecting loads, coordinating plant movements, and storing steel products so they remain stable, accessible and compliant with WHS requirements.

Developed specifically for Australian workplaces, the procedure aligns with key WHS legislation, load restraint guidance and relevant Australian Standards. It addresses the full lifecycle of steel on site: pre‑delivery planning with suppliers, safe site access and exclusion zones, unloading using cranes or forklifts, segregation of materials, and ongoing storage housekeeping. By implementing this SOP, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of crush injuries, falling objects, slips, trips and manual handling injuries, while also improving inventory control, minimising damage to valuable steel products and supporting defensible compliance during audits and regulator inspections.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of crush injuries, falling loads and near misses during steel delivery, unloading and storage.
• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS legislation, load restraint guidelines and relevant Australian Standards.
• Standardise how drivers, operators and yard staff coordinate deliveries, traffic flow and unloading activities.
• Improve stock organisation, traceability and protection of steel products from damage and environmental exposure.
• Streamline inductions and training for new workers and contractors involved in steel handling and storage.

Who is this for?

• Operations Managers
• Warehouse and Yard Supervisors
• Construction Site Supervisors
• Transport and Logistics Coordinators
• Storepersons and Yard Hands
• Crane and Forklift Operators
• WHS Managers and Safety Advisors
• Steel Fabrication Workshop Managers
• Project Managers in Construction and Engineering

Hazards Addressed

• Crush injuries from moving plant and steel sections during unloading and storage
• Falling objects due to unstable stacking, inadequate dunnage or incorrect slinging
• Struck-by incidents involving trucks, forklifts, cranes and other mobile plant
• Manual handling injuries from lifting, pushing, pulling or repositioning steel by hand
• Slips, trips and falls caused by poorly stored steel, banding, offcuts and packaging debris
• Load shift during transport or while removing restraints from inadequately secured loads
• Pinch and entrapment injuries when aligning, chocking or separating steel members
• Structural failure or collapse of racking or storage systems overloaded with steel
• Weather-related hazards such as wind loading on stacked steel and reduced grip on wet surfaces

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 References, Legislation and Definitions
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Supervisors, Operators, Drivers, Workers)
• 4.0 Pre‑Delivery Planning and Coordination with Suppliers
• 5.0 Site Access, Traffic Management and Delivery Scheduling
• 6.0 Pre‑Arrival Checks and Preparation of Unloading Area
• 7.0 Delivery Vehicle Arrival, Sign‑In and Site Induction Requirements
• 8.0 Load Inspection, Verification of Documentation and Acceptance Criteria
• 9.0 Safe Unloading Procedures (Cranes, Forklifts and Other Plant)
• 10.0 Slinging, Rigging and Use of Lifting Attachments for Steel
• 11.0 Load Restraint Removal and Control of Falling Load Risks
• 12.0 Steel Storage Requirements (Ground, Racks, Stillages and Bunds)
• 13.0 Stacking Heights, Stability Controls and Use of Dunnage/Chocks
• 14.0 Segregation of Steel Types, Sizes and Hazardous Areas
• 15.0 Manual Handling Controls and Use of Mechanical Aids
• 16.0 Housekeeping, Walkways and Exclusion Zones in Storage Areas
• 17.0 Environmental Considerations (Corrosion, Weather Exposure and Drainage)
• 18.0 Inspection, Maintenance and Integrity of Racking and Storage Equipment
• 19.0 Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control Measures
• 20.0 Emergency Procedures and Incident Reporting (Spills, Collapses, Injuries)
• 21.0 Training, Competency and Licence Requirements
• 22.0 Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement of the Procedure
• 23.0 Document Control and Recordkeeping

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act (as implemented in each State and Territory)
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations (as implemented in each State and Territory)
• Safe Work Australia – General Guide for Working in the Vicinity of Overhead and Underground Electrical Lines
• Safe Work Australia – Guide to Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• National Transport Commission – Load Restraint Guide for Heavy Vehicles (2018)
• AS 4991: Lifting devices
• AS 1418 series: Cranes, hoists and winches
• AS 2550 series: Cranes, hoists and winches – Safe use
• AS 4084: Steel storage racking
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but commonly referenced)
• Relevant State/Territory Codes of Practice for Managing the Risk of Falls, Hazardous Manual Tasks and Traffic Management