Product Overview

Summary: This Heavy Equipment Move Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step-by-step framework for planning and executing heavy plant and machinery moves safely on Australian worksites. It helps businesses control high-risk activities involving cranes, forklifts, transport vehicles and rigging, reducing the likelihood of serious incidents, damage, and costly downtime.

Moving heavy equipment is one of the highest-risk activities on any worksite. Whether you are relocating fixed plant within a factory, shifting mobile plant between sites, or positioning large components on a construction project, there is significant potential for crush injuries, equipment rollover, structural failure and property damage. This Heavy Equipment Move Safe Operating Procedure sets out a structured, repeatable process for planning, authorising and carrying out these moves in line with Australian WHS expectations, from initial risk assessment and selection of lifting gear through to exclusion zones, communication protocols and post-move inspections.

Developed for Australian businesses that operate cranes, forklifts, EWP’s, loaders, trucks or specialised lifting equipment, this SOP helps you turn a complex, high-consequence task into a controlled and documented process. It supports your duty of care under WHS legislation by clearly defining roles and responsibilities, specifying pre-start checks, and detailing step-by-step controls for typical move scenarios (on-site, off-site, confined spaces, overhead lifts and transport loading). By implementing this procedure, you can demonstrate due diligence, improve contractor management, and give workers clear, practical guidance for safely coordinating heavy equipment moves without unnecessary delays or confusion.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of crush injuries, equipment rollover and structural failure during heavy equipment moves.
• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant plant, lifting and traffic management requirements.
• Standardise planning, risk assessment and authorisation processes across all heavy equipment moves.
• Improve communication and coordination between operators, spotters, riggers, drivers and supervisors.
• Minimise equipment damage, unplanned downtime and project delays caused by poorly managed moves.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• WHS Managers
• Operations Managers
• Rigging Supervisors
• Crane Operators
• Forklift Operators
• Plant Operators
• Logistics and Transport Coordinators
• Maintenance Supervisors

Hazards Addressed

• Crush injuries from uncontrolled movement of plant or loads
• Equipment rollover or tip-over during lifting, loading or transport
• Struck-by incidents involving pedestrians, vehicles or swinging loads
• Failure of lifting gear, slings, chains, hooks or attachment points
• Collision with structures, services, powerlines or other plant
• Loss of load during lifting, slewing, travel or transport
• Manual handling injuries during rigging, chocking and securing activities
• Poor visibility and communication leading to misdirected movements
• Pinch and entanglement points around moving parts and rigging
• Noise and vibration exposure during extended move activities

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Applicable Equipment
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Pre-Move Planning and Risk Assessment
• 5.0 Permits, Authorisations and Consultation Requirements
• 6.0 Equipment Selection, Inspection and Pre-Start Checks
• 7.0 Load Assessment, Rigging and Lifting Gear Requirements
• 8.0 Site Preparation, Exclusion Zones and Traffic Management
• 9.0 Communication Protocols, Hand Signals and Radios
• 10.0 Step-by-Step Procedure for On-Site Heavy Equipment Moves
• 11.0 Step-by-Step Procedure for Loading, Transport and Unloading
• 12.0 Working Near Overhead and Underground Services
• 13.0 Controls for Adverse Weather, Restricted Visibility and Confined Areas
• 14.0 Emergency Procedures and Incident Response
• 15.0 Post-Move Inspection, Handover and Documentation
• 16.0 Training, Induction and Competency Verification
• 17.0 Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory variants)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (plant and high risk work sections)
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Traffic Management in Workplaces (where adopted or referenced by regulators)
• AS 2550 series: Cranes, hoists and winches – Safe use
• AS 1418 series: Cranes, hoists and winches – Design and construction
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still widely referenced)
• AS/NZS ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
• AS 4991: Lifting devices
• AS 1353 / AS 3775 / AS 4344: Flat synthetic webbing slings, chain slings and lashing systems
• AS 2359 series: Powered industrial trucks