Product Overview

Summary: This Onsite Risk Assessment Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step-by-step method for identifying, assessing and controlling hazards before work commences. It helps Australian businesses embed practical WHS risk management into daily site activities, supporting legal compliance while protecting workers, contractors and visitors.

This Onsite Risk Assessment Safe Operating Procedure is designed to bring structure, consistency and accountability to how risks are managed at the coalface of your operations. Whether you are managing a construction site, a maintenance shutdown, field service work or routine operations in a fixed facility, this SOP sets out how to systematically inspect the work area, identify hazards, evaluate risk levels and implement appropriate controls before tasks begin. It translates WHS legislative requirements into practical onsite actions that supervisors and workers can follow without needing to be safety experts.

Many incidents in Australian workplaces occur not because hazards are unknown, but because they are not assessed in a timely or consistent way, or because controls are not properly implemented or reviewed. This SOP solves that problem by defining who is responsible for conducting onsite risk assessments, when and how they must be done (e.g. pre-start, change of task, after an incident, or when conditions change), and how findings are recorded and communicated. It supports the use of tools such as Take 5s, SWMS, JSAs and pre-start checklists, and ensures these are integrated into a single, defensible process. By implementing this procedure, businesses can demonstrate due diligence, reduce the likelihood of injuries and near misses, and create a culture where assessing risk is a standard part of starting work, not a box-ticking exercise.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, repeatable onsite risk assessments across all sites and teams.
• Reduce the likelihood of incidents, injuries and near misses by identifying and controlling hazards before work starts.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation and Codes of Practice through a documented, auditable process.
• Streamline communication of risks and controls between supervisors, workers, contractors and visitors.
• Improve safety culture by embedding risk assessment as a routine part of daily operations and decision-making.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Project Managers
• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Operations Managers
• Construction Forepersons
• Maintenance Supervisors
• Facility Managers
• Field Service Managers
• Compliance Officers

Hazards Addressed

• Slips, trips and falls on uneven, wet or obstructed surfaces
• Working at height without adequate fall protection or edge protection
• Contact with moving plant, vehicles and mobile equipment
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals, dusts, fumes or airborne contaminants
• Electrical hazards from live work, damaged leads or inadequate isolation
• Manual handling and musculoskeletal injuries from lifting, pushing or awkward postures
• Struck-by or caught-between incidents involving tools, equipment or materials
• Noise, vibration and environmental exposure (heat, cold, UV radiation)
• Confined space entry hazards, including oxygen deficiency and toxic atmospheres
• Emergency conditions such as fire, explosion or uncontrolled release of energy

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms (Risk, Hazard, Control Hierarchy, Reasonably Practicable)
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Triggers for Onsite Risk Assessment (Pre-start, Change of Task, New Hazards, Incidents)
• 5.0 Preparation for Onsite Risk Assessment (Documentation, Tools and Consultation)
• 6.0 Step-by-Step Onsite Risk Assessment Process
• 7.0 Hazard Identification Methods (Walk-throughs, Checklists, Worker Consultation)
• 8.0 Risk Analysis and Evaluation (Likelihood, Consequence and Risk Rating Matrix)
• 9.0 Selecting and Implementing Control Measures (Hierarchy of Control)
• 10.0 Integration with SWMS, JSAs, Take 5s and Permits to Work
• 11.0 Communication of Risks and Controls to Workers and Contractors
• 12.0 Monitoring, Review and Re-assessment of Risks During Work
• 13.0 Documentation, Recordkeeping and Evidence of Due Diligence
• 14.0 Managing Changes in Conditions and Stop-Work Authority
• 15.0 Incident, Near Miss and Non-conformance Feedback into Risk Assessments
• 16.0 Training, Induction and Awareness Requirements
• 17.0 Audit, Continuous Improvement and Review of the SOP

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and corresponding state and territory Acts)
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (and state/territory equivalents)
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Construction Work: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces: Code of Practice
• AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 Risk management – Guidelines
• AS/NZS 4801:2001 Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still referenced in many systems)
• ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use