Product Overview

Summary: This SOP sets out a clear, practical system for selecting, issuing, using and maintaining personal protective equipment (PPE) for road workers in Australian conditions. It helps organisations control high-risk roadside hazards, demonstrate WHS due diligence, and ensure every worker on or near the roadway is visible, protected and working to a consistent standard.

Road workers operate in one of the most dynamic and unforgiving environments in the Australian workplace – live traffic, mobile plant, variable weather and low-light conditions all significantly increase the risk of serious injury or fatality. This Personal Protective Equipment for Road Workers SOP provides a structured, evidence-based approach to ensuring every person on the road corridor is equipped with the right PPE, worn correctly and maintained to standard. It closes the gap between generic PPE policies and the specific, high-risk realities of road construction, maintenance and traffic management work.

The document guides you through the full PPE lifecycle: from hazard assessment and PPE selection (e.g. high-visibility garments, cut-resistant gloves, eye and hearing protection, respiratory protection, sun protection and traffic control gear) through to fit, issue, inspection, cleaning, replacement and recordkeeping. It addresses common pain points such as inconsistent PPE use across crews, non-compliant high-vis garments, inadequate lighting for night works and poor management of damaged or contaminated PPE. By implementing this SOP, organisations can standardise expectations across employees, contractors and labour hire workers, reduce incident rates and support compliance with Australian WHS legislation and industry standards for roadworks.

Designed for councils, civil contractors, utilities, traffic management companies and maintenance providers, this SOP can be integrated into existing WHS management systems, pre-start processes and contractor induction packs. It provides clear responsibilities for supervisors and workers, practical checklists for day and night works, and guidance for remote and regional operations where environmental conditions can be extreme.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, compliant use of PPE across all road work sites, crews and contractors.
• Reduce the likelihood and severity of injuries from vehicle impact, mobile plant, noise, UV exposure and flying debris.
• Demonstrate due diligence and alignment with Australian WHS legislation, road authority requirements and relevant standards.
• Streamline PPE selection, issue, inspection and replacement processes to reduce waste and avoid gaps in protection.
• Improve worker buy-in and safety culture through clear expectations, training guidance and practical examples tailored to road work.

Who is this for?

• Road Construction Supervisors
• Civil Construction Project Managers
• Traffic Management Supervisors
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Local Government Works Coordinators
• Utilities Field Operations Managers
• Asphalt and Paving Crew Leaders
• Line Marking Supervisors
• Labour Hire Providers for Road Works
• Contract Administrators in Civil Infrastructure

Hazards Addressed

• Struck-by incidents from passing traffic and mobile plant
• Low visibility in night works, dawn/dusk and poor weather conditions
• Noise exposure from plant, compactors, saws and asphalt equipment
• Flying debris, dust, concrete and asphalt particles impacting eyes and face
• Hand injuries from tools, sharp edges, hot materials and vibrating equipment
• Respiratory exposure to dust, fumes, exhaust and bitumen/asphalt vapours
• Sun exposure leading to heat stress, sunburn and long-term skin cancer risk
• Slips, trips and falls on uneven, wet or debris-covered surfaces
• Reduced situational awareness due to poorly selected or worn PPE
• Biological hazards from contact with contaminated water, soil or waste on road verges

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Supervisors, Traffic Controllers, Workers, Contractors)
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Guidance
• 5.0 Hazard Identification for Road Work Activities
• 6.0 PPE Requirements by Role (Road Workers, Plant Operators, Traffic Controllers, Visitors)
• 7.0 PPE Selection Criteria (Day, Night and Low-Light Work)
• 8.0 High-Visibility Garments – Classes, Colours and Performance Requirements
• 9.0 Eye, Face, Hearing and Respiratory Protection Requirements
• 10.0 Hand, Foot, Head and Body Protection Requirements
• 11.0 Sun and Heat Protection (Hats, Clothing, Sunscreen, Hydration)
• 12.0 PPE for Specific Road Work Tasks (Asphalt, Saw Cutting, Line Marking, Demolition, Vegetation Management)
• 13.0 Fit, Comfort and Compatibility of PPE with Other Equipment
• 14.0 PPE Issue, Storage, Inspection and Maintenance Procedures
• 15.0 Cleaning, Decontamination and Replacement of Damaged or Expired PPE
• 16.0 Night Works and Adverse Weather PPE Adjustments
• 17.0 Training, Induction and Competency Requirements
• 18.0 Contractor and Labour Hire Integration Requirements
• 19.0 Pre-Start and Toolbox Talk PPE Checklists
• 20.0 Non-Compliance Management and Corrective Actions
• 21.0 Recordkeeping, Auditing and Continuous Improvement
• 22.0 References and Document Control

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory variants)
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory variants)
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Construction work
• AS/NZS 4602.1:2011 High visibility safety garments – Garments for high risk applications
• AS/NZS 1906.4:2010 Retroreflective materials and devices for road traffic control purposes – High-visibility materials for safety garments
• AS/NZS 1337.1:2010 Personal eye protection
• AS/NZS 1270:2002 Acoustics – Hearing protectors
• AS/NZS 1715:2009 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 2210.1:2010 Safety, protective and occupational footwear
• Austroads Guides and state road authority (e.g. TfNSW, DoT Vic, TMR Qld) traffic control at work sites manuals (for high-visibility and PPE expectations)