Product Overview

Summary: This Recovery Vehicle Operation Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step‑by‑step framework for safely operating tilt trays, tow trucks and other recovery vehicles in Australian conditions. It helps operators and businesses manage roadside and depot hazards, protect workers and the public, and demonstrate compliance with WHS and heavy vehicle safety obligations.

Operating a recovery vehicle involves far more than simply loading and transporting a disabled vehicle. Operators routinely work on high‑risk roadways, in low‑visibility conditions, around live traffic, heavy loads and complex winching systems. This Recovery Vehicle Operation Safe Operating Procedure (SOP) sets out a structured, repeatable method for planning, conducting and finalising vehicle recovery tasks in a way that prioritises safety, protects the public and preserves client assets. It covers the full lifecycle of a recovery job, from receiving the task and pre‑departure checks through to on‑scene traffic management, safe loading and unloading, and post‑operation inspection and documentation.

For Australian towing and recovery businesses, poor or inconsistent practices can quickly lead to serious incidents such as crush injuries, roll‑aways, struck‑by‑vehicle events, load shifts or damage to customer vehicles. This SOP helps businesses control these risks by clearly defining roles and responsibilities, minimum competency requirements, PPE standards, communication protocols and equipment use. It supports compliance with WHS legislation, Chain of Responsibility duties under heavy vehicle law and relevant Australian Standards, while also improving operational consistency, reducing downtime and strengthening your professional reputation with clients, insurers and road authorities.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, defensible recovery practices that align with Australian WHS and road safety requirements.
• Reduce the likelihood of roadside incidents, struck‑by‑vehicle events, roll‑aways and load‑related injuries.
• Standardise operator training, inductions and competency assessments across your towing and recovery fleet.
• Improve equipment reliability and uptime through mandated pre‑start checks and defect reporting processes.
• Enhance customer confidence and insurer relationships by minimising damage to recovered vehicles and property.

Who is this for?

• Recovery Vehicle Operators
• Tow Truck Drivers
• Tilt Tray Operators
• Fleet Managers
• Workshop Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Transport and Logistics Managers
• Roadside Assistance Coordinators
• Operations Managers – Towing and Recovery Services
• Site Supervisors – Depots and Yards

Hazards Addressed

• Working near live traffic and risk of being struck by passing vehicles
• Vehicle roll‑away during loading, unloading or winching operations
• Crush injuries and pinch points from winches, cables, chains and tilt mechanisms
• Load shift or loss of load during transport due to inadequate securing
• Slips, trips and falls when accessing trays, steps and work areas in wet or low‑light conditions
• Manual handling injuries from handling wheel lifts, jacks, chains and equipment
• Exposure to adverse weather, low visibility and night‑time operations
• Contact with hazardous roadside environments, including broken glass, debris and leaking fluids
• Fatigue‑related risks associated with extended driving and after‑hours call‑outs
• Electrical hazards when recovering vehicles near power lines or from incident scenes involving damaged electrical infrastructure

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Types of Recovery Vehicles
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Company Policies
• 5.0 Required PPE, Tools and Recovery Equipment
• 6.0 Pre‑Start Inspections and Vehicle Readiness Checks
• 7.0 Job Receipt, Risk Assessment and Task Planning
• 8.0 Travelling to the Scene – Driving, Fatigue and Communication Protocols
• 9.0 On‑Scene Setup and Traffic Management Controls
• 10.0 Vehicle Stabilisation, Isolation and Initial Safety Measures
• 11.0 Safe Winching, Lifting and Loading Procedures
• 12.0 Securing the Load – Chains, Straps, Wheel Straps and Secondary Restraints
• 13.0 Transporting the Recovered Vehicle – En‑route Safety Requirements
• 14.0 Unloading Procedures at Destination or Depot
• 15.0 Working in Adverse Weather and Night‑time Conditions
• 16.0 Managing Special Recoveries (e.g. EVs, hazardous loads, off‑road locations)
• 17.0 Post‑Operation Checks, Defect Reporting and Documentation
• 18.0 Incident, Near‑Miss and Damage Reporting Requirements
• 19.0 Training, Induction and Competency Assessment Guidelines
• 20.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement of the SOP

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and Chain of Responsibility provisions (where applicable)
• Safe Work Australia – General Guide for Working in the Roadside Environment
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• AS/NZS 4024 series: Safety of machinery
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (noting superseded status but still commonly referenced)
• AS/NZS 1891 series: Industrial fall‑arrest systems and devices (where working at height on trays is applicable)
• AS/NZS 4380: Cargo restraint systems – Transport webbing and components
• AS/NZS 1576 and AS/NZS 4576 (where temporary access equipment such as mobile platforms is used in depot environments)