Product Overview

Summary: This Roadworks Traffic Management Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, compliant system for planning and controlling traffic around roadworks in Australia. It helps protect workers, road users and pedestrians while minimising disruptions and ensuring your projects meet WHS and road authority requirements.

Roadworks present a complex mix of high‑risk hazards: live traffic, mobile plant, changing road layouts, and often tight timeframes and public expectations. This Roadworks Traffic Management Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step‑by‑step approach for planning, implementing and monitoring traffic management at temporary worksites, from short‑term lane closures to multi‑stage civil construction projects. It is written specifically for the Australian context, aligning with WHS legislation and typical state and territory road authority requirements for Traffic Management Plans and Traffic Guidance Schemes.

The SOP guides your team through critical stages including pre‑start planning, site risk assessment, design and set‑out of signs and devices, safe work zones, pedestrian detours, night works, and interaction between traffic controllers and plant operators. It also covers communication protocols, change management, emergency response and incident reporting, so that everyone on site understands how to respond when conditions change or something goes wrong. By implementing this procedure, organisations can reduce the likelihood of serious traffic incidents, protect their workforce and the public, and demonstrate due diligence when audited by regulators, clients or insurers.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, legally defensible traffic management practices across all roadwork sites.
• Reduce the risk of vehicle–worker collisions, rear‑end crashes and incidents involving pedestrians and cyclists.
• Improve coordination between traffic controllers, plant operators and site supervisors, reducing confusion and delays.
• Streamline the planning and approval of Traffic Management Plans and Traffic Guidance Schemes with clear documentation requirements.
• Support training and competency development for new and existing traffic controllers and supervisors.

Who is this for?

• Roadworks Site Supervisors
• Traffic Controllers
• Project Engineers
• Civil Construction Managers
• WHS Managers
• Local Government Infrastructure Officers
• Principal Contractors
• Traffic Management Planners
• Utilities Maintenance Supervisors
• Construction Forepersons

Hazards Addressed

• Vehicle impact with workers within or adjacent to the work zone
• Rear‑end and side‑swipe collisions caused by sudden lane closures or poor advance warning
• Pedestrian and cyclist conflicts with work vehicles and plant
• Night‑time and low‑visibility risks due to inadequate lighting or signage
• Struck‑by incidents involving reversing vehicles and mobile plant
• Worker exposure to live traffic during setup, modification and removal of traffic control devices
• Slips, trips and falls due to uneven surfaces, temporary ramps and debris in pedestrian detours
• Heat stress, fatigue and dehydration for traffic controllers working in exposed environments
• Communication failures between traffic controllers, spotters and machinery operators
• Emergency vehicle access delays or unsafe access routes through or around the worksite

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 References, Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Planning the Roadworks and Traffic Management
• 5.0 Site Risk Assessment and Hazard Identification
• 6.0 Development and Approval of Traffic Management Plans and Traffic Guidance Schemes
• 7.0 Selection and Use of Signs, Devices and Delineation
• 8.0 Work Zone Layouts for Different Road Environments (urban, rural, high‑speed)
• 9.0 Setup, Modification and Removal of Traffic Control Arrangements
• 10.0 Pedestrian and Cyclist Management, Including Accessible Routes
• 11.0 Interaction Between Traffic Controllers, Mobile Plant and Work Crews
• 12.0 Night Works, Adverse Weather and Low‑Visibility Controls
• 13.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements for Traffic Management
• 14.0 Communication Protocols, Radios and Hand Signals
• 15.0 Fatigue Management, Heat Stress and Welfare for Traffic Controllers
• 16.0 Emergency Access, Incident Response and Site Evacuation
• 17.0 Monitoring, Inspections and Adjustments During Works
• 18.0 Documentation, Record Keeping and Reporting
• 19.0 Training, Induction and Review of Procedure Effectiveness

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (as implemented in relevant states and territories)
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011
• Safe Work Australia – General Risk and Workplace Management Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Construction Work Code of Practice
• AS 1742.3: Manual of uniform traffic control devices – Traffic control for works on roads
• AS/NZS 1906.1: Retroreflective materials and devices for road traffic control purposes
• AS/NZS 4602.1: High visibility safety garments – Garments for high risk applications
• Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management (where adopted by state/territory road authorities)