Product Overview

Summary: This Safety and Risk Assessment Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, repeatable method for identifying, assessing, and controlling workplace hazards across Australian operations. It helps businesses embed a consistent WHS risk management process that stands up to regulatory scrutiny and supports safer, more informed decision-making at every level.

This Safety and Risk Assessment Safe Operating Procedure establishes a structured, step-by-step approach for how your organisation identifies hazards, evaluates risk, and implements controls in line with Australian WHS requirements. Rather than leaving risk decisions to chance or individual interpretation, this SOP standardises the way assessments are planned, conducted, documented, reviewed, and communicated across all levels of the business.

The procedure is designed for use in a wide range of Australian workplaces, from construction sites and manufacturing plants through to warehouses, offices, and service environments. It guides users through practical tools such as risk matrices, hierarchy of control application, consultation with workers, and verification of control effectiveness. By implementing this SOP, you reduce inconsistency between sites and supervisors, improve the quality of your documented risk assessments, and create a defensible record of due diligence should an incident or regulator investigation occur.

For businesses looking to move beyond a “tick-the-box” approach, this SOP turns risk assessment into a proactive management tool. It supports better planning of work activities, more targeted allocation of resources to high-risk tasks, and clearer communication of expectations to contractors and workers. The result is fewer incidents, stronger WHS culture, and greater confidence that your organisation is meeting its obligations under Australian WHS legislation.

Key Benefits

• Standardise how hazards and risks are identified, assessed, and controlled across all sites and teams.
• Ensure alignment with Australian WHS legislation and recognised risk management principles.
• Reduce the likelihood and severity of incidents by proactively addressing high-risk tasks and environments.
• Improve the quality and consistency of documented risk assessments for audits, tenders, and regulator inquiries.
• Strengthen worker consultation and engagement in safety decisions through a clear, participative process.

Who is this for?

• Business Owners and Directors
• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Site Supervisors and Leading Hands
• Operations Managers
• Project Managers
• Facility Managers
• HR Managers
• Risk and Compliance Managers
• Team Leaders

Hazards Addressed

• Slips, trips and falls in work areas and access ways
• Manual handling and musculoskeletal injury risks
• Plant and equipment hazards, including guarding and entanglement risks
• Electrical hazards from tools, leads, and fixed installations
• Hazardous chemicals, including storage, handling, and use
• Noise exposure leading to hearing loss
• Working at heights, including ladders, scaffolds, and elevated work platforms
• Confined space entry and atmospheric risks
• Psychosocial hazards such as work-related stress, fatigue, and aggression
• Traffic management risks from mobile plant, vehicles, and pedestrians
• Fire and explosion risks in relevant work environments

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Consultation Requirements
• 4.0 Risk Management Principles and Hierarchy of Control
• 5.0 Pre-Assessment Planning and Information Gathering
• 6.0 Hazard Identification Process
• 7.0 Risk Analysis and Risk Rating Methodology
• 8.0 Risk Evaluation and Prioritisation of Controls
• 9.0 Selection and Implementation of Control Measures
• 10.0 Documentation Requirements and Record Keeping
• 11.0 Communication of Outcomes to Workers and Contractors
• 12.0 Review, Monitoring and Continuous Improvement of Risk Assessments
• 13.0 Training and Competency Requirements for Assessors
• 14.0 Integration with SWMS, JSA/JHA and Other WHS Documentation
• 15.0 Version Control, Approval and Document Management

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory variants)
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (and state/territory equivalents)
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Work Health and Safety Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination
• AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management – Guidelines
• AS ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use