Product Overview

Summary: This Scrap Material Collection Safe Operating Procedure sets out safe, consistent methods for collecting, handling, and storing scrap materials across Australian workplaces. It helps businesses control manual handling, cut, crush and vehicle interaction risks while maximising resource recovery and compliance with WHS and environmental obligations.

Scrap material collection is often treated as an afterthought, yet it is one of the most common sources of avoidable injuries, housekeeping issues and environmental non-compliance on Australian worksites. Offcuts, packaging, metals, timber, plastics, e‑waste and general production scrap can quickly accumulate around work areas, creating trip hazards, sharp edges, fire loads and obstructions to emergency access. This SOP provides a clear, practical framework for how scrap is to be identified, segregated, handled, transported and stored so that workers, contractors and visitors are protected and the site remains tidy and compliant.

Developed with Australian WHS expectations in mind, the procedure addresses the full lifecycle of scrap material collection—from initial point-of-generation through to temporary storage and handover to waste or recycling providers. It sets out the required PPE, manual handling controls, use of mobile plant and trolleys, traffic management interfaces, and housekeeping standards. By adopting this SOP, businesses can demonstrate due diligence under WHS legislation, reduce the likelihood of lacerations, strains and vehicle incidents, and improve recycling rates and cost control by standardising how scrap is sorted and moved on site.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of manual handling injuries, cuts and crush incidents associated with collecting and moving scrap materials.
• Ensure consistent segregation, labelling and storage of scrap to support recycling, traceability and environmental compliance.
• Streamline on-site scrap collection workflows, reducing congestion, double-handling and production disruptions.
• Demonstrate due diligence with documented, repeatable processes aligned to Australian WHS and environmental requirements.
• Improve housekeeping standards and reduce slip, trip and fire hazards caused by poorly managed scrap accumulation.

Who is this for?

• Operations Managers
• WHS Managers
• Production Supervisors
• Warehouse and Logistics Supervisors
• Maintenance Managers
• Recycling and Waste Contractors
• Manufacturing Team Leaders
• Site Safety Representatives
• Facilities Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Manual handling injuries from lifting, carrying or dragging heavy or awkward scrap items
• Lacerations and puncture wounds from sharp edges on metal, glass, timber or broken components
• Crush and impact injuries from interaction with forklifts, skid steers, loaders or trucks during scrap collection
• Trips, slips and falls due to poorly stored scrap, offcuts and packaging obstructing walkways
• Fire and explosion risks from accumulation of combustible scrap, oily rags or flammable packaging
• Exposure to hazardous substances from certain scrap streams (e.g. treated timber, batteries, e‑waste, contaminated containers)
• Ergonomic strains from repetitive bending, twisting and reaching during scrap pick‑up and sorting
• Struck-by hazards from unsecured loads, falling objects or overfilled bins and cages

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Scrap Material Categories
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Required PPE, Tools and Equipment
• 6.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Controls for Scrap Collection
• 7.0 Scrap Segregation, Labelling and Storage Requirements
• 8.0 Step-by-Step Scrap Collection Procedure
• 9.0 Use of Mobile Plant, Trolleys and Mechanical Aids
• 10.0 Traffic Management and Pedestrian Safety During Scrap Movements
• 11.0 Housekeeping, Inspection and Maintenance of Scrap Collection Areas
• 12.0 Management of Hazardous or Regulated Scrap Streams
• 13.0 Emergency Procedures and Incident Reporting
• 14.0 Training, Competency and Induction Requirements
• 15.0 Document Control, Review and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and corresponding state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still widely referenced)
• AS ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
• AS 1319: Safety signs for the occupational environment
• Relevant state and territory waste and resource recovery regulations (e.g. NSW Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997)