Heavy Vehicle, Trailers and Transport SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers route planning, vehicle and trailer preparation, loading, transport, unloading and handover activities. It supports planning and managing risks from vehicle movement, load restraint, plant interaction, trailer stability, overhead obstructions and manual handling.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan travel routes and site access
• Establish traffic controls and inspect vehicles and trailers
• Connect trailers and dollies
• Position vehicles and trailers for loading
• Load machinery onto flatbeds
• Secure machinery and other loads
• Extend trailers and use stands
• Position trailers under boats
• Conduct towing checks and operate long vehicle combinations
• Transport, unload, decouple and hand over equipment

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out heavy vehicle, trailer and transport activities.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template includes references relevant to the documented work, including:

• Applicable Commonwealth, state or territory WHS/OHS legislation and regulations, including duties to manage risks, provide safe systems of work, consult workers, maintain plant and control hazardous manual tasks.
• Applicable road transport, heavy vehicle, registration, licensing, mass, dimension, fatigue-management and dangerous-goods requirements in the jurisdiction of travel.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace (use as guidance where adopted or approved); it addresses plant risk management, authorised operation, traffic rules, safe access, maintenance and emergency procedures.
• Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks (use as guidance where adopted or approved).
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities (use as guidance where adopted or approved), including safe access, egress, lighting and workplace layout.
• General Guide for Workplace Traffic Management and AS 1742.3:2019 Manual of uniform traffic control devices.
• National Load Restraint Guide and AS/NZS 4380:2001 Restraint systems for use with road vehicles.
• AS/NZS 4602.1 High visibility safety garments; AS/NZS 2210.3 Safety footwear; AS/NZS 1337.1 Eye and face protection; AS/NZS 1270 Hearing protectors; AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716 Respiratory protective equipment.
• Where hazardous chemicals or dangerous goods are involved, follow the current Australian Dangerous Goods Code, applicable transport laws and the relevant SDS; dangerous-goods transport is regulated through state and territory laws based on the ADG Code.

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Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)

• Task-specific job steps, hazards and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each job step
• Plant, equipment and PPE requirements where applicable
• Permits, qualifications and high-risk construction work details where applicable
• Worker consultation, sign-off and review sections