Product Overview

Summary: This Site Assessment and Planning SOP provides a structured, defensible process for evaluating new or existing worksites, identifying WHS risks, and planning controls before work begins. It helps Australian businesses turn ad‑hoc pre‑start checks into a consistent, compliant approach that protects workers, supports project delivery, and satisfies regulator expectations.

Before any work starts, a thorough site assessment and structured planning process is one of the most effective ways to prevent incidents, delays and costly rework. This Site Assessment and Planning Safe Operating Procedure gives your organisation a clear, repeatable method for evaluating physical conditions, existing services, access and egress, environmental constraints, and stakeholder requirements at any Australian worksite. It then guides you through translating those findings into practical WHS controls, staging plans, and resourcing decisions that align with your broader project objectives.

The SOP is designed for use across construction, civil works, maintenance, facilities management and similar operational environments. It supports duty holders under WHS legislation by embedding hazard identification and risk management into the earliest stages of project planning, rather than leaving safety to last‑minute toolbox talks. With this procedure in place, your teams will know exactly what to check on arrival, how to document risks, who to consult, and how to integrate outcomes into Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS), site‑specific management plans, and contractor briefings. The result is safer sites, smoother mobilisation, and a clear paper trail that demonstrates due diligence if your planning approach is ever scrutinised by a regulator or client.

Key Benefits

• Ensure hazards are identified and controlled before mobilisation, reducing the likelihood of incidents once work commences.
• Reduce project delays and cost overruns by proactively planning around site constraints, access issues and service conflicts.
• Demonstrate compliance with WHS due diligence obligations through a documented, repeatable site assessment process.
• Standardise how different supervisors and contractors evaluate and plan worksites, improving consistency across projects and locations.
• Strengthen client and regulator confidence by evidencing robust pre‑start planning, consultation and risk management.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Project Managers
• Construction Managers
• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Advisors
• Operations Managers
• Facilities Managers
• Civil and Infrastructure Supervisors
• Maintenance Coordinators
• Principal Contractors

Hazards Addressed

• Unidentified underground and overhead services (electricity, gas, communications, water)
• Unsafe access and egress routes for workers, vehicles and plant
• Vehicle and mobile plant interactions with pedestrians and other road users
• Falls from height risks associated with edges, openings, roofs and elevated work areas
• Ground instability, excavation collapse and uneven surfaces
• Exposure to hazardous substances, contaminated soil or asbestos‑containing materials
• Environmental hazards such as noise, dust, vibration and runoff affecting neighbours or sensitive receptors
• Inadequate emergency access, assembly areas and communication arrangements
• Weather‑related risks including heat stress, storms, high winds and reduced visibility
• Security and public interface risks on open or partially occupied sites

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Pre‑Assessment Preparation and Documentation Review
• 5.0 Site Arrival, Induction and Stakeholder Consultation
• 6.0 Physical Site Inspection and Hazard Identification
• 7.0 Services, Utilities and Underground Asset Verification
• 8.0 Access, Egress and Traffic Management Planning
• 9.0 Environmental and Community Impact Assessment
• 10.0 Risk Assessment and Control Measure Selection
• 11.0 Integration with SWMS, Site‑Specific Safety Plans and Permits
• 12.0 Emergency Planning and First Aid Arrangements
• 13.0 Documentation, Records and Site Assessment Checklists
• 14.0 Communication of Outcomes to Workers and Contractors
• 15.0 Review, Monitoring and Re‑Assessment Triggers
• 16.0 Continuous Improvement and Lessons Learned

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 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: Construction Work
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems
• AS 1742.3: Manual of uniform traffic control devices – Traffic control for works on roads (where applicable)
• AS 1885.1: Measurement of occupational health and safety performance