Product Overview

Summary: This Site Safety Assessment Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, repeatable process for identifying, assessing and controlling hazards on Australian worksites before work begins and as conditions change. It helps businesses meet their WHS due diligence obligations, reduce incident rates, and demonstrate a robust, documented approach to site risk management.

The Site Safety Assessment Safe Operating Procedure sets out a structured method for systematically reviewing a worksite to identify hazards, assess risk levels, and implement appropriate controls before and during operations. It recognises that every site—whether construction, manufacturing, civil, utilities, or maintenance—presents a unique combination of physical, environmental and operational risks that must be assessed and managed in line with Australian WHS legislation.

This SOP guides your team through pre-start site walks, consultation with workers and contractors, review of documentation (SWMS, JSAs, permits, plans) and ongoing monitoring as the site and scope of works evolve. It addresses common gaps such as inconsistent assessments between supervisors, inadequate documentation of findings, and poor follow-through on corrective actions. By embedding this procedure into daily operations, businesses can reduce incidents, support safer decision-making, and maintain a defensible record of risk management activities for regulators, clients and senior management.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, documented site safety assessments across all projects and locations.
• Reduce the likelihood of injuries, near misses and property damage by proactively identifying and controlling site-specific hazards.
• Demonstrate compliance with WHS due diligence obligations and client safety requirements through clear records and sign-offs.
• Streamline communication between supervisors, workers and contractors regarding site risks and control measures.
• Support faster mobilisation and safer project start-up by integrating safety assessment into pre-start planning and inductions.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Project Managers
• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Construction Managers
• Operations Managers
• Safety Advisors
• Facilities Managers
• Civil and Infrastructure Supervisors
• Manufacturing Plant Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Slips, trips and falls due to uneven ground, debris, poor housekeeping or weather-affected surfaces
• Falls from height around edges, penetrations, scaffolds, ladders and elevated work platforms
• Struck-by and caught-between incidents involving mobile plant, vehicles and moving equipment
• Electrical hazards from overhead and underground services, temporary power and damaged leads
• Hazardous manual tasks leading to sprains, strains and musculoskeletal injuries
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals, dusts, fumes and airborne contaminants
• Noise exposure from plant, tools and site activities leading to hearing damage
• Confined space risks including atmospheric hazards and engulfment
• Environmental hazards such as heat stress, UV exposure, poor lighting and inclement weather
• Security and public interface risks where worksites are adjacent to public areas or live operations

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Terminology
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Competency and Training Requirements
• 5.0 Pre-Assessment Planning and Documentation Review
• 6.0 Site Walk-Through and Hazard Identification Process
• 7.0 Risk Assessment and Risk Rating Methodology
• 8.0 Hierarchy of Control and Selection of Control Measures
• 9.0 Consultation with Workers, Contractors and HSRs
• 10.0 Documentation, Reporting and Sign-Off Requirements
• 11.0 Follow-Up Actions, Corrective Actions and Close-Out
• 12.0 Ongoing Monitoring, Reassessment and Change Management
• 13.0 Integration with SWMS, JSAs and Permit-to-Work Systems
• 14.0 Emergency Access, Egress and Response Considerations
• 15.0 Recordkeeping, Audit and Continuous Improvement
• 16.0 References, Legislation and Applicable Standards

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and harmonised state/territory Acts)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (and equivalent state/territory regulations)
• 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
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work