Product Overview

This Trucks and Heavy Vehicles Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) sets out the step-by-step safety controls and procedures required to manage risks when operating, loading, unloading and working around trucks and heavy vehicles. It is a comprehensive document that consolidates multiple activities and tasks into one easy-to-use resource to support WHS compliance and safer management of high risk construction work involving heavy vehicles.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Safe climbing onto and off trailers, including use of designated access points and three points of contact
• Climbing up or down fixed ladders attached to vehicles, with controls for slips, trips and falls
• Use of vehicle steps and handholds for safe entry and exit from truck cabs and elevated platforms
• Coupling and uncoupling prime movers and trailers, including communication, isolation and brake checks
• Coupling and uncoupling rigid trucks and trailers using safe sequencing and exclusion zones
• Decoupling trailers and securing them with landing gear, chocks and parking brakes
• Delivering solution mixes and other bulk materials, including load stability, hose management and spill control
• Operation and loading of flatbed trucks, including load restraint, working at height and edge protection
• Use of grapple trucks for loading, lifting and transporting materials with mechanical lifting attachments
• Haul truck operations on construction, mining or civil sites, including traffic management and dump area controls
• Installing tyre chains on heavy vehicles, including manual handling, pinch point and weather-related hazards
• Installing and removing tyre chains in roadside or remote conditions with appropriate positioning and signage
• Loading and unloading dangerous goods, with controls for segregation, PPE, spill response and emergency procedures
• Operation of low loader trailers, including loading plant, securing equipment and managing oversize loads
• Lowering and raising the landing gear on semi-trailers, including stability checks and strain injury prevention
• General heavy vehicle traffic management on site, including spotters, speed limits and pedestrian separation
• Pre-start inspections, defect reporting and maintenance controls for trucks and heavy vehicles

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for truck drivers, heavy vehicle operators, civil and construction contractors, transport companies, logistics providers, and site supervisors responsible for managing trucks and heavy vehicles on Australian worksites.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on controlling risks associated with trucks, trailers and heavy vehicles used as plant
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice: Requirements for handling, loading and transporting dangerous goods and hazardous substances
• Managing the Risks of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Controls for climbing ladders, accessing trailers and working at height on vehicles
• Traffic Management in Workplaces (Safe Work Australia Guidance): Principles for vehicle and pedestrian interaction, exclusion zones and site traffic plans
• AS/NZS 4024 Safety of Machinery: General principles for guarding and safety controls on vehicle-mounted plant and equipment
• AS/NZS 4801 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems: Framework for integrating this SWMS into an organisation’s WHS management system