Tow Truck Tilt Tray Operations and Vehicle Recovery SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers tow truck tilt tray operations and vehicle recovery, from scene assessment through loading, transport, unloading and equipment close-out. It supports work planning and risk management by addressing traffic, vehicle movement, hydraulic systems, recovery equipment and load restraint hazards.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Assess the recovery scene and plan the method
• Travel to the recovery location
• Establish traffic and site controls
• Position and check the tow truck
• Inspect the vehicle being recovered
• Deploy the tilt tray and operating controls
• Connect recovery equipment
• Winch the vehicle onto the tray
• Use wheel-lift or other recovery methods where required
• Restrain and transport the loaded vehicle
• Unload, hand over and securely store vehicles
• Maintain recovery equipment and complete close-out

Who is this for?

For contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out tow truck, tilt tray and vehicle recovery activities.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

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

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (or corresponding state or territory WHS Act), ss 19, 27, 28 and 46-49: primary duty of care, officer due diligence, worker duties and consultation.
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (or corresponding state or territory regulations), Part 3.1 rr 32-38: identify hazards, manage risks, maintain controls and review controls.
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (or corresponding state or territory regulations), rr 44-47: personal protective equipment.
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (or corresponding state or territory regulations), rr 60-61: hazardous manual tasks.
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (or corresponding state or territory regulations), rr 203-210: management, inspection, maintenance, proper use, isolation and guarding of plant.
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (or corresponding state or territory regulations), rr 291 and 299: high-risk construction work and SWMS requirements where recovery work forms part of construction work.
• Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace (2024): plant inspection, operator training, maintenance, isolation and prevention of unauthorised use.
• Code of Practice: Moving Plant on Construction Sites: separation of pedestrians and plant, vehicle-management planning, reversing controls and SWMS requirements in moving-plant areas.
• Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks: eliminate or minimise musculoskeletal risks from handling chains, straps, wheel dollies and recovery equipment.
• National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, Load Restraint Guide: secure loads to prevent movement during transport.
• Applicable state or territory Road Rules, Heavy Vehicle National Law, tow-truck legislation and road authority traffic-control requirements.

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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