Tow Truck - Tilt Tray SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers tilt-tray tow truck recovery work from job planning and travel through vehicle loading, transport, unloading and records. It supports planning and risk management for recovery scenes, traffic interaction, winching, restraint and vehicle movement.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Receive the job and plan the recovery
• Travel to the recovery location
• Assess the recovery scene and access
• Establish a traffic exclusion zone
• Position the tow truck and tray
• Prepare the vehicle for recovery
• Connect winch equipment and restraints
• Winch the vehicle onto the tray
• Secure the vehicle for transport
• Transport the secured vehicle
• Set up the unloading area
• Unload, hand over, demobilise and complete records

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out tilt-tray tow truck recovery 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 plant, instruction, training, supervision, consultation and safe systems of work.
• Applicable road transport, heavy vehicle, road-rule, traffic-management and load-restraint requirements in the jurisdiction where the work is performed.
• Model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks (guidance only unless adopted in the relevant jurisdiction).
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace (guidance only unless adopted in the relevant jurisdiction).
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities (guidance only unless adopted in the relevant jurisdiction). The Code describes identifying hazards, applying the hierarchy of controls and reviewing controls.
• Code of Practice: Moving Plant on Construction Sites (guidance only unless adopted in the relevant jurisdiction). It identifies the need for level loading areas, separation from workers on foot and notes roll-over risk when tilt trays are elevated on side or rear gradients.
• Model Code of Practice: Construction Work (guidance only unless adopted in the relevant jurisdiction), including SWMS requirements where the task is high risk construction work.
• National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and National Transport Commission Australian Load Restraint Guide, as applicable.
• AS/NZS 4602.1 High visibility safety garments; AS 1742.3 traffic-control devices for works on roads; AS/NZS 2210.3 safety footwear; AS/NZS 2161.1 occupational protective gloves; AS/NZS 1337.1 eye and face protectors; AS/NZS 1270 hearing protectors; AS/NZS 1801 occupational protective helmets.
• Follow the tow-truck, winch, restraint-device and casualty-vehicle manufacturers’ instructions, rated capacities and maintenance 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