Product Overview

Summary: This Traffic Management on Site Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, practical framework for safely managing vehicle and mobile plant movements in and around your workplace. It helps Australian businesses prevent collisions, protect pedestrians and contractors, and demonstrate compliance with WHS duties and local road authority requirements.

Vehicle and mobile plant movements are one of the leading causes of serious incidents on Australian worksites, particularly where heavy vehicles, forklifts, and pedestrians share the same space. This Traffic Management on Site SOP provides a structured, step-by-step approach to planning, implementing and monitoring safe traffic flows, from initial site layout design through to daily controls, communication protocols and incident response. It is designed to be applied across construction sites, civil projects, depots, warehouses, manufacturing facilities and any workplace where vehicles operate in proximity to people.

By implementing this SOP, businesses can systematically identify traffic interaction points, apply appropriate separation controls, and ensure that everyone on site understands how to move safely through work areas. The document supports compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant road and traffic requirements, while also addressing practical challenges such as subcontractor management, delivery scheduling, and changes to site layout over the life of a project. It helps organisations reduce the risk of collisions, near misses and costly disruptions, while providing a defensible, auditable process that demonstrates due diligence to regulators, clients and principal contractors.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of vehicle–pedestrian collisions and mobile plant incidents through clearly defined traffic routes and exclusion zones.
• Ensure compliance with WHS legislation, client requirements and relevant traffic management standards on Australian worksites.
• Standardise how traffic plans are developed, implemented and reviewed across multiple sites and projects.
• Improve communication between drivers, plant operators, spotters, traffic controllers and pedestrians with clear rules and signage requirements.
• Minimise project delays and business disruption by proactively managing deliveries, site access and congestion points.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• WHS Managers
• Traffic Controllers
• Civil Works Supervisors
• Warehouse and Logistics Managers
• Plant Operators
• Principal Contractors
• Facilities and Operations Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Vehicle–pedestrian collisions in shared work areas
• Mobile plant striking structures, services or other vehicles
• Reversing vehicle incidents and blind-spot collisions
• Uncontrolled entry of delivery vehicles or public traffic into work zones
• Traffic congestion causing unsafe manoeuvres or blocked emergency access
• Poor visibility due to weather, lighting or site layout
• Inadequate signage or barricading around high-risk zones
• Fatigue and distraction-related driving errors on or near site
• Forklift and load handling incidents in loading/unloading areas

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Site Supervisor, Traffic Controller, Plant Operator, Workers, Visitors)
• 4.0 Legislative and Standards References
• 5.0 Site Traffic Risk Assessment and Planning
• 6.0 Development and Approval of the Site Traffic Management Plan
• 7.0 Design of Traffic Routes, Pedestrian Walkways and Exclusion Zones
• 8.0 Signage, Barricades, Delineation and Lighting Requirements
• 9.0 Vehicle and Mobile Plant Entry, Induction and Access Control
• 10.0 Safe Operating Rules for Drivers and Plant Operators
• 11.0 Pedestrian and Visitor Movement Controls
• 12.0 Loading, Unloading and Delivery Management Procedures
• 13.0 Use of Spotters, Traffic Controllers and Communication Systems
• 14.0 Managing Changes to Site Layout and Temporary Works
• 15.0 Interaction with Public Roads and Local Traffic Authorities
• 16.0 Inspection, Monitoring and Audit of Traffic Controls
• 17.0 Incident, Near Miss and Non-conformance Reporting
• 18.0 Training, Induction and Competency Requirements
• 19.0 Emergency Access, Egress and Response Considerations
• 20.0 Review, Consultation and Continuous Improvement
• 21.0 Document Control and Recordkeeping

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory equivalents)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory equivalents)
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – General Guide for Workplace Traffic Management
• AS 1742: Manual of uniform traffic control devices (relevant parts)
• Austroads Guides to Traffic Management (as applicable to temporary traffic arrangements)
• AS/NZS ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems