Product Overview

Summary: This Traffic Management Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical steps for safely managing vehicle and pedestrian movements in and around Australian workplaces. It helps you control high‑risk interactions between mobile plant, delivery vehicles, staff and visitors, while demonstrating compliance with WHS legislation and client site requirements.

Vehicle and mobile plant movements are one of the leading causes of serious injuries and fatalities on Australian worksites. This Traffic Management Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step‑by‑step framework for planning, implementing and maintaining safe traffic flows wherever vehicles and pedestrians interact – from construction sites and warehouses to depots, manufacturing facilities and large commercial premises. It translates complex WHS duties and traffic control requirements into clear, repeatable actions your team can follow on every job.

The SOP covers the full lifecycle of traffic management: from initial site assessment and development of Traffic Management Plans (TMPs), through to setting up exclusion zones, signage and barriers, managing delivery vehicles, and safely directing traffic during high‑risk activities such as crane lifts or concrete pours. It also addresses contractor and visitor management, communication protocols, incident response and ongoing review of controls. By implementing this procedure, businesses can reduce the likelihood of collisions, near misses and property damage, while providing workers and subcontractors with a consistent, defensible system of work that aligns with Australian WHS legislation and industry best practice.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of vehicle–pedestrian collisions and mobile plant incidents across your worksites.
• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS laws, client traffic management requirements and principal contractor expectations.
• Standardise how Traffic Management Plans are developed, implemented and reviewed across projects and sites.
• Improve communication and coordination between drivers, traffic controllers, plant operators, workers and visitors.
• Minimise costly disruptions, damage claims and regulatory scrutiny arising from poorly managed traffic flows.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Project Managers
• WHS Managers
• Traffic Controllers
• Construction Managers
• Warehouse and Logistics Managers
• Operations Managers
• Facilities Managers
• Transport and Fleet Coordinators
• Principal Contractors

Hazards Addressed

• Vehicle and mobile plant striking pedestrians or other workers
• Collisions between vehicles, mobile plant and fixed structures
• Reversing vehicle incidents and blind‑spot hazards
• Uncontrolled entry of vehicles into exclusion zones or work areas
• Poorly managed delivery and loading/unloading activities
• Inadequate signage, lighting and delineation of traffic routes
• Pedestrian exposure to moving forklifts and pallet jacks in warehouses
• Traffic congestion leading to risky manoeuvres and near misses
• Driver distraction, fatigue and poor visibility (dust, rain, night work)
• Emergency vehicle access being blocked by site traffic layouts

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Site Supervisor, Traffic Controller, Plant Operators, Workers, Visitors)
• 4.0 Legal and Other Requirements
• 5.0 Traffic Risk Assessment and Site Survey
• 6.0 Development of Traffic Management Plans (TMPs)
• 7.0 Design of Vehicle and Pedestrian Routes
• 8.0 Controls for Mobile Plant and Heavy Vehicles
• 9.0 Pedestrian Controls, Walkways and Exclusion Zones
• 10.0 Signage, Barriers, Lighting and Delineation
• 11.0 Delivery, Loading and Unloading Procedures
• 12.0 Communication Protocols and Two‑Way Radio Use
• 13.0 Temporary Traffic Management for Roadside and Construction Works
• 14.0 Start‑Up, Pre‑Shift and Change Management Requirements
• 15.0 Incident, Near‑Miss and Hazard Reporting in Traffic Areas
• 16.0 Emergency Access, Egress and Response Procedures
• 17.0 Training, Competency and Induction Requirements
• 18.0 Monitoring, Inspection and Review of Traffic Controls
• 19.0 Document Control and Record Keeping

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and state/territory equivalents)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (and state/territory equivalents) – traffic management and mobile plant provisions
• Safe Work Australia – General Guide for Workplace Traffic Management
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• AS 1742 Set: Manual of uniform traffic control devices (relevant parts for work sites and temporary traffic management)
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still referenced in many systems)
• ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems
• State and territory worksite traffic management manuals and guidelines (e.g. Austroads and local road authority requirements)