Product Overview

Summary: This Safe Operating Procedure sets out how GPS technologies are to be planned, configured and used safely and effectively on road construction projects. It integrates WHS requirements with best-practice surveying and machine control workflows, helping Australian contractors reduce on-site risks, improve accuracy and keep projects moving on time and on budget.

GPS and machine guidance systems are now central to modern road construction, driving productivity, precision and real-time decision making. However, poorly planned or unmanaged use of GPS equipment can introduce new safety risks, data integrity issues and costly rework. This SOP provides a structured, step-by-step framework for the safe and consistent use of GPS technologies across road construction activities, including survey set-out, machine control, grade checking, compaction monitoring and as-built verification. It clarifies how digital models are to be managed, how field teams interact with GPS-enabled plant, and how to maintain safe working distances and communication protocols between survey crews, operators and other workers in live traffic or high-risk environments.

Developed for Australian civil and road contractors, the procedure aligns GPS use with WHS obligations, chain of responsibility requirements and relevant Australian Standards. It addresses common pain points such as conflicting design data, uncontrolled modifications to GPS models, equipment interference near high-voltage lines, and confusion about who is authorised to change settings. By implementing this SOP, businesses can standardise training, protect workers from emerging technology-related hazards, and demonstrate due diligence when regulators or clients review how digital tools are being managed on site. The result is safer operations, more predictable outcomes and a clear audit trail for every GPS-guided activity on the project.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, safe use of GPS and machine guidance systems across all road construction activities.
• Reduce rework and material waste by improving accuracy of set-out, levels and alignments.
• Minimise on-site safety risks associated with survey activities, plant movements and work near live traffic.
• Standardise data management, model control and authorisation processes for GPS-enabled equipment.
• Demonstrate compliance with WHS and chain of responsibility obligations when using advanced technologies on civil projects.

Who is this for?

• Construction Project Managers
• Site Supervisors
• Road Construction Forepersons
• Plant Operators (Graders, Dozers, Excavators, Pavers)
• Surveyors and Engineering Technicians
• WHS Managers and Safety Advisors
• Civil Engineers
• Machine Control Technicians
• Fleet and Asset Managers
• Digital Engineering / BIM Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Struck-by incidents between GPS-guided plant and ground workers or surveyors
• Distraction of operators due to over-reliance on in-cab GPS screens
• Working near live traffic during GPS set-out and verification activities
• Slips, trips and falls while accessing GPS base stations, masts and elevated mounting points
• Electromagnetic interference or unsafe proximity to overhead and underground services when positioning GPS equipment
• Incorrect levels or alignments leading to unsafe road geometry, drainage issues or unstable embankments
• Manual handling injuries from lifting and transporting GPS bases, batteries, tripods and poles
• Fatigue and extended exposure to heat and UV during prolonged outdoor GPS surveying tasks
• Data security and loss of critical design files leading to unsafe or non-compliant construction
• Uncontrolled changes to GPS models resulting in conflicting set-out and unsafe work sequences

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations (GPS, GNSS, Base, Rover, Machine Control, Design Model)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (Project Manager, Surveyor, Site Supervisor, Plant Operator, WHS Advisor)
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Planning and Pre-Start Requirements for GPS Use on Road Projects
• 6.0 GPS System Requirements, Calibration and Verification of Accuracy
• 7.0 Digital Design Model Management and Version Control
• 8.0 Site Set-Up of GPS Base Stations, Repeaters and Communication Equipment
• 9.0 Safe Work Practices for Surveyors and Ground Personnel
• 10.0 Safe Operation of GPS-Enabled Plant and Machine Control Systems
• 11.0 Working Near Live Traffic, Services and Other High-Risk Areas
• 12.0 Communication Protocols Between Operators, Surveyors and Supervisors
• 13.0 Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control Measures Specific to GPS Use
• 14.0 Environmental Considerations (Weather, Visibility, Signal Interference)
• 15.0 Emergency Procedures and Incident Reporting Related to GPS Operations
• 16.0 Inspection, Maintenance and Storage of GPS Equipment
• 17.0 Training, Competency and Authorisation Requirements
• 18.0 Documentation, Records and Audit Trail for GPS Activities
• 19.0 Review, Continuous Improvement and Change Management

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Construction Work
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Plant in the Workplace
• Austroads Guides to Road Design and Road Construction (for alignment and geometry considerations)
• AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems
• AS 5488:2013 Classification of Subsurface Utility Information
• AS/NZS 3000:2018 Electrical installations (for work near electrical services and infrastructure)
• AS/NZS 1891 series: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices (for elevated GPS mounting and access)
• AS/NZS 60825 series: Safety of laser products (where GPS equipment is integrated with optical/laser systems)