Product Overview

This Utility Vehicle SWMS is a site-ready Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify hazards, implement controls, and ensure safe operation of utility and all-terrain vehicles on Australian worksites. It is a comprehensive document covering multiple aspects of Utility Vehicle SWMS activities, helping your business demonstrate robust WHS compliance and effective risk management.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Safe access to and from utility vehicles in rough or uneven terrain, including maintaining three points of contact and managing slip, trip and fall risks
• Operation of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and side-by-sides, including speed control, route selection and rollover prevention
• Driving utility vehicles on unsealed, steep, or rutted surfaces with controls for traction loss, bogging and vehicle instability
• Pre-start inspection of utility and all-terrain vehicles, including tyres, brakes, steering, lights, fluids and safety equipment
• Securing loads on utility trays and racks to prevent load shift, falling objects and reduced vehicle stability
• Management of vehicle roll-over risks, including use of ROPS, seatbelts and safe operating gradients
• Journey planning and route assessment for remote or off-road locations, including communication and emergency response arrangements
• Control of environmental hazards such as mud, sand, water crossings, dust, low visibility and wildlife or livestock on tracks
• Safe parking, isolation and immobilisation of vehicles on slopes, work zones and public access areas
• Use of spotters, traffic management and exclusion zones when operating near workers, plant or other vehicles
• Fatigue management and fitness for work requirements for workers operating utility and all-terrain vehicles
• Refuelling, maintenance and repair activities, including controls for fire, burns, hazardous substances and manual handling

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for civil contractors, construction crews, mining and resources operations, utilities and infrastructure workers, agricultural and land management teams, and site supervisors responsible for utility and all-terrain vehicle use.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on identifying and controlling risks associated with vehicles and mobile plant.
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Requirements for safe access, egress and work conditions around vehicle operating areas.
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for hazard identification, risk assessment and control implementation.
• Safe Work Australia – Traffic Management in Workplaces (guidance material): Principles for separating vehicles and pedestrians and managing vehicle movements on site.
• AS/NZS 4024 Safety of Machinery (relevant parts): General principles for plant safety applied to vehicle controls and safeguarding.
• AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites: Referenced where utility vehicles interface with temporary electrical installations.
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017