Product Overview

Summary: This Vehicle and Pedestrian Interaction Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical controls to separate people from moving vehicles and mobile plant in Australian workplaces. It helps businesses design and enforce safe traffic flows, reduce collision risks, and demonstrate compliance with WHS duties across warehouses, construction sites, logistics yards and other vehicle-intensive environments.

Vehicle and pedestrian interactions are one of the leading causes of serious injuries and fatalities in Australian workplaces, particularly in warehouses, construction sites, transport depots and loading areas. This Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step-by-step framework to plan, control and monitor how vehicles, mobile plant and pedestrians move around your site. It goes beyond high-level guidance to give you a practical, implementable system that supervisors and workers can actually follow on the ground.

The procedure covers the full lifecycle of traffic risk management, from initial site mapping and risk assessment through to the design of traffic management plans, use of physical barriers and signage, communication protocols, spotter arrangements, and safe systems for loading, unloading and reversing. It also sets out clear behavioural expectations for drivers, operators, contractors and pedestrians, supported by induction, training and supervision requirements. By adopting this SOP, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of vehicle-pedestrian collisions, improve visibility and line-of-sight around high-risk zones, and create a defensible record of WHS compliance under Australian law.

Designed for a wide range of industries, the document can be tailored to fixed sites, temporary work areas and mobile operations. It helps you integrate vehicle and pedestrian safety into daily operations, toolbox talks, contractor management and incident investigations, ensuring that traffic safety is managed systematically rather than reactively after an incident occurs.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of vehicle–pedestrian collisions through clear separation, traffic controls and behavioural rules.
• Ensure compliance with WHS legislation and regulator expectations for traffic management in Australian workplaces.
• Standardise how vehicle and pedestrian movements are planned, communicated and supervised across all sites.
• Improve visibility, awareness and communication between drivers, mobile plant operators, spotters and pedestrians.
• Provide clear documentation to support inductions, contractor management, incident investigations and audits.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Site Supervisors
• Warehouse Managers
• Transport and Logistics Managers
• Construction Project Managers
• Operations Managers
• Fleet Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Facilities Managers
• Civil and Infrastructure Supervisors

Hazards Addressed

• Pedestrians being struck by moving vehicles, forklifts or mobile plant
• Crushing or pinching between vehicles, plant and fixed structures
• Reversing vehicle incidents due to blind spots and poor visibility
• Collisions at intersections, crossings and loading zones
• Slips, trips and falls in designated walkways and shared zones
• Distraction and inattention of drivers and pedestrians in high-traffic areas
• Uncontrolled contractor and visitor vehicle movements
• Poorly managed interactions during loading, unloading and coupling activities
• Night-time or low-light vehicle operations with inadequate lighting or signalling

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Terminology
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Consultation Requirements
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Site Risk Assessment and Traffic Mapping
• 6.0 Traffic Management Plan Development and Review
• 7.0 Separation of Vehicles and Pedestrians (Barriers, Walkways and Crossings)
• 8.0 Vehicle and Mobile Plant Operating Rules
• 9.0 Pedestrian Behaviour and Access Controls
• 10.0 Loading, Unloading and Dock Operations
• 11.0 Reversing, Spotters and High-Risk Manoeuvres
• 12.0 Signage, Line Marking, Lighting and Visibility Aids
• 13.0 Induction, Training and Competency Requirements
• 14.0 Contractor, Visitor and Delivery Driver Management
• 15.0 Communication Protocols (Radios, Hand Signals and Briefings)
• 16.0 Inspection, Monitoring and Housekeeping of Traffic Areas
• 17.0 Incident, Near-Miss Reporting and Investigation
• 18.0 Emergency Procedures and Response for Traffic Incidents
• 19.0 Document Control, Review and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – General Guide for Workplace Traffic Management
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace (for fuel and loading areas, where relevant)
• AS 1742: Manual of uniform traffic control devices (as applicable to workplace traffic signage)
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still referenced by many organisations)
• ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use