Vehicle Testing SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers vehicle testing from planning and test-area setup through inspections, instrumentation, road testing, specialised checks, recovery and sign-off. It supports planning and risk management for vehicle movement, testing conditions, impacts, emissions, stored energy and site interactions.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan vehicle testing activities and test conditions
• Establish and control the vehicle test area
• Inspect vehicle condition before testing
• Fit testing instrumentation safely
• Prepare for emissions testing
• Conduct low-speed road tests
• Conduct high-speed checks
• Perform emergency steering and roll stability tests
• Stress test suspension systems
• Conduct bus crash tests
• Recover and inspect vehicles after testing
• Demobilise the test area and complete records

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out vehicle testing activities.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template includes references relevant to the documented work, including:

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (applicable jurisdiction): primary duty of care, consultation and worker duties.
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth), rr 34-39: hazard identification, risk management hierarchy, maintenance, review, information, training and instruction.
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth), rr 40-48: workplace facilities, first aid, emergency plans, PPE and remote or isolated work.
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth), rr 49-53 and 56-60: airborne contaminants, hazardous atmospheres, flammable substances, noise and hazardous manual tasks.
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth), Ch 5 Part 1: plant and structures, including powered mobile plant requirements.
• Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace (2020), including plant risk assessment and traffic movement controls.
• Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace (2022), including SDS use, ventilation and exposure monitoring.
• Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks, including controls for whole-body vibration and task design.
• Safe Work Australia Guide: Managing the risks of exposure to diesel engine emissions in the workplace (2026), including extraction, minimising idling, engine maintenance and worker instruction.
• Relevant state or territory road transport, vehicle standards, dangerous goods and road authority requirements must also be verified before public-road testing.

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Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)

• Task-specific job steps, hazards and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each job step
• Plant, equipment and PPE requirements where applicable
• Permits, qualifications and high-risk construction work details where applicable
• Worker consultation, sign-off and review sections