Product Overview

Summary: This Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, compliant approach to monitoring and managing vibration generated during roadworks. It helps roadwork crews protect workers, nearby structures, and the public from excessive vibration while meeting Australian WHS and environmental requirements.

Road construction and maintenance activities such as compaction, milling, and piling can generate significant ground-borne and structural vibration. Uncontrolled vibration can damage nearby buildings and underground services, trigger community complaints, and pose health and safety risks to workers from prolonged exposure to hand–arm and whole-body vibration. This Vibration Monitoring During Roadworks SOP provides a structured, defensible method for planning, measuring, recording, and responding to vibration levels on active roadwork sites across Australia.

The procedure guides your team through pre-works assessments, selection and placement of vibration monitoring equipment, trigger and alarm levels, and the actions to take when thresholds are approached or exceeded. It integrates WHS risk management with environmental and community expectations, supporting compliance with council conditions, client specifications, and relevant Australian Standards. By implementing this SOP, organisations can demonstrate due diligence, reduce the likelihood of structural damage and injury, and maintain strong relationships with road users and adjacent property owners.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, evidence-based vibration monitoring practices across all roadwork sites.
• Reduce the risk of structural damage claims from nearby properties and underground services.
• Protect workers from harmful exposure to hand–arm and whole-body vibration.
• Support compliance with WHS legislation, council conditions of approval, and project specifications.
• Improve community relations by proactively managing vibration impacts and responding to complaints with clear data.

Who is this for?

• Roadworks Supervisors
• Civil Construction Project Managers
• WHS Managers
• Site Engineers
• Local Government Infrastructure Officers
• Environmental and Compliance Officers
• Plant and Equipment Operators
• Traffic Management Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Excessive ground-borne vibration impacting nearby residential and commercial structures
• Damage to underground utilities such as water, gas, sewer, and telecommunications
• Hand–arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) from prolonged use of vibrating hand tools and equipment
• Whole-body vibration exposure for plant operators and truck drivers
• Noise and vibration nuisance affecting nearby residents and businesses
• Uncontrolled operation of heavy plant leading to unsafe vibration levels
• Secondary hazards arising from structural movement, cracking, or service failure

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations (including HAVS and whole-body vibration)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (Supervisors, Engineers, Operators, WHS personnel)
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Client Requirements
• 5.0 Pre-Works Planning and Vibration Risk Assessment
• 6.0 Identification of Sensitive Receivers and Infrastructure
• 7.0 Selection, Calibration and Maintenance of Vibration Monitoring Equipment
• 8.0 Setting Vibration Trigger, Alarm and Limit Levels
• 9.0 Installation, Positioning and Verification of Vibration Monitors
• 10.0 Step-by-Step Vibration Monitoring Procedure During Roadworks
• 11.0 Control Measures to Reduce Vibration at Source
• 12.0 Worker Health Monitoring and Exposure Management
• 13.0 Data Recording, Interpretation and Reporting Requirements
• 14.0 Response Actions When Vibration Levels Exceed Thresholds
• 15.0 Communication with Stakeholders and Community Notification
• 16.0 Incident, Complaint and Damage Management
• 17.0 Training, Competency and Authorisation Requirements
• 18.0 Document Control, Review and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 and equivalent state and territory regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work (relevant to vibration-related noise sources)
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• AS 2670.1: Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration
• AS 2670.2: Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration – Continuous and shock-induced vibration in buildings (1 to 80 Hz)
• AS 2187.2: Explosives – Storage and use – Use of explosives (where blasting-related vibration may be involved in roadworks)
• AS/NZS ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
• State and Territory Road Authority Specifications and Technical Directions relating to vibration (e.g. Transport for NSW, TMR QLD, DoT VIC)