BlueSafe
Working on Roads Risk Assessment

Working on Roads Risk Assessment

  • • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
  • • Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
  • • Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
  • • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Working on Roads Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with Working on Roads Risk Assessment through structured planning, governance, and systems-based controls across all road work activities. This management-level document supports WHS Act compliance, demonstrates executive Due Diligence, and helps protect your business from regulatory and operational liability.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • WHS Governance, Legal Compliance and PCBU Due Diligence: Assessment of executive WHS responsibilities, safety leadership, consultation arrangements, and evidence of compliance for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs).
  • Planning, Design and Risk Management Processes: Management of pre‑works planning, road work design reviews, risk assessments, and integration of safety in design for temporary and long‑term traffic arrangements.
  • Procurement of Plant, Vehicles, Traffic Control Devices and Contractors: Controls for specification, selection, verification and approval of plant, vehicles, signage, barriers and contractors to ensure fitness for purpose and regulatory compliance.
  • Traffic Management Systems and Road Interface Controls: Assessment of traffic management plans, worksite layout, separation of workers and vehicles, speed control measures, and interaction with public road users.
  • Worker Competency, Licensing and Training Systems: Management of competency frameworks, high‑risk work licensing, traffic controller accreditation, refresher training and verification of competency for road work tasks.
  • Induction, Site‑Specific Onboarding and Communication: Protocols for corporate and site inductions, toolbox talks, communication of traffic management plans, and briefing of workers, contractors and visitors.
  • Supervision, Monitoring and Enforcement of Safe Systems of Work: Systems for appointing competent supervisors, monitoring compliance with procedures, field inspections, and corrective actions for unsafe behaviours or conditions.
  • Journey Management and Scheduling of Road Work: Assessment of work scheduling, shift patterns, travel time, night works, and journey management procedures to minimise exposure to road‑related risks.
  • Fatigue, Welfare and Remote or Isolated Work Management: Controls for fatigue risk, rest breaks, amenities, lone worker systems, communications and support for remote or after‑hours road work locations.
  • Plant, Vehicle and Equipment Management Systems: Management of inspection, maintenance, pre‑start checks, fit‑for‑purpose verification, and safe operation of road work plant, vehicles and equipment.
  • Contractor, Subcontractor and Third‑Party Interface Management: Systems for prequalification, selection, onboarding, performance monitoring and coordination of contractors, utilities and other third parties at road work sites.
  • Incident, Near‑Miss and Hazard Reporting and Investigation: Protocols for timely reporting, recording, investigation and corrective action of incidents, near misses and identified hazards in road environments.
  • Emergency Preparedness and Response for Road Work Environments: Assessment of emergency plans, traffic incident response, spill management, rescue arrangements and liaison with emergency services.
  • Health, Environmental and Psychosocial Risk Management: Management of noise, dust, vibration, weather exposure, public interface, aggression from road users, and other psychosocial and environmental impacts of road work.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Senior Managers, Project Managers and Safety Professionals responsible for planning, approving and overseeing working on roads operations and traffic management activities.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. WHS Governance, Legal Compliance and PCBU Due Diligence
  • • Inadequate understanding by officers and senior management of WHS Act 2011 duties relating to road work activities and traffic interfaces
  • • Absence of a documented WHS management system specifically addressing work on or adjacent to roads
  • • Failure to monitor and review compliance with relevant road authority requirements, Australian Standards and Codes of Practice for temporary traffic management
  • • Insufficient allocation of resources (people, time, budget) to implement and maintain WHS obligations for road work
  • • Poor integration of contractor and subcontractor WHS arrangements into the organisation’s WHS governance framework
  • • Lack of clear WHS objectives, KPIs and reporting related to working on roads
2. Planning, Design and Risk Management Processes
  • • Inadequate project planning that does not fully consider interaction between workers, plant and public traffic
  • • Failure to conduct formal, documented risk assessments for working on roads at the concept and design stages
  • • Poor integration of safety in design principles, resulting in work methodologies that expose workers unnecessarily to live traffic
  • • Insufficient consideration of alternative work methods (e.g. off‑peak or road closure options) during planning to minimise exposure
  • • Lack of early engagement with road authorities, local councils and utilities to coordinate road occupations, detours and permits
  • • Inadequate planning for vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, people with disability) during road work activities
3. Procurement of Plant, Vehicles, Traffic Control Devices and Contractors
  • • Engagement of contractors for road work without verification of their WHS competence and traffic management capability
  • • Procurement of vehicles and plant that lack appropriate safety features for operation within live traffic environments
  • • Use of non‑compliant traffic control devices, signs, cones, barriers and lighting that do not meet road authority or Australian Standard requirements
  • • Inadequate supplier vetting leading to inconsistent maintenance and inspection regimes for hired plant and traffic management equipment
  • • Commercial procurement decisions prioritising lowest cost over safety performance and system capability
4. Traffic Management Systems and Road Interface Controls
  • • Inadequate traffic management planning for interactions between moving vehicles, plant, workers and the public
  • • Use of generic, non‑site‑specific traffic management plans (TMPs) that do not address actual road geometry, speed limits and traffic volumes
  • • Lack of governance over development, approval, implementation and review of TMPs and traffic guidance schemes
  • • Inconsistent application of speed reductions, lane closures, buffer zones and physical separations, increasing collision risk
  • • Poor communication and coordination between traffic controllers, plant operators and supervisors
  • • Temporary traffic arrangements creating confusion or unexpected manoeuvres for motorists and vulnerable road users
5. Worker Competency, Licensing and Training Systems
  • • Insufficient verification of licences, qualifications and competencies for workers involved in road work and traffic control
  • • Lack of structured training on hazards associated with working in and around live traffic environments
  • • Inadequate supervision of new or inexperienced workers deployed to road work sites
  • • Training records not maintained or reviewed, resulting in expired endorsements or outdated knowledge of traffic management practices
  • • No formalised assessment of competency for key roles such as traffic controllers, spotters, plant operators and site supervisors
6. Induction, Site‑Specific Onboarding and Communication
  • • Generic inductions that do not adequately address the specific risks of working on particular road sections or under different traffic conditions
  • • Workers and contractors commencing work without understanding site rules, traffic arrangements, exclusion zones and communication methods
  • • Poor communication of changes to TMPs, work staging or access arrangements to workers, subcontractors and visitors
  • • Language, literacy or cultural barriers preventing effective understanding of instructions and safety information
  • • Inconsistent briefing of night shift or weekend crews leading to different practices from day operations
7. Supervision, Monitoring and Enforcement of Safe Systems of Work
  • • Inadequate supervision of workers and contractors on road work sites, leading to uncontrolled deviations from approved systems
  • • Supervisors lacking specific competence in traffic management and roadside WHS requirements
  • • Failure to monitor compliance with TMPs, PPE requirements and safe access routes
  • • Tolerance of unsafe behaviours or shortcuts driven by time pressure or productivity targets
  • • Inconsistent enforcement of rules between different supervisors or shifts
8. Journey Management and Scheduling of Road Work
  • • Poor journey management resulting in excessive travel to and from road work sites, leading to fatigue and increased crash risk
  • • Scheduling of work during peak traffic periods when safer alternatives (e.g. night works or off‑peak windows) are feasible
  • • Inadequate planning for crew travel routes, parking, set‑down areas and site access in high‑traffic environments
  • • Unrealistic programs and deadlines that encourage speeding, rushing or working beyond planned hours
  • • Failure to coordinate with other projects or events that affect traffic volumes and patterns around the work area
9. Fatigue, Welfare and Remote or Isolated Work Management
  • • Workers operating in or near traffic while fatigued, increasing likelihood of error, poor situational awareness and slow reaction times
  • • Long shifts, night work or rotating shifts without adequate rest and recovery
  • • Insufficient arrangements for welfare facilities (toilets, hydration, shelter) leading to reduced concentration and risk‑taking
  • • Inadequate systems for communication and monitoring of workers in remote or isolated roadside locations
  • • Failure to consider cumulative fatigue from commuting, heavy physical labour and environmental conditions (heat, cold, noise, weather)
10. Plant, Vehicle and Equipment Management Systems
  • • Plant and vehicles used in road work not maintained to manufacturer specifications, increasing risk of breakdowns or loss of control near live traffic
  • • Lack of systematic inspection and defect reporting for vehicles operating within work zones and traffic interfaces
  • • Inadequate controls over reversing, manoeuvring and parking of plant near traffic and pedestrian paths
  • • Non‑standardised fit‑out of fleet vehicles (lighting, signage, warning devices) leading to confusion and inconsistent visibility
  • • Poor integration of vehicle telematics or GPS data into WHS monitoring for road work
11. Contractor, Subcontractor and Third‑Party Interface Management
  • • Multiple contractors working on the same road corridor without clear coordination of WHS responsibilities
  • • Inconsistent standards of traffic management and PPE between different contractors and subcontractors
  • • Failure to communicate changes in staging, TMPs or work scope between principal contractor, subcontractors and service authorities
  • • Conflicting instructions from different supervisory personnel or organisations on site
  • • Limited oversight of third‑party activities (utilities, emergency services, adjacent projects) impacting traffic and worker safety
12. Incident, Near‑Miss and Hazard Reporting and Investigation
  • • Under‑reporting of near‑misses involving vehicles, plant and road users due to fear of blame or perceived normalisation of risk
  • • Failure to investigate incidents systematically and identify underlying system and management causes
  • • Lack of trend analysis across multiple road work sites, leading to repeated patterns of similar incidents
  • • Slow implementation or poor tracking of corrective actions arising from investigations and audits
  • • Inadequate arrangements for notifiable incident reporting to regulators under the WHS Act 2011
13. Emergency Preparedness and Response for Road Work Environments
  • • Insufficient planning for vehicle collisions, plant strikes or public road incidents affecting the work area
  • • Lack of clear emergency access and egress routes for emergency services to reach workers and members of the public within or near work zones
  • • Workers not trained or drilled in emergency response specific to roadside environments (e.g. secondary impact risks, traffic diversion)
  • • Inadequate communication systems for summoning assistance or coordinating site evacuation in noisy or dispersed work areas
  • • Failure to integrate emergency plans with road authorities, emergency services and adjacent businesses or residents
14. Health, Environmental and Psychosocial Risk Management
  • • Exposure to noise, vibration, dust and exhaust emissions from traffic and plant without adequate systemic controls
  • • Heat stress or cold stress risks for workers operating for extended periods in open roadside environments
  • • Psychosocial risks arising from aggressive or non‑compliant road users, public complaints and high‑pressure work environments
  • • Insufficient systems to manage manual handling, repetitive movements and awkward postures associated with traffic devices and signage
  • • Environmental impacts (e.g. spills, erosion, vegetation damage) leading to secondary safety risks and regulatory breaches

Need to add specific hazards for your workplace?

Don't worry if a specific hazard isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom hazards at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the risk ratings and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines
  • Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Guidance on systematic risk management processes.
  • Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Traffic Management in Workplaces (and relevant state guidance for roadworks): Principles for managing vehicle and mobile plant interactions and road work traffic control.
  • AS 1742 Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (series): Standards for road signs, traffic signals and devices used in temporary road work environments.
  • AS/NZS 4801 / ISO 45001 (where adopted): Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements with guidance for use.
  • AS/NZS 3012: Electrical installations — Construction and demolition sites, where electrical systems are used in road work environments.
  • National Heavy Vehicle Law and associated regulations (where applicable): Requirements for heavy vehicle operations, fatigue and mass, dimension and loading for vehicles used in road works.
Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)
  • Comprehensive hazard identification for all activities
  • Risk rating matrix with likelihood and consequence analysis
  • Existing control measures evaluation
  • Residual risk assessment after controls
  • Hierarchy of controls recommendations
  • Action priority rankings
  • Review and monitoring requirements
  • Consultation and communication records
  • Legal compliance references
  • Sign-off and approval sections

$79.5

Safe Work Australia Aligned