Product Overview

Summary: This Worksite Risk Assessment Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, repeatable method for identifying, assessing and controlling hazards on Australian worksites. It helps businesses embed a practical, on-the-ground risk assessment process that protects workers, supports WHS compliance, and reduces the likelihood of incidents, delays and regulatory scrutiny.

This Worksite Risk Assessment Safe Operating Procedure sets out a structured, step-by-step approach for assessing risks before and during work activities on site. It translates the requirements of Australian WHS legislation into practical field-level actions, ensuring that hazards are not only identified but also evaluated, prioritised and controlled using the hierarchy of controls. The procedure supports both pre-start assessments and dynamic, on-the-spot reviews when conditions change, such as new contractors arriving, weather shifts, or variations to scope.

For Australian businesses operating in construction, civil works, maintenance, utilities or facilities management, inconsistent or informal risk assessments are a common weak point. This SOP addresses that gap by standardising how hazards are recorded, how risk ratings are applied, and how control measures are agreed, implemented and reviewed. It helps organisations demonstrate due diligence, create a defensible audit trail, and build a safety culture where supervisors and workers understand their roles in managing risk. By implementing this procedure, you reduce the likelihood of injuries, near misses, rework and enforcement action, while improving planning, communication and productivity across the worksite.

Key Benefits

• Ensure a consistent, documented approach to hazard identification and risk assessment across all worksites.
• Reduce the likelihood of incidents, near misses and injuries by systematically applying the hierarchy of controls.
• Demonstrate due diligence and WHS compliance to regulators, clients and principal contractors through clear records and evidence.
• Improve communication and consultation between supervisors, workers and subcontractors regarding site-specific risks.
• Streamline pre-start planning and permit-to-work processes by integrating risk assessment into everyday site routines.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Forepersons
• Operations Managers
• Civil and Construction Engineers
• Maintenance Managers
• Facilities Managers
• Small Business Owners in Construction and Trades

Hazards Addressed

• Slips, trips and falls on uneven, wet or obstructed surfaces
• Falls from heights when working on roofs, scaffolds, ladders or elevated work platforms
• Struck-by or caught-between incidents involving mobile plant, vehicles and moving equipment
• Contact with live electrical installations, overhead powerlines or underground services
• Excavation and trench collapse during civil and groundworks
• Manual handling and musculoskeletal injuries from lifting, pushing or awkward postures
• Exposure to hazardous substances, dusts, fumes, chemicals and asbestos-containing materials
• Noise-induced hearing loss from prolonged exposure to high noise levels
• Environmental hazards such as heat stress, UV exposure, extreme weather and poor visibility
• Psychosocial hazards including fatigue, remote or isolated work and high-stress environments

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Legal and Other Requirements
• 5.0 Overview of the Risk Management Process
• 6.0 Pre-Start Worksite Risk Assessment Procedure
• 7.0 Dynamic (Ongoing) Risk Assessment in the Field
• 8.0 Hazard Identification – Typical Worksite Hazards Checklist
• 9.0 Risk Analysis and Risk Rating Methodology
• 10.0 Selection and Implementation of Control Measures (Hierarchy of Controls)
• 11.0 Consultation, Communication and Worker Involvement
• 12.0 Integration with Permits, SWMS and Other WHS Documentation
• 13.0 Documentation, Recordkeeping and Evidence Requirements
• 14.0 Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement of Risk Assessments
• 15.0 Training, Competency and Awareness
• 16.0 Incident, Near Miss and Change Management Links
• 17.0 Appendices – Sample Worksite Risk Assessment Form and Completed Examples

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act (Safe Work Australia)
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations (Safe Work Australia)
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Construction Work: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces: Code of Practice
• AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 Risk management – Guidelines
• AS/NZS 4801:2001 Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still referenced in many systems)
• ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use