Transport and Delivery of Cash and Valuable Goods WHS Guide

Direct answer

Transporting or delivering cash, jewellery, precious metals, sensitive documents or other valuable goods needs a planned system of work, even when it is only an occasional part of a construction or trade business. The main priorities are to reduce predictability and public exposure, provide safe access and communications, control vehicle and manual-handling risks, and make sure workers know when to stop, withdraw or call for help.

For NSW operations, SafeWork NSW's current Code covers transport and delivery across banking, retail, armoured transport, courier and logistics settings. It does not cover routine handling after the transport and delivery transaction is complete. Local requirements vary, so check current regulator material for the jurisdiction where the work occurs.

Main hazards

The obvious threat is robbery or assault, but the work can expose people to several interacting risks:

robbery, hijacking, threats, violence and traumatic events
vehicle collisions, breakdowns, unsafe loading areas and traffic movements
predictable routes, times or transfer points, and information leaks
failed radios, phones, duress alarms, tracking or other equipment
lifting coin bags or cases, pushing loaded trolleys and working in restricted spaces
slips, trips, poor lighting, heat, noise, fatigue and isolated work
pressure to continue when a location, person or vehicle does not look right.

The risk can change between sites and during the trip. A control that suits a staffed commercial loading dock may be inadequate at an open public frontage or after-hours worksite.

Sort these matters before work starts

Define what is being moved, its risk profile, who controls each location, and where responsibility passes between parties. Consult the client, transport provider, site controller, affected workers and health and safety representatives where applicable.

Confirm:

collection and handover points, safe parking, access, lighting and retreat areas
route, timing, public exposure and reasonable alternatives
staffing and supervision suited to the assessed risk
worker roles, competency, induction and site contact details
fit-for-purpose vehicles, load security, handling aids and PPE
primary and backup communications, including known reception black spots
emergency, missed check-in, breakdown, collision and post-incident arrangements
confidentiality rules for schedules, routes, values, access codes and worker details.

Workers should receive a shift or pre-start briefing covering current threats, duties, changes, equipment, rest breaks and emergency actions. Test critical equipment rather than relying on an unchecked tick-and-flick form.

What good controls and documents usually cover

Use higher-order controls first. This might mean changing the handover location, removing public exposure, using a secure loading area, altering timing, mechanising handling, or choosing a more suitable vehicle. Procedures, training and PPE then support those controls.

A practical document set may include a risk assessment, standard operating procedure, route or delivery plan, client/site instructions, pre-start vehicle and equipment check, communication and welfare-check protocol, incident response plan, training records and a short briefing record.

The SOP should make decisions clear: who may proceed, what triggers a deferral, how suspicious activity is reported, how backups are called, how goods are secured after a collision or breakdown, and what happens after robbery, assault or another traumatic event. It should also address manual tasks, fatigue, faulty equipment, hazard reporting and ongoing review.

Review the controls after an incident or near miss, when work, routes, sites, vehicles or equipment change, or when workers identify a weakness.

When a SWMS or site-specific document applies

Do not default to a SWMS solely because valuable goods are present. First determine whether the associated construction activity is high risk construction work under the requirements applying at that site and in that jurisdiction. If it is, prepare and use the required SWMS for that work.

For other transport or delivery tasks, a site-specific risk assessment, SOP, delivery plan, JSA or pre-start briefing may be the clearer operational document. Match the document to the actual task and coordinate it with the principal contractor or site controller's traffic, access and emergency arrangements.

Warning signs

Pause and reassess if:

the route, timing or value changed without review
the safe parking or handover area is blocked
a worker must cross an uncontrolled public or vehicle area
communications or a duress device fails
the agreed staffing level is unavailable
an unexpected person seeks operational details
suspicious behaviour, surveillance or a forced route change is observed
fatigue, heat, distress or an injury affects safe performance.

Workers need clear authority and a reliable process to defer the task, move to a safe area and escalate concerns.

How Blue Safe can help

Blue Safe provides compliant WHS documents tailored to the client's activities, applicable Australian WHS/OHS requirements, jurisdiction and industry. Blue Safe guarantees the document compliance of the WHS documents it provides, including eligible customer documents after Blue Safe has reviewed and upgraded them.

We can develop or improve practical risk assessments, SOPs, delivery plans, emergency procedures, consultation and briefing records, and related SWMS where high risk construction work applies. Customers actively put the compliant documents into practice through controls, consultation, training, actions, records and evidence.

Official sources

Information current: 14 August 2026.

Transport and delivery of cash and valuable goods