Road Works and Traffic Management — Safe Work Method Statement
Safe Work Method Statement for excavation and earthworks conducted on or adjacent to live roads, including installation of traffic control measures, pavement breaking, and reinstatement works.
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Road works and traffic management on live roads is HRCW under Schedule 3 of the model WHS Regulations as work that involves a risk of being struck by a moving vehicle, and may also trigger HRCW for excavation if depths exceed 1.5 m. A SWMS is mandatory before the work commences, and must be coordinated with a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) or Traffic Guidance Scheme (TGS) approved by the relevant road authority. The Safe Work Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work addresses traffic management on construction sites.
Traffic controllers — the workers physically directing traffic through or around a work zone — must hold a current Traffic Controller certification in all Australian states and territories. In NSW this is the RMS Traffic Controller certification; in Queensland the Traffic Controller Certificate under TLILIC0003; in Victoria the WorkSafe Traffic Controller course. A Traffic Management Coordinator (TMC) with appropriate qualifications must design and approve the TMP for works on public roads, and the TMP must be submitted to and approved by the relevant road authority (council, state roads agency, or VicRoads equivalent) before work commences. In many states, approvals must be obtained under relevant road legislation — for example, the Roads Act 1993 (NSW) or Road Management Act 2004 (Vic).
Workers in road work zones are at high risk of being struck by inattentive or impaired drivers — struck-by vehicle incidents are a leading cause of fatality in the road construction industry. Traffic management controls must be designed to the relevant state's Traffic Management for Works on Roads standard (each state publishes its own version based on the Australian Road Rules and AGRD principles), with appropriate advance warning signs, delineation, speed reductions, and separation distances between workers and live traffic.
Customise this template with the road authority approval reference number, the TMP or TGS document reference, the traffic controller licence numbers, the work hours, and the equipment and plant to be used within the road corridor. This SWMS applies in all Australian states and territories with state road authority requirements applying concurrently.
Personal Protective Equipment
High Risk Construction Work Types
- •Work near live traffic
- •Excavation deeper than 1.5 metres
- •Work near live buried services
- •Use of explosives (if rock breaking required)
Risk Assessment
1.Traffic management plan implementation and site set-up
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workers struck by moving vehicles during site set-up | Catastrophic | A Traffic Management Plan (TMP) must be prepared by a certified traffic controller and approved by the relevant road authority prior to commencing work. All traffic controllers must hold a current Traffic Controller Certificate and be familiar with the approved TMP. Set up traffic control devices (signs, cones, barriers) from the safest point working outward from the work zone into traffic. Workers involved in set-up must wear Class D/N compliant high-visibility garments. Use vehicle-mounted arrow boards and flashing lights on the lead traffic control vehicle. Conduct briefing for all workers on TMP before commencement. | Moderate | Traffic Controller / Site Supervisor |
| Public or vehicles breaching site exclusion zone | High | Install water-filled jersey barriers or safety rails as physical separation between live traffic and the work zone where lane closures are in place. Do not rely solely on cones or signs where vehicle speeds exceed 60 km/h. Position a dedicated traffic controller at each entry to the work zone at all times during active work. Alert spotter system must be in place to warn workers of errant vehicles. Establish emergency assembly point well clear of the traffic lane and brief all workers on its location. | Moderate | Traffic Controller |
2.Pavement breaking and saw cutting
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silica dust inhalation during concrete/asphalt cutting | High | Use wet cutting methods for all concrete pavement sawing. Attach dust suppression water feed directly to saw blade. Where wet cutting is not practicable, use an on-tool dust extraction vacuum (H-class or M-class) with HEPA filter. Operators must wear a minimum P2 fitted respirator during any dry cutting. Conduct air monitoring where worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica is uncertain. Limit duration of individual cutting tasks through job rotation where exposure cannot be eliminated. Dispose of slurry and cuttings as controlled waste. | Low | Saw Operator / Site Supervisor |
| Hand-arm vibration injury from jackhammer operation | Moderate | Use hydraulic breaker attachment on excavator in preference to hand-held jackhammer wherever ground conditions and access permit. Where hand-held equipment is required, limit individual worker continuous jackhammer operation to 30 minutes followed by a minimum 30-minute break away from vibrating tools. Use anti-vibration gloves rated for tool vibration frequency. Track total daily vibration exposure against the daily ELV (5 m/s²). Substitute for lower-vibration equipment when available. | Low | All Workers / Site Supervisor |
3.Excavation adjacent to live traffic
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excavator swinging into live traffic lane | Catastrophic | Mark a hard exclusion boundary at the edge of the traffic exclusion zone using jersey barriers or fixed bollards. Programme a swing limiter on the excavator cab control system to prevent swing into the live lane. Banksman must maintain constant visual contact with excavator operator and traffic. Immediately halt excavation operations if traffic control is compromised for any reason. Excavator must be parked parallel to traffic flow when not active. All movements that require the machine to turn toward traffic require spotter confirmation. | Moderate | Excavator Operator / Banksman |
| Trench edge collapse under traffic loading | High | Install steel road plates of minimum 25 mm thickness with anti-skid surface texture over any trench that must remain open adjacent to or beneath a traffic lane overnight. Road plates must extend minimum 600 mm beyond each trench edge. Plates must be secured with plate locks or anchor bolts to prevent movement. Conduct an engineer's assessment of plate loading capacity against maximum permitted vehicle axle loads for the road. Inspect plates each morning before traffic management set-up. | Moderate | Site Engineer / Site Supervisor |
4.Asphalt and pavement reinstatement
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burns from hot asphalt during placement and compaction | High | Hot mix asphalt is delivered at temperatures up to 160°C. Workers must wear heat-resistant leather gloves and long-sleeved garments when in contact with or near hot asphalt. Safety boots must have heat-resistant soles rated to 300°C minimum. Do not allow workers to stand downwind of asphalt paving equipment during laying. First aid burn treatment kit must be immediately accessible on site. Brief workers on emergency first aid procedure for burns before commencing. Keep a minimum 2 m clearance from paver screed during placement. | Low | All Workers / Site Supervisor |
| Exposure to asphalt fumes | Moderate | Position all workers upwind of the paving operation where practicable. Do not allow workers to stand in enclosed spaces or low-lying areas where fumes can accumulate. Workers with respiratory conditions must be assessed by an occupational hygienist before asphalt laying tasks are assigned. Monitor air quality for bitumen fumes if work is conducted in enclosed or semi-enclosed environments (e.g. underpasses). Provide P2 respirators to workers who must be positioned near fume sources for extended periods. | Low | Site Supervisor / All Workers |
5.Traffic management pack-up and site demobilisation
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workers struck by vehicles during removal of traffic control devices | Catastrophic | Remove traffic management devices in reverse order of installation — inner devices first, working toward the traffic flow entry. Traffic controllers must remain on post until all workers have cleared the zone and final devices are to be removed. The last sign or device to be removed is always the first warning sign encountered by approaching traffic. Workers must never step into live traffic lanes to retrieve devices. Use a traffic management vehicle with arrow board to protect workers during final sign removal. All workers must face approaching traffic and maintain awareness at all times. | Moderate | Traffic Controller / Site Supervisor |
Relevant Codes of Practice
Worker Acknowledgement
By signing below, I confirm that I have read, understood and agree to comply with this Safe Work Method Statement.