Traffic Management on Public Roads and Highways SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers traffic management activities on public roads and highways, including planning, site setup, traffic control, monitoring, recovery and close-out. It supports identifying traffic, public, vehicle, visibility and changing-condition hazards while organising the work zone.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Review the traffic management plan
• Inspect the site and road conditions
• Mobilise equipment to the work site
• Install advance warning signs
• Establish a separated work zone
• Position traffic controllers
• Manage manual traffic flow
• Manage roadside work activities
• Undertake quick-clearance recovery activities
• Monitor traffic and changing site conditions
• Remove traffic controls in a controlled sequence
• Complete close-out and review

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out traffic management activities on public roads and highways.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template includes references relevant to the documented work, including:

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (or applicable state/territory equivalent): primary duty of care, consultation and worker duties.
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (or applicable state/territory equivalent), Part 3.1: risk management, hierarchy of controls, maintenance and review of controls.
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (or applicable state/territory equivalent), Part 6.3: high risk construction work and SWMS requirements, including work on or adjacent to a road, railway, shipping lane or other traffic corridor in use by traffic other than pedestrians.
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (or applicable state/territory equivalent), plant provisions: manage risks from powered mobile plant, including collision and warning devices.
• Model Code of Practice: Construction Work (November 2024): SWMS, traffic management, exclusion zones, trained traffic controllers and control of plant movement.
• Traffic Management for Construction or Maintenance Work Code of Practice: prepare a TMP/TGS in accordance with the applicable Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and manage risks during installation, operation, alteration and removal.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace: identify hazards, eliminate or minimise risks using the hierarchy of controls, and review controls.
• Applicable state or territory road legislation, road authority manuals, permits and directions, including the current Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and relevant AS 1742 series.

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Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)

• Task-specific job steps, hazards and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each job step
• Plant, equipment and PPE requirements where applicable
• Permits, qualifications and high-risk construction work details where applicable
• Worker consultation, sign-off and review sections