Bobcat (Skid-Steer Loader) Operations SWMS
Operation, attachment change-over, pre-start inspection, pedestrian interaction, trench and confined-site operation of Bobcat-style skid-steer loaders on Australian construction and civil sites.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
This SWMS covers operation, attachment change-over, pre-start inspection, pedestrian interaction, and trench or confined-site work using Bobcat-style skid-steer loaders on Australian construction and civil sites. Skid-steer operation is powered mobile plant under WHS Regulation 2025 Chapter 4 Part 4.5 and is High Risk Construction Work under Regulation 291(13), requiring a documented SWMS before work commences and ongoing review under sections 19 and 20 of the WHS Act.
Hazards identified
12 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Worker run over or crushed against fixed object causing fatal injury.
Operator ejected or crushed when machine tips on batter or trench edge.
Electrocution, gas explosion or service strike causing fatality and major property damage.
Material drops onto worker or operator causing crushing or fatal head injury.
Hydraulic pressure or rolling machine crushes hands or torso during coupling.
Lift-arm collapse crushes operator entering or leaving cab incorrectly.
Loaded edge causes wall failure burying workers in the excavation.
Untrained operator causes loss of control, collision or rollover incident.
Prolonged exposure above 85 dB(A) causes permanent noise-induced hearing loss.
Long-duration exposure causes lower-back musculoskeletal injury to operator.
DPM exposure in confined or indoor work causes respiratory illness and Group 1 carcinogen risk.
High-pressure pinhole leak injects fluid into skin causing severe tissue damage.
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Operator holds documented competency (VOC) for the specific make/model; verify high-risk plant licence where applicable and authorise in writing.
- 2Establish exclusion zones with physical barriers and use a trained spotter; maintain positive eye-contact protocol before any movement near pedestrians.
- 3Complete daily pre-start inspection covering ROPS/FOPS, seatbelt, interlocks, hydraulic hoses, lift-arm safety strut and reverse alarm; isolate if defective.
- 4Conduct DBYD search and locate underground services; maintain Safe Approach Distances to overhead powerlines per AS/NZS 4576 and energy authority rules.
- 5Always lower attachment to ground, engage parking brake, neutralise hydraulics and shut down engine before dismounting or changing attachments.
- 6Maintain minimum 1 m setback from excavation edges, use battered or shored edges, and never traverse slopes exceeding manufacturer's gradient limits.
- 7Wear seatbelt and keep arms inside cab at all times; never operate or stand under raised lift-arms without manufacturer's safety strut engaged.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Primary code for plant risk management including guarding, isolation, inspection and operator competency for skid-steer loaders.
Sets ROPS and FOPS performance requirements that Bobcat cabs must meet to protect operators from rollover and falling objects.
Applies when operating skid-steers near trenches or excavations, addressing edge stability, exclusion zones and underground service strikes.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Skid-steer loaders are self-propelled powered mobile plant used in construction, automatically triggering HRCW status under Regulation 291(13).
A compliant SWMS must be prepared, available on site, complied with, and reviewed before work starts; failure breaches WHS Regulation 299–303.
Who this is for
- →Civil and construction contractors operating skid-steer loaders on site
- →Plant hire companies supplying Bobcats with operator services
- →Principal contractors managing earthworks and site establishment
- →Landscaping and demolition subcontractors using skid-steer attachments
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word (DOCX) SWMS template ready for project-specific tailoring
- ✓State-specific legislation schedule covering all Australian WHS jurisdictions
- ✓Pre-populated hazard register aligned to Bobcat operations risk profile
- ✓Worker sign-on register for SWMS consultation and acknowledgement records
Worked example
A civil contractor uses a Bobcat S70 to backfill a service trench on a Brisbane subdivision. The SWMS identifies pedestrian crushing and trench edge collapse as critical hazards. Controls include a 1.5 m edge setback, a dedicated spotter in hi-vis with two-way radio, exclusion bunting, and verified VOC for the operator. Pre-start checks confirm seatbelt and reverse alarm function. Workers sign on, the SWMS is reviewed at toolbox, and backfilling proceeds without incident.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth model) — sections 19, 20, 26A
- Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 — Chapter 4 Part 4.5 (Plant)
- WHS Regulation 2025 — Regulation 291(13) High Risk Construction Work
- WHS Regulation 2025 — Regulations 299–303 (SWMS requirements)
- AS/NZS 4576 Guidelines for safe working on or near overhead electric lines