Light Vehicle Driving for Work SWMS

Driving is the most dangerous thing most workers do, and because it happens outside the workplace it is the activity least likely to have a documented control. A work vehicle is a workplace under WHS law: the PCBU's duty to ensure health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable applies to the driver on the road exactly as it does on site. This document covers driving a light vehicle for work — pre-start roadworthiness checks, journey planning and realistic scheduling, fatigue recognition and break discipline, distraction and mobile phone control, driving in adverse weather, load and equipment security inside the cabin, and what to do after an incident. It is written for trades, service and sales staff who drive between jobs, where schedule pressure rather than recklessness is what usually causes the crash.

Hazards identified

9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.

1. 1Adjust seat, mirrors and head restraint before driving
2. 2report any discomfort caused by the vehicle set-up
3. 3Complete a pre-start check — tyres including pressure and tread, brakes, lights, indicators, wipers, washers, horn and mirrors
4. 4do not drive a defective vehicle, report and tag it
5. 5secure all tools, equipment and loose items in a cargo barrier or restrained load area, never on the seat or floor of the cabin
6. 6keep the vehicle servicing up to date
7. 7Report fluid leaks immediately and have them repaired
8. 8Plan a break at least every two hours
9. 9recognise fatigue signs — yawning, drifting, missing exits — and stop
10. 10do not drive after an extended shift of physical work
11. 11report fatigue without fear of consequence
12. 12Build realistic travel time into the schedule and cap daily driving distance
13. 13authorise staff to delay or reschedule in adverse weather
14. 14never require a call to be answered while driving
15. 15Plan routes to minimise unnecessary kilometres
16. 16Break up long drives, get out and move at each stop
17. 17adjust the seat to support the lower back
18. 18Phone in a cradle and hands-free only — pull over safely to text, read or use the phone at length
19. 19set navigation before departing
20. 20do not eat while driving
21. 21drive to the conditions, not the limit
22. 22wear a seatbelt at all times
23. 23Carry a basic spill absorbent
24. 24at any incident make the scene safe, call 000 if anyone is injured, do not admit liability, photograph the scene and report to the employer the same day

Applicable Codes of Practice

Worked example

A service technician was scheduled for five jobs across a 400 km round trip, which was only achievable by skipping breaks. He drifted across the centre line late in the afternoon and was fortunate to correct without a collision. The schedule, not the driver, was the hazard — capping daily driving distance, building travel time into job allocation and requiring a break every two hours removed the pressure that made fatigue inevitable.

Related legislation

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) — primary duty of care, s.19
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW) — Chapter 3 Risk Management
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW) — Part 4.2 Hazardous Manual Tasks
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW) — Chapter 7 Hazardous Chemicals (register, SDS, labelling, placarding, manifest)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW) — emergency plan duty (s. 43)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW) — Chapter 3 Part 3.2 general working environment, first aid and facilities

Frequently asked questions