Load Restraint & Securing Loads on Vehicles SWMS

An unrestrained load is a hazard to the person loading it, to everyone in the vehicle, and to every road user behind it. Australian load restraint requirements are performance-based: the restraint must be capable of withstanding 0.8 g forward, 0.5 g rearward and sideways, and 0.2 g vertical — which is why "it has never moved before" is not a control. This document covers loading a work ute, trailer or light commercial vehicle: assessing weight and centre of gravity, placement and axle loading, selecting a restraint method, matching lashing capacity to the load, avoiding falls from the vehicle deck while loading, and the en-route check regime. It is written for trade and service vehicles, where loads change daily and restraint is usually the last thing done before driving off.

Hazards identified

9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

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

1. 1Use mechanical aids or a team lift for heavy items
2. 2load from a height that avoids lifting above shoulder or below knee where possible
3. 3Confirm the load is within the vehicle and trailer rating
4. 4place heavy items low, forward and over the axle
5. 5keep the load balanced side to side and distribute weight so the tow ball load is correct
6. 6Contain loose material and cover where it could escape
7. 7ensure containers of liquid are sealed and upright
8. 8Use a ratchet with a comfortable working height
9. 9avoid sustained overhead tensioning
10. 10rotate the task on large loads
11. 11Block the load forward against the headboard first, then apply rated lashings — restraint is blocking plus friction plus lashing, not lashing alone
12. 12match lashing capacity to the load using the label and the Load Restraint Guide
13. 13inspect straps for cuts, fraying and damaged ratchets before use and remove failed equipment from service
14. 14use edge protectors over sharp corners
15. 15never stand in line with a strap under tension
16. 16Retain damaged strapping for disposal rather than discarding it at the roadside
17. 17Use steps or a ladder rather than jumping down
18. 18keep the deck clear and free of slippery contamination
19. 19Work from the ground wherever possible — throw straps across rather than walking the deck
20. 20three points of contact when climbing
21. 21check the load and re-tension after the first short distance and at every rest break, since loads settle
22. 22Confirm nothing can dislodge before departure
23. 23secure covers and tailgates

Applicable Codes of Practice

Worked example

A ute carrying unrestrained lengths of pipe stopped hard to avoid a car; the pipe drove forward through the rear window into the cab. Nobody was seriously hurt only because the passenger seat was empty. Blocking the load forward against the headboard and using two rated lashings — under a minute of work — would have contained it entirely.

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