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Traffic Management SWMS: Safe Work Method Statement for Roadside Work

Work on, in, or adjacent to a road, railway, shipping lane, or other traffic corridor in use by traffic other than pedestrians is classified as high-risk construction work (HRCW) under WHS Regulation 2025 Schedule 1. Every time a crew sets up within the road reserve, works on a footpath adjacent to a live traffic lane, performs utility work in the carriageway, or carries out any construction activity where workers could be struck by a passing vehicle, a Safe Work Method Statement must be prepared before the first traffic cone is placed on the ground. The SWMS must be supported by a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) prepared by a qualified traffic management designer and, in most jurisdictions, approved by the relevant road authority before work commences.

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SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.

Legal Requirements

regulation

WHS Regulation 2025 Part 6.1 Division 3 — High Risk Construction Work

hrcw category

Work on, in, or adjacent to a road, railway, shipping lane, or other traffic corridor in use by traffic other than pedestrians (WHS Regulation 2025 Schedule 1)

code of practice

Code of Practice: Construction Work (2018); AS 1742.3 (Manual of uniform traffic control devices — Traffic control for works on roads); Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management; relevant state road authority traffic management standards

section 26a binding

true

Hazards

HazardConsequenceLikelihood
Worker struck by passing vehicle on the adjacent live traffic lanePedestrian-vehicle strike at road speed is almost always fatal or causes permanent disability.Possible (C)
Vehicle intrusion into the work zone — driver fails to observe signage, barricading, or lane closureAn intruding vehicle entering an active work zone at full traffic speed creates multiple-casualty incidents.Possible (C)
Traffic controllers struck while managing traffic at the upstream or downstream end of the work zoneTraffic controllers are physically positioned closest to live traffic, holding stop-slow bats or flagging devices to manage vehicle flow through the work zone.Unlikely (D)
Worker struck by construction plant reversing or manoeuvring near the traffic laneWithin the work zone, powered mobile plant (trucks, excavators, rollers, dump trucks, graders) moves between the active work area and the traffic lane boundary.Possible (C)
Pedestrian entering the work zone from an adjacent footpath or accesswayMembers of the public — including pedestrians, cyclists, and children — can enter a work zone if pedestrian management is inadequate.Likely (B) on urban sites without physical pedestrian barriers
Reduced visibility during night work and in adverse weather conditionsNight work on roads is a high-risk activity because drivers have reduced visibility, may be fatigued, and have less time to respond to unexpected work zone conditions.Possible (C)
Temporary speed zones not observed by driversTemporary speed limits posted on approach to a work zone rely on driver compliance to be effective.Likely (B) without active speed enforcement or physical separation
Worker fatigue during extended traffic management shiftsTraffic controllers and flaggers who work extended shifts in high-attention positions are at risk of fatigue-induced errors including missed vehicle approaches, delayed signalling, and impaired situational awareness.Possible (C)
Exhaust fume exposure from sustained traffic in and around the work zoneWorkers positioned close to live traffic lanes are exposed to carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter (including diesel particulate), and volatile organic compounds from passing vehicles.Likely (B)

Controls (Hierarchy of Controls)

[Elimination] Schedule work for periods of low traffic volume (off-peak, late night) or arrange full road closures with diversions to eliminate traffic-worker interaction entirely
[Elimination] Specify trenchless utility installation (horizontal directional drilling, microtunnelling) for in-road service installation to eliminate the need to open the carriageway
[Substitution] Substitute workforce-intensive methods with mechanised equipment that reduces the number of workers on foot in the work zone
[Substitution] Substitute manual flagging with automated traffic management systems (portable traffic signals, automated boom gates) where the traffic pattern permits
[Isolation] Install physical separation barriers between the live traffic lane and the work zone — water-filled plastic barriers, concrete jersey barriers, or wire rope safety barrier systems compliant with AS/NZS 3845
[Isolation] Establish exclusion zones between the work activity and the live traffic lane — minimum 1.2 metre lateral clearance to AS 1742.3 for works on low-speed roads, with increased clearance for higher speeds
[Isolation] Install vehicle-mounted attenuator (TMA or truck-mounted attenuator) upstream of the work zone to absorb the impact energy of an errant vehicle that fails to observe the lane closure
[Engineering] Install arrow boards and variable message signs (VMS) to alert approaching traffic, provide advance warning of lane closures, and communicate the required driving behaviour through the work zone
[Engineering] Install temporary traffic signals or portable traffic signal systems for lane closures on two-way roads where manual flagging is insufficient
[Engineering] Install temporary speed reduction signage and enforceable temporary speed limits per AS 1742.3 — typically reducing from 60 to 40 km/h or from 80 to 60 km/h at the work zone
+ 10 more controls included in the full template

Recent Prosecutions

SafeWork NSW road work enforcement activityMultiple improvement and prohibition notices; court-imposed penalties in fatality cases

SafeWork NSW has pursued enforcement against civil construction and road maintenance businesses following worker strikes and vehicle intrusion incidents in roadwork zones. Common findings include traffic management plans that were inadequate for the traffic volume and speed, absence of physical separation barriers where they were reasonably practicable, and SWMS documents that did not address the specific traffic management controls. The Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management and AS 1742.3 have been cited in prohibition notices.

2024 — SafeWork NSW Construction Compliance Programme

WorkSafe Victoria road and civil sector enforcementDirections and enforcement undertakings

WorkSafe Victoria has pursued enforcement following pedestrian-vehicle strikes on road maintenance and civil sites. Investigations identified SWMS and traffic management plans that did not specify minimum lateral clearances from the traffic lane, absence of vehicle-mounted attenuators on high-speed roads, and traffic controller positions that did not meet AS 1742.3 requirements. The Compliance Code: Workplace Traffic Management and the Compliance Code: Construction Work have been cited.

2023 — WorkSafe Victoria enforcement activity

What Your SWMS Must Include

✓Identification of the HRCW category (work on or adjacent to a traffic corridor in use by traffic other than pedestrians)
✓Traffic Management Plan (TMP) prepared by a qualified designer, referenced by document number, and available on site
✓Speed zone details including the existing speed limit, temporary speed limit, and sign placement per AS 1742.3
✓Barrier type and placement plan including physical separation between traffic and the work zone and gap management
✓Traffic controller positions, qualifications (RIIWHS205E or RIIWHS302E), and communication equipment
✓Vehicle-mounted attenuator (TMA) requirements and positioning upstream of the work zone for high-speed roads
✓Pedestrian management plan including diversion routes, signage, and physical barriers around excavations on the pedestrian side
✓Night work controls including lighting levels per AS 1680, retroreflective clothing, and visibility enhancements
✓Emergency procedures for vehicle intrusion including evacuation routes and muster point
✓Plant operation controls near traffic including reversing procedures, spotter requirements, and retroreflective markings
+ 4 more requirements covered in the full template

Build Your Traffic Management SWMS in Minutes

This SWMS template pre-loads traffic management hazards, barrier requirements, traffic controller positioning, and night work controls. Compliant with AS 1742.3 and state road authority requirements. Your first SWMS is free.

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