Road freight transport industry:

Hazard identification checklist

Use the checklist below to identify potential health and safety problems in your workplace. If you
answer ‘no’ to any of the questions you may need to make changes. Further information can be
obtained from the practical guidance sheets for your industry.

Look at the tasks performed in your workplace and for each task ask yourself the following
questions:

Manual tasks
Are workers doing tasks requiring force, Are workers protected against vibration
awkward joint positions or repetition Yes when using hand-held power tools or Yes
that continues for over 30 minutes at a No driving trucks/forklifts etc. for long No
time or more than two hours of a shift? periods?
Is the need to move heavy loads Are workers able to vary their posture
eliminated or minimised? Yes throughout the task? (i.e. do not have Yes
No to stand, sit, kneel or squat for No
extended periods)?
Are there mechanical aids (eg forklifts, If the task is performed for prolonged
Yes Yes
tarp spreaders, trolleys, periods, can it be performed at an easy
No No
conveyors/rollers) available and used? pace?
Are workers able to perform the task Are repetitive movements minimised,
without reaching and with their and/or do workers have frequent
Yes Yes
shoulder, forearm and wrist in a breaks from repetitive tasks?
No No
comfortable position (i.e. not stretched
bent/twisted)?
Are workers able to perform the task in Are the forces/efforts required by a
an upright, forward facing position (i.e. Yes worker to perform the task kept to Yes
not bent over or twisting/turning their No within a minimal possible range (not No
back/neck)? high, sudden, repetitive or sustained)?

Access to cabins
Are steps, treads depths and widths Do steps have contrasting colours
Yes Yes
uniform? and/or reflective tape to highlight the
No No
edge of the step tread?
Are handrails coordinated with the Yes Are workers instructed to maintain
location of footholds? No three points of contact when Yes
Do footholds have coarse grating to Yes climbing in or out of vehicle and to No
allow mud to be pushed through? No not jump from cabin and/or trailer?
 Falls from trucks
Are hazards associated with working If access to top of load is required,
at heights identified and controlled are there any fall prevention or fall
Yes Yes
(risk assessment)? arrest systems used (e.g. guard
No No
rails, lanyard/harness, access
platforms etc)?
Where possible, is tarping of loads Is jumping down from either the
done from the ground (i.e. forklift used Yes cabin or the trailer actively Yes
to lift tarps to trucks and tarp secured No discouraged? No
from the ground)?
Is climbing on top of loads actively If there are openings in the decking,
discouraged (bottom-fill/discharge are they adequately protected
Yes Yes
and electronic measuring equipment against people falling through the
No No
used for tankers, trailers with deck?
mechanical tarping systems)?

Slips, trips and falls

Are walkways/stairways/ramps kept Are all ladders used stable and in
clear of boxes, rubbish, leads, or good condition and only used for the
other trip hazards? Yes purpose for which they were Yes
No designed?? (ladders should be rated No
for industrial use and have a load
rating of at least 120 kg.)
Are all floor surfaces even and Are there guard railings, toe boards
undamaged? Yes etc. to prevent people falling off Yes
No mezzanine floors or other high areas No
(e.g. loading bays)?
Are ramps and steps clearly marked? Do floor surfaces have sufficient grip
Yes Yes
to prevent slipping when wet or
No No
contaminated?
Are all areas well lit so people can do Are workers provided with or
Yes Yes
their jobs safely? instructed to wear footwear that is
No No
suitable for the work environment?
Are controls in place to prevent floors
Yes
from becoming a slip hazard (eg,
No
spills are cleaned up immediately)?

Cabin seating
Does seating have adequate lumbar Yes Is the seat suspension adequate to Yes
support in the backrest of seat? No prevent injury from vibration? No
Are seats easily adjustable to prevent
Yes Are controls ergonomically Yes
poor seating posture and postural
No positioned to prevent over reaching? No
fatigue?

Working alone / violence

Are procedures developed for workers to deal with working alone or in darkness Yes
(designed to minimise the risk of injury and violence)? No

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland

Information guide – Road freight transport industry series – Hazard identification checklist
PN10066 Version 2. Last updated January 2014 Page 2 of 6
 Noise
Have sources of noise been Are there signs indicating noisy areas
identified and has the noise being Yes or equipment and that hearing Yes
generated been eliminated or at No protection is required? No
least minimised?
Where it is not possible to reduce
the noise levels, are employees Yes
provided with hearing protection No
and trained to use it?

Driver fatigue
Are safe work procedures Are adequate arrangements made for
Yes Yes
developed including realistic trip rest and recovery at the depot or
No No
schedules? elsewhere?
Are procedures developed which Are procedures in place that allow for
deal with driver rosters? (Scheduling alternative courses of action for the
Yes Yes
practices should not at any time put driver to follow due to unexpected
No No
the delivery of a load before the demands?
safety of the driver.)
Are drivers given advanced notice, Are drivers trained in fatigue
sufficient time for the trip and management relevant to their work
Yes Yes
adequate rest prior to and during the rosters?
No No
trip if expected to drive significant
distances?

Chemicals
Have you obtained a Safety Data Have you identified ways to prevent
Sheet (SDS) for all the chemicals Yes people being exposed to hazardous Yes
used in your workplace? No chemicals and put those controls in No
place?
Have you read each SDS and Have you identified any hazardous
Yes Yes
identified which chemicals are chemicals for which you have to
No No
‘hazardous chemicals’? provide health monitoring?
Do you have a register with a list of Do ALL hazardous chemical
Yes Yes
the hazardous chemical used and a containers have a label showing what
No No
copy of the SDS for each chemical? they contain?
Is a copy of the SDS for each Have you given workers using
hazardous chemical available near Yes hazardous chemicals training in how Yes
where it is used? No to use those hazardous chemicals No
safely?
Are hazardous chemicals stored Have you developed a procedure for
according to the storage requirements the management of hazardous
Yes Yes
detailed in the SDS and containers chemical spills or ruptures e.g.
No No
are tightly closed when not in use? obtained a spills kit, emergency
planning?

Loading and unloading vehicles

Is communication between workers Are straps, chains and other lifting
loading the truck clear and concise Yes and restraining equipment used and Yes
(i.e. calling out ‘Coming over’ each No inspected and/or tested periodically? No
time equipment is thrown)?
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland
Information guide – Road freight transport industry series – Hazard identification checklist
PN10066 Version 2. Last updated January 2014 Page 3 of 6
 First aid
Is first aid equipment available at the Is the first aid kit regularly checked
Yes Yes
workplace? and items replaced if they are no
No No
longer usable (or out of date)?
Are the contents of the first aid kit/s Do workers have access to people
Yes Yes
appropriate for the types of injuries trained in first-aid?
No No
that may occur at the workplace?

Machinery and equipment

Is equipment regularly serviced and Do operators of equipment have the
Yes Yes
maintained according to the appropriate ‘ticket’ or licence where
No No
manufacturer’s instructions? necessary (e.g. forklifts)?
Are lock-out, tag-out or isolation Does all equipment have guarding to
Yes Yes
procedures in place when prevent operators and others
No No
maintenance is performed? accessing hazardous parts?
If cranes/hoists are used, are Is there adequate work space around
operators skilled in determining the equipment and is it on a stable
weight of the load so as to not Yes foundation to prevent it moving during Yes
overload the crane? Is work outside No operation? No
the safe working load marked on the
crane?
Is equipment only used for its Are all operators of equipment
Yes Yes
intended purpose? instructed, trained and supervised in
No No
how to use it safely?

Electrical and maintenance

Are leads kept away from sources of Are damaged equipment, plugs, leads
Yes Yes
damage (e.g. water, heat, vehicles, and/or sockets immediately removed
No No
trolleys etc.)? from service?
Is electrical equipment inspected and Are outlets and other electrical
tested by a competent person Yes equipment used in wet areas suitable Yes
(e.g. electrician) and/or connected No for that type of work? No
through a safety switch?
Is the safety switch regularly Yes Is all electrical equipment in good Yes
inspected and tested? No condition and free from damage? No
Is all electrical equipment in good Are damaged equipment, plugs, leads
Yes Yes
condition and free from damage? and/or sockets immediately removed
No No
from service?

Forklifts
Are operators trained and assessed Do operators carry out a pre-
Yes Yes
as competent (certificated) to operate operational safety check of the forklift
No No
forklift? at the beginning of the shift?
Are trainees supervised adequately to Yes Are steps taken at the depot to
prevent incidents? No separate vehicles and pedestrians
(e.g. physical barricades, designated Yes
Is there a maintenance and inspection Yes vehicle access ways etc.)? No
program in place for the forklift? No

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland

Information guide – Road freight transport industry series – Hazard identification checklist
PN10066 Version 2. Last updated January 2014 Page 4 of 6
 Fire/emergency procedures
Is there an emergency response Are workers, and anyone else who is
plan and procedure to cover Yes at the workplace for extended periods, Yes
possible emergencies for the No (e.g. contractors) trained in the plan No
business? and procedure?
Are emergency exits clearly marked Yes Are appropriate fire extinguishers Yes
and kept free from obstructions? No available and regularly inspected? No
Is the evacuation plan and Is fire fighting equipment easily
Yes Yes
procedure displayed in the accessible (i.e. not blocked, covered
No No
workplace? etc.)?
Is there an effective means of Is there a procedure for responding to
communication available for remote Yes and recording incidents/injuries? Yes
or isolated workers? (e.g. mobile No No
phone, satellite phone, UHF radio)

Lighting
Are work tasks able to be carried out Are all areas well lit, taking into
without the need to squint or adopt an Yes account tasks being performed (i.e. Yes
awkward position to work? No intricate work, access ways, toilet, No
general work)?

Customer access control

Are there signs, barriers and/or Is customer control understood and
designated walkways defining the Yes applied on customer worksites? Yes
areas where visitors may have No No
access?
Is access to office areas arranged Are workers aware of and able to
Yes Yes
without the need to access high risk redirect customers to the correct
No No
work areas? access areas?

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland

Information guide – Road freight transport industry series – Hazard identification checklist
PN10066 Version 2. Last updated January 2014 Page 5 of 6
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Workplace Health and Safety Queensland

Information guide – Road freight transport industry series – Hazard identification checklist
PN10066 Version 2. Last updated January 2014 Page 6 of 6