This Load Restraint and Securing SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled for planning, loading, restraining, checking and unloading loads on trucks, utes and trailers. It covers 38 activities, from the pre-start and load planning to releasing restraints and emergency response, with the hazards, control measures and risk ratings before and after controls for each. It's written by WHS specialists, aligned to Australian WHS legislation, and fully editable in Microsoft Word.
Who it's for
Transport, freight and delivery businesses
Landscape, fencing and building supply yards
Equipment and plant hire businesses
Trades who carry materials and plant on utes and trailers
Waste, green waste and bulk material haulers
A SWMS isn't only for construction. Plenty of transport and supply businesses use one as the written risk assessment for a task, the same way others use a JSA or Safe Work Procedure.
Use it to
Show clients, insurers and auditors how you manage the risks
Apply for tenders, contracts and supplier panels
Get through prequalification with Avetta, Cm3 and other contractor portals
Induct new workers and train them in the task
What this SWMS covers
Load planning, scheduling pressure, Chain of Responsibility and fatigue
Vehicle, trailer, coupling and mass limit checks before loading
Immobilising the vehicle, roadside loading and overhead powerlines
Inspecting gates, anchor points, straps, chains and binders
Loading with forklifts, telehandlers and vehicle loading cranes
Load positioning, blocking, lashing, edge protection and tensioning
Working on the deck or on top of a load without falling
Securing pallets, long items, plant, bulk loads, fuel, gas cylinders and chemicals
Silica dust when loading or tipping sand, road base and rubble
Curtain-siders, overhang, driving loaded and re-tensioning in transit
Releasing restraints, customer sites, aggression, working alone and night work
Emergency response to load shift, load fall, crush injury or a spill on the road
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 38 work activities
Risk ratings before and after controls, with a 5x5 risk matrix and the hierarchy of controls
PPE requirements checklist and high risk construction work checklist
Plant and equipment list, materials, maintenance checks and the training each worker needs
References to the NHVR Load Restraint Guide 2025 and the NTC Load Restraint Guide for Light Vehicles
Licence requirements for drivers, forklift and telehandler operators, vehicle loading cranes and dogging
Site specific hazards section for anything unique to your job
Worker sign-off sheet and worker consultation record
Why use this template
Saves hours compared with writing a SWMS from a blank page
Covers the most common hazards and control measures for this work, ready to use out of the box
Fully editable, so you can add, remove or change anything to suit your site and how your team works
Helps your business stay compliant, with risk ratings, worker sign-off and consultation records already set up
How it works
Buy online and download straight away. You'll also get an email with your link.
Add your logo, ABN, project and site details.
Check it suits your site and task, edit anything you need to, and consult your workers before you finalise it.
Brief your team and collect signatures.
Common questions
Do I need a SWMS for load restraint and securing?
Only if the work is high risk construction work, for example loading or checking a load beside a road in use on a construction project, or working where powered mobile plant is moving on a building site. Most yard and delivery loading isn't, so a SWMS isn't mandatory, but you still have to manage risks like load shift and falls from the deck, and a SWMS is a sound way to record how. Clients and prequalification portals often ask for one.
Does it cover utes and light trailers?
Yes. It covers utes, vans and trailers as well as heavy vehicles, and refers to the NTC Load Restraint Guide for Light Vehicles for vehicles at or under 4.5 tonnes GVM and the NHVR Load Restraint Guide 2025 for heavier vehicles.
Can I change it?
Yes. It's a Microsoft Word file, so you can add, remove or change any hazard, control or rating, and add your own logo and details.
Does it suit my state?
Yes. It's written to the model WHS laws and suits all states and territories, including Victoria under the OHS Act and Regulations.
What if it doesn't suit my work?
You're covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee if it isn't fit for purpose.
