Low loader SWMS, drafted for your job
Plant can slide or overturn as it climbs low loader ramps, and a shifted attachment changes the balance of the transport load. Describe the float, machine and loading area: the draft follows loading and restraint, and the crew checks support and the route before moving.
A$39per job
However many high-risk activities it covers.
- However many high-risk activities it covers.
- 3 for A$99
- 10 for A$249
- Yearly A$129 for 120
- Monthly A$60 for 10
You review it on site before work starts.
Your Business
Safe Work Method Statement
Version 1
Draft
Low loader
Site Your site address
Law Your state
High-risk construction work
- Work where powered mobile plant is moving
- Work next to a road, railway or other traffic corridor in use
Job steps, hazards and controls
| 1 | Plan plant load and route | Unbalanced load and overhead obstacles | High | Confirm weights, transport position and route suitability |
| 2 | Position float and deploy ramps | Soft ground and ramp movement | High | Secure trailer and engage ramp supports on firm ground |
| 3 | Drive plant onto low loader | Sideways slide and rollover | High | Align tracks and use agreed guidance with people clear |
| 4 | Secure plant for transport | Chain recoil and deck falls | High | Use suitable restraint points and protected access |
| 5 | Unload and stow restraint gear | Plant movement before release is complete | High | Confirm operator readiness and clear the unloading path |
Illustrative first page. Yours carries your business name only.
What you get
What your low loader SWMS will contain
An A4 document your crew can read on site, a PDF for the builder and a sign-on register.
- Job and site detailsYour business, the site, the principal contractor, the dates.
- High-risk construction workThe categories your job involves, ticked.
- Step-by-step methodEach step with its hazards, risk rating and controls.
- How controls are checkedWho puts each control in place, monitors and reviews it.
- PPE, plant and permitsEquipment and training the job needs.
- Emergency planAssembly point, first aid, nearest hospital to confirm on site.
- Consultation and reviewWho was consulted, when it is reviewed.
- Sign-on registerYour crew signs by QR or on paper.
High-risk construction work
Categories this task often involves
You tick the ones your job involves. Each ticked category gets its own steps and controls, in your state's wording.
- Work where powered mobile plant is moving
- Work next to a road, railway or other traffic corridor in use
State notes
Rules depend on your state
Pick your state when you start. Your state's regulator publishes the rules and guidance for this work.
Hazards and controls
What goes wrong on a low loader job, and how the SWMS controls it
These rows are written for this task. Your draft adds the ones your site and method need.
- 1
Tracked plant sliding sideways on low loader ramps
Extreme- Use firm level loading ground and clean mud from tracks and ramps
- Align the machine before climbing and stop if traction or alignment is lost
- 2
Low loader ramps dropping during deployment or retrieval
Extreme- Clear the ramp swing area and use the intended supports and locks
- Keep people out from beneath ramps and isolate faults before use
- 3
Low loader instability from poorly positioned heavy plant
Extreme- Confirm machine weight and planned position against trailer loading information
- Lower attachments and check load distribution before applying restraints
- 4
Restraint chains recoiling while securing plant on the float
High- Use suitable chains, binders and anchor points in sound condition
- Stand clear of recoil paths and release tension in a controlled sequence
- 5
Plant rolling during low loader unloading before the operator is ready
Extreme- Secure the trailer and confirm plant brakes and unloading readiness before releasing restraints
- Keep people clear of the downhill path and use agreed operator signals
- 6
Falls from float deck edges while fitting restraint chains
High- Use intended access points and fit restraints from the ground where practicable
- Keep deck surfaces clear of mud and loose restraint gear
- 7
Loaded plant striking overhead structures along the transport route
Extreme- Confirm the loaded envelope and assess the intended route before departure
- Secure booms and attachments in their transport position and stop for uncertain clearance
How the job usually runs
- 1Plan plant load and routeUnbalanced load and overhead obstacles → Confirm weights, transport position and route suitability
- 2Position float and deploy rampsSoft ground and ramp movement → Secure trailer and engage ramp supports on firm ground
- 3Drive plant onto low loaderSideways slide and rollover → Align tracks and use agreed guidance with people clear
- 4Secure plant for transportChain recoil and deck falls → Use suitable restraint points and protected access
- 5Unload and stow restraint gearPlant movement before release is complete → Confirm operator readiness and clear the unloading path
PPE for this job
- Safety boots
- High-visibility clothing
- Work gloves
- Eye protection
- Hard hat where lifting occurs
Your draft lists the PPE your site and method need.
After you finalise
Brief your crew and send it to your builder
Crew signs by QR
Send to my builder
PDF and register
Builder sent it back?
Make their changes and re-issue the same job free. Workers re-sign the new version.
Questions
Low loader SWMS questions
- Last reviewed
- 21 October 2026
- How
- Hazard rows checked against the task; no legal line is stated unless it is logged from primary text.
- Next review
- Every six months, or when the method or rules change
Does it cover loading excavators and rollers onto a float?
Yes. Identify the plant and trailer. The draft covers ground and ramp condition, machine alignment, agreed guidance and selecting the load position before chains are fitted.
When should restraints come off before unloading the low loader?
After the trailer is secured and the operator confirms the plant is ready for unloading. The draft covers clearing the travel path and releasing restraints in a controlled sequence before movement begins.
How much does a low loader SWMS cost?
One job uses 1 SWMS when you finalise: A$39 for one, however many high-risk activities it covers. AI drafting needs a SWMS pack or plan. Packs and Yearly cost less per SWMS.
Is this a template?
No. You describe the job and the site, and the SWMS is drafted for them. You edit anything, then finalise it.
Who checks the SWMS?
You do, with your crew, on site before work starts. The draft gives you a strong starting point; the person running the work makes sure it matches the site.
My builder sent it back. What now?
Open it, make the changes they asked for and re-issue it. Corrections to the same job are free.
How does my crew sign it?
Show the QR code on your phone or print the A4 sign-on sheet. Workers read and sign on their own phones without an account.
Does it work in my state?
Yes. You choose the state before drafting, and the document names the law that applies there. Victoria uses its OHS Regulations.
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