Ensuring Safety and Compliance on Worksites
Traffic management is not just about planning and implementation, it also requires ongoing site inspections, audits, and recommendations to verify compliance, identify risks, and maintain the highest safety standards. In Queensland, these processes are mandated under the Traffic Management for Works on Roads Code of Practice (TM-CoP 2021) and monitored by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR).
Independent audits and regular inspections ensure that Traffic Management Plans (TMPs) and Traffic Guidance Schemes (TGS) are being correctly applied on-site and remain effective throughout the duration of the works.
Site Inspections
Site inspections are carried out to confirm that the traffic management setup:
Matches
Matches the approved TGS drawings and conditions of the permit.
Meets
Meets the requirements of the MUTCD Part 3 – Works on Roads.
Provides
Provides safe access for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Compliant
Is using compliant equipment (signs, cones, barriers, lighting) in good condition.
Protects
Protects the worksite and ensures worker safety under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld).
Traffic Management Audits
Traffic management audits are a formal process designed to test whether a site complies with Queensland’s traffic control standards and legislative requirements. According to the TM-CoP 2021, audits must be performed by an accredited Traffic Management Auditor independent from the worksite team.
Key aspects of an audit include:
- Verification of TMP/TGS compliance: ensuring the on-site setup matches the approved design.
- Risk assessments: identifying hazards not adequately addressed in the plan.
- Performance checks: confirming traffic controllers are positioned correctly, using correct stop/slow techniques, and following safe work procedures.
- Documentation review: verifying that daily records, qualifications, and permits are up to date.
- Corrective actions: identifying non-conformances and providing clear directions for resolution.
Audit findings are documented in a formal report, with recommendations for corrective or preventative measures.
Recommendations and Continuous Improvement
Following inspections and audits, clear recommendations are provided to ensure ongoing safety and compliance. These may include actions to rectify immediate safety concerns, adjust signage layouts, buffer zones, or speed restrictions, and improve pedestrian and cyclist access in line with Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) requirements. Recommendations also focus on ways to enhance traffic flow efficiency to minimise community disruption, as well as updating Traffic Management Plans (TMPs) and Traffic Guidance Schemes (TGS) to reflect changing site conditions.
Why They’re Important
Regular inspections, audits, and recommendations deliver:
Safety assurance
Safety assurance: reducing the likelihood of crashes or incidents.
Regulatory compliance
Regulatory compliance: meeting obligations under TM-CoP, MUTCD, Austroads AGTTM, and WHS legislation.
Quality assurance
Quality assurance: ensuring best practice traffic management.
Stakeholder confidence
Stakeholder confidence: demonstrating to clients, councils, and the community that safety is being prioritised.
Contact Us
Need professional site inspections, audits, and recommendations for your project? Heritage Traffic Management provides expert compliance services tailored to your needs.
Phone: 1800 353 053
Email: sales@heritagetraffic.com.au
Website: heritagetraffic.com.au