Vehicle Recovery

The Vehicle Recovery SOP (SOP-VEH-003) outlines crucial safety procedures for conducting vehicle recovery operations while addressing significant hazards such as projectile risks and crush injuries. This document is vital for all personnel involved in recovery tasks to ensure compliance with relevant safety legislation and standards. It serves as a comprehensive guide to promote a safe work environment, minimizing the likelihood of accidents and injuries during vehicle recovery.

• Snatch strap or shackle becoming a projectile on failure → fatality at distances exceeding 20 m
• Winch cable failure with stored kinetic energy → fatality from cable whip
• Vehicle rollover during recovery on slope or soft ground → crush fatality
• Run-over of recovery personnel by either vehicle → fatality
• Use of a tow ball or non-rated recovery point → projectile failure
• Pinch and crush injuries at shackles, hooks, and recovery points → hand injury
• Bystanders within the danger zone during recovery → struck-by injury
• Equipment failure due to overload, age, UV degradation, or hidden damage

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and applicable state/territory WHS legislation
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Cth) — Part 3.1 Managing risks of plant
• AS 2741 — Shackles
• AS/NZS 4380 — Cargo restraint systems (where straps are dual-rated for restraint)
• Australian Capital Territory and state work safety authorities — Snatch Strap Recovery Safety Alerts (e.g., Worksafe ACT, NT WorkSafe, QLD Worksafe alerts on tow ball failure)
• Vehicle manufacturer recovery point specifications and procedures
• Safe Work Australia — Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• Vehicle Recovery Pre-Use Checklist (associated document)