SMS Resources

The content on this page includes amendments due to changes to the Heavy Vehicle National Law and Regulations that commence on 1 August 2026 and only relates to the new act. For more information, please see HVNL reform implementation.

This section provides practical tools, templates and guidance to support the development, implementation and ongoing improvement of your Safety Management System (SMS). These resources are designed to help you apply the SMS Standard in a way that suits your business, whether you are just getting started or looking to strengthen existing systems. They bring together examples, checklists and reference materials to support everyday safety management, helping you manage risks, demonstrate compliance and continually improve how safety is integrated into your operations.

Please note, resources that aren't hyperlinked are currently being developed and will be added to this table in June and July.

SMS Key Component	Present and suitable	Operating and effective	Continuous Improvement
All sections	SMS Fact Sheet (PDF, 710KB) Introduction to Safety Management Systems in the Heavy Vehicle Industry (PDF, 964KB) Safety Management System (SMS) Checklist (DOCX, 87KB)
Leadership and commitment	Template – Safety Policy (DOCX, 43KB) Template – Responsibilities and Accountabilities (DOCX, 77KB) Quick Guide – Responsibilities and Accountabilities (PDF, 132KB) Quick Guide - Leadership and Commitment (PDF, 168KB) Quick Guide – Developing Procedures (PDF, 142KB)	Template – Basic Procedure Meeting Minutes Meeting Agenda Safety Committee Agenda/Minutes	Template – Safety Alert (DOCX, 121KB) Template – Safety Bulletin (DOCX, 114KB) Quick Guide – How to Run a Toolbox Talk (PDF, 142KB) Toolbox Talk – Safety policy
Risk management	Quick Guide – Hazard Reporting (PDF, 177KB) Quick Guide – Risk Register Quick Guide – Incident Reporting (PDF, 273KB) Quick Guide – Incident Investigation (PDF, 168KB)	Template – Hazard Report Form (owner operator) (DOCX, 79KB) Template – Hazard Report Form (DOCX, 49KB) Template – Risk Assessment - single risk (DOCX, 60KB) Template – Task Risk Assessment (DOCX, 136KB) Template – Risk Register (DOCX, 89KB) Template - Incident Report Form (DOCX, 119KB) Worked Example - Incident Report (PDF, 511KB) Template - Incident Investigation Report Form (DOCX, 82KB) Worked Example - Incident Investigation Report (PDF, 692KB) Prestart checklist	Toolbox Talk – Hazards and Incidents Toolbox Talk – Safety investigations Toolbox Talk – Testing Risk Controls Toolbox Talk – Heavy Vehicles Safety Risk and Controls
People	Quick Guide – SMS Awareness Training (PDF, 150KB) Quick Guide – Positive Safety Culture (PDF, 238) Quick Guide – Third Party Interactions (PDF, 493KB)	Template – Toolbox Talk and Attendance Form (DOCX, 87KB) Template – Driver Competency Assessment Form (DOCX, 87KB) Template with instructions – Third Party Engagement Checklist (DOCX, 119KB) Template – Safety Training Calendar (DOCX 66KB)	Quick Guide – Safety Promotion and Communication
Assurance, monitoring and improvement	Quick Guide – Safety Performance Monitoring and Measurement (PDF, 236KB) Quick Guide – Change Management (PDF, 162KB) Quick Guide – Continuous Improvement (PDF, 153KB)	Corrective Action Register Assurance Schedule Internal review template Inspection template	Template – Continuous Improvement Register (DOCX, 53KB) Toolbox Talk – Continuous Improvement
Safety systems

This content may no longer be accurate due to changes to the Heavy Vehicle National Law and Regulations that commenced on 1 August 2026. For more information see HVNL reform implementation.

SMS Key Component	SMS Roadmap Step	Starting Out	Improving On	Continuous Improvement
All sections	Step 1 – Introduction to Safety Management System (SMS)		N/A
Safety Assurance	Step 5 - Internal safety investigations		N/A	Safety Investigations – Toolbox Talk
Safety Assurance	Step 7 - Safety performance monitoring		N/A	Testing the effectiveness of Risk Controls – Toolbox Talk
Safety Assurance	Step 9 - Change management and continuous improvement			Continuous Improvement – Toolbox Talk
Safety Policy and Documentation	Step 4 - Management commitment and documentation	Safety Policy and Responsibilities - Worked example (PDF, 208KB)	Procedures - Template (DOCX, 231KB) Procedures - Worked example (DOCX, 419KB)	Our Safety Policy – Toolbox Talk
Safety Policy and Documentation	Step 8 - Third party interactions	Third Party Engagement Checklist - Template (DOCX, 81KB)	N/A
Safety Promotion and Training	Step 6 - Safety training and communication		Safety Promotion and Communication - Quick Guide (PDF, 59KB) Safety Training – Toolbox Talk
Safety Risk Management	Step 2 - Risk assessment, treatment and monitoring	Risk Register - Quick Guide (PDF, 45KB) Worked example of a risk register (PDF, 530KB)	Risk Assessment - Worked Example (PDF, 275KB)	Heavy Vehicle Safety Risk and Controls in my workplace – Toolbox Talk
Safety Risk Management	Step 3 – Hazard and incident Reporting	Incident Report Form - Template (DOCX, 102KB)	N/A	Reporting Safety Hazards and Incidents – Toolbox Talk

Safety, Accreditation & Compliance

SMS Resources