An educational library of workplace documents — purpose, who completes them, when they are used, typical fields, common mistakes and how they connect. Linked to workplace safety, workplace training, occupations, industries and employment documents. Informational only — template examples, not legal advice or official documents; employers remain responsible and using a document does not guarantee compliance.
What a mobile plant risk assessment is
A mobile plant risk assessment examines the risks from operating self-propelled machinery — excavators, dumpers, rollers, telehandlers and similar — including collision, overturning, being struck and contact with overhead or buried services, and records controls such as segregation, competent operators and inspection.
This page is an educational overview with a simplified example. It is not an official template, not jurisdiction-specific and not legal advice — the employer decides what their mobile plant assessment must cover.
Purpose
- Identify collision, overturning and struck-by risks.
- Ensure operators are competent and authorised.
- Record segregation, visibility aids and exclusion zones.
- Cover pre-use checks, services and ground conditions.
Who completes it
- A competent person appointed by the employer.
- With input from operators and those working nearby.
- Reviewed within the organisation’s own process.
- It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the assessor is competent.
When it is used
- Before mobile plant is used on a site.
- When the machine, task, site or ground conditions change.
- Following an inspection finding or near miss.
- On a review cycle defined by the employer.
Typical fields
- Machine type, task and site.
- Risks — collision, overturning, struck-by, services.
- Operator competence and authorisation.
- Segregation, visibility, exclusion zones and signallers.
- Pre-use checks and review date.
- Example fields only — adapt to the machine and the applicable law.
Common mistakes
- Untrained or unauthorised people operating plant.
- People allowed to work close to moving machinery.
- Ignoring ground conditions, slopes and overhead services.
- Skipping pre-use checks and inspection.
Document workflow
A mobile plant risk assessment links to the workplace transport risk assessment, the method statement and operator competence and inspection records, and feeds the safe system of work. A change, inspection finding or incident triggers a review.
See the related documents below for what is commonly used with a mobile plant risk assessment.
Retention (high level)
Mobile plant assessments and inspection records are generally kept for as long as they are relevant and for a period afterwards, in line with the employer’s obligations. Specific retention periods vary by jurisdiction.
This page does not state a required period — confirm retention with the applicable law and the official authority.
Completing and sharing as a PDF
Mobile plant assessments are commonly completed and stored as PDFs alongside method statements and inspection records. Exporting to PDF supports documentation; it does not make the assessment official or guarantee compliance.
Employer checklist
- Use only competent, authorised operators.
- Separate plant from people and set exclusion zones.
- Consider ground conditions, slopes and services.
- Ensure pre-use checks and inspection, and review after changes.
Worker notes
- Keep clear of moving plant and stay in pedestrian areas.
- Operators: do pre-use checks and report defects.
- Report near misses and unsafe arrangements.
Country considerations
Duties around mobile plant, operator competence and inspection vary by country, and the official authority differs. This page is high-level and general — it is not a statement of any country’s law and not a guarantee that a document is valid anywhere.
Always confirm the current requirements with the official authority for your country and a qualified professional.
Who is responsible
The employer is responsible for assessing and controlling mobile plant operations and compliance. This page is an educational overview with a template example; it does not determine what your assessment must contain, does not make a workplace compliant and does not transfer responsibility.
Export, edit and share documents
The documents, policies and templates this involves can be exported, edited, signed, stored and shared as PDFs with the HELPERG PDF Editor.
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