Free spotter and traffic controller checklist
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Free spotter and traffic controller checklist (PDF-ready). Exclusion zones, comms, signage and PPE checks for plant and mobile-plant setups.
Commercial Director
Updated 5 July 2026
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What is a spotter and traffic controller checklist?
A spotter and traffic controller checklist is a pre-task and setup checklist that confirms the controls are in place before a spotter directs mobile plant or a traffic controller manages the interaction of plant, vehicles and people on site. It captures the site, the plant, the spotter or controller and their competency, then works through the checks that matter: exclusion zones, positioning and line of sight, the communication method, signage and barriers, PPE and high-visibility clothing, and the emergency and stop arrangements. It is the walk-around that stops a plant-versus-person incident before the machine moves, not a report written after one.
This checklist matters because being struck by moving plant or a reversing vehicle is one of the most common causes of death on Australian sites, and it happens fast, in the blind spots and pinch points where plant and people share ground. The model WHS Regulations require the risk of powered mobile plant colliding with people to be managed (in Victoria, the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017), including through spotters, exclusion zones and traffic management. Running this checklist at setup and at shift start confirms the spotter has clear sightlines and reliable comms, the exclusion zones and signage are up, and everyone knows the stop signal, so the controls are verified rather than assumed.
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Benefits of using this spotter and traffic controller checklist
- Struck-by prevention: confirming exclusion zones and positioning before plant moves targets the most common cause of on-site fatalities directly.
- Line of sight verified: checking the spotter can see both the operator and the exclusion zone stops the blind-spot incidents that spotters exist to prevent.
- Reliable comms: confirming the signal or radio method and a shared stop signal before work means the operator can be stopped instantly if someone enters the zone.
- Signage and barriers: verifying signage, cones and barriers are in place channels vehicles and pedestrians away from the plant work area.
- Competency confirmed: recording the spotter or controller ticket and VOC confirms the person directing plant is trained for the role.
- PPE and visibility: checking high-visibility clothing and PPE means the people around the plant can actually be seen by the operator.
- Regulatory fit: the model WHS Regulations require the risk of mobile plant striking people to be managed, and this checklist is dated evidence those controls were verified.
Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack
When you move from paper or static PDFs to digital forms in MapTrack, you get:
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- Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
- Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
- Electronic signatures.
- Edit forms later without reprinting.
- Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
- Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
- Escalate critical hazards instantly to safety managers via push notification.
- Maintain an auditable safety register that satisfies WHS regulator requests.
- Correlate incident trends across sites with built-in safety analytics.
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What to include in a spotter and traffic controller checklist
This spotter and traffic controller checklist covers 10 key areas:
- Site or project, work area, date and shift the checklist covers
- Plant being directed, its identifier, and the operator's name
- Spotter or traffic controller name, ticket or training, and current VOC
- Exclusion zone dimensions, how it is marked, and who may enter it
- Spotter position, line of sight to the operator and the exclusion zone
- Communication method: agreed hand signals, radio channel or two-way, and a shared stop signal
- Signage, cones, barriers and any road or traffic management in place
- PPE and high-visibility clothing worn by the spotter, controller and nearby workers
- Lighting, weather, ground and visibility conditions affecting the task
- Emergency and stop arrangements, and sign-off by the spotter or controller and supervisor
How to use this spotter and traffic controller checklist
- Confirm competency and the task: Record the plant, the operator and the spotter or traffic controller, and confirm the spotter holds the training or ticket and a current VOC for the role. Directing plant is a safety-critical job, so confirm the person is competent before the machine moves, not part-way through a lift or reverse when it is too late to swap them out.
- Set and mark the exclusion zone: Establish the exclusion zone around the plant based on its reach, swing and travel path, and mark it with cones, barriers or spotter control. Confirm who is allowed inside and that everyone else stays clear, because most plant-versus-person incidents happen when a worker enters the zone the operator cannot see them in.
- Position the spotter and confirm sightlines: Place the spotter where they can see both the operator and the whole exclusion zone, out of the line of fire and never in a pinch point or crush zone themselves. Check the sightline is clear of obstructions, because a spotter who cannot see the operator or the zone cannot do the one job the role exists for.
- Agree comms and the stop signal: Confirm the communication method, whether hand signals, a radio channel or a two-way, and agree a single stop signal that everyone understands and that any person can give. Test the comms before work starts, because a signal that fails mid-task, or a stop signal that is unclear, leaves the operator working blind at the worst moment.
- Check signage, PPE and stop work if unsafe: Confirm signage, barriers and any traffic management are in place, and that the spotter, controller and nearby workers are in high-visibility clothing and required PPE. Complete the checklist, sign it off, and stop work if any control is missing or fails during the task, then fix it before the plant moves again.
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Run this checklist at the initial setup of the plant task or traffic management, and again at the start of each shift, because positions, people, weather and ground conditions change between shifts. Reconfirm the key controls whenever the plant moves to a new work area or the exclusion zone changes.
Stop and re-run the relevant checks if the spotter or operator changes, if comms fail, if visibility drops, or after any near miss involving plant and people. Traffic management plans and exclusion zones should also be reviewed against the site's overall traffic management plan whenever the site layout or plant movements change.
Frequently asked questions
Applicable regulatory standards
This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:
- Model Work Health and Safety Act (enacted in each state and territory; in Victoria, the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004)
- Model Work Health and Safety Regulations, powered mobile plant duties (regs 214 and 215; in Victoria, the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017)
- Safe Work Australia: Traffic management guidance material (general guide and construction guidance)
- AS 1742.3:2019 Manual of uniform traffic control devices, Part 3: Traffic control for works on roads
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<p style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;color:#071D49;margin:6px 0 0;">Spotter and Traffic Controller Checklist</p>
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<li style="margin:4px 0;">Site or project, work area, date and shift the checklist covers</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Plant being directed, its identifier, and the operator's name</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Spotter or traffic controller name, ticket or training, and current VOC</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Exclusion zone dimensions, how it is marked, and who may enter it</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Spotter position, line of sight to the operator and the exclusion zone</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Communication method: agreed hand signals, radio channel or two-way, and a shared stop signal</li>
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<p style="font-size:13px;color:#6B7280;margin:14px 0 0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid #E5E7EB;">Free <a href="https://www.maptrack.com/templates/spotter-traffic-controller-checklist" style="color:#071D49;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;">Spotter and Traffic Controller Checklist</a> by MapTrack</p>
</div>Please keep the “by MapTrack” attribution link in the snippet.
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