These traffic control checklists cover the start, middle and end of a shift on a road work site, plus a list for clients getting ready to book a crew. Tick them on screen as you go, or print a clean copy for the ute. They're short on purpose: the things that get missed when a crew is rushing to set up before the permit window opens.
They support your company's own forms, the safe work method statement (SWMS) and the traffic guidance scheme (TGS). They don't replace them. Where your project, client or state asks for something specific, that comes first.
How it's worked out
There's no calculation here. Each checklist is built around the order the work actually happens in, and the checks the rules expect on site:
- Pre-start and set-up (12 checks): paperwork, people, gear and the set-up itself, finishing with a drive-through from the driver's view.
- During the shift (10 checks): inspections, devices, queues, access for pedestrians and emergency vehicles, breaks, weather and changes.
- Pack-down and after-care (9 checks): removal in reverse order, after-care devices, a final drive-through, equipment, timesheets and handover.
- Client booking (9 checks): what a builder, council or event organiser should have ready before calling a traffic control company.
How the tool behaves:
- Pick a list from the tabs. Only that list shows.
- Tick items as they're done.
- Print this checklist prints only the list on screen, without the rest of the page.
- Untick all clears the list on screen for the next shift.
Ticks aren't saved or sent anywhere. If you need a record, write the times and names on your company's forms or the site copy of the TGS.
The four traffic control checklists at a glance
| Checklist | When | Who | Checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-start and set-up | Before any device goes out | Team leader, implementer, every controller | 12 |
| During the shift | At each inspection and whenever something changes | Team leader, controllers | 10 |
| Pack-down and after-care | When the work area is safe to clear | Team leader, implementer | 9 |
| Client booking | Before calling a traffic control company | Builder, council, event organiser | 9 |
That's 40 checks in all. The first three are for every shift. Our guide to pre-start checks for traffic control crews explains each pre-start item in more detail.
What the rules expect on site
Several of the checks come straight from the rules. In NSW, Transport for NSW's TS 05492 Traffic Control at Work Sites (June 2026) replaced the old TCAWS manual and sets these on-site checks:
- Sight distance to a controller. A traffic controller must be able to see at least 1.5 × D to oncoming traffic, where D is the approach speed read as metres. At 60 km/h that's 90 m. The sight distance check measures it with your phone.
- Moved signs. Any sign moved from where the TGS shows it must be marked and initialled on the TGS held on site (s14.11.3). Changes beyond the allowed tolerances need the TGS designer's approval.
- Night lighting. The implementer, works supervisor or team leader checks lighting by driving through in every direction, on every carriageway (s12.3.5). Signs and devices used at night must be inspected at night.
- Queues. Queue estimates should be checked on site and monitored through the shift (s11.8.3).
- Portable traffic signals. Initial timings are tuned on site: switch on, watch three cycles, then adjust all-red and green times (Appendix A.4).
The SWMS is required in every state that has adopted the model WHS laws. Construction work on or next to a road used by traffic is high risk construction work, and the SWMS has to cover the specific site and say how its controls are put in place, monitored and reviewed. Victoria has its own OHS laws with similar requirements. Our guide to the SWMS for traffic control covers what goes in it, and the SWMS builder helps write one.
A worked example: a night lane closure
A crew of three is closing a lane on a 60 km/h road from 21:00 to 05:00, with a team leader who is also the implementer.
Pre-start, 20:15. The team leader confirms the TGS matches tonight's stage and the road occupancy approval allows 21:00 to 05:00. Everyone signs the SWMS. Radios are tested at both controller positions. The night hi-vis is on. The cone count from the traffic cone calculator is 26 per stage, and the ute has 29. Set-up starts with the advance signs.
Set-up check, 21:10. The controller position is checked for 1.5D: 90 m at 60 km/h. One advance sign has to move 8 m because of a driveway. It's marked and initialled on the TGS. The team leader drives through in both directions to check the lighting and records the time.
During the shift. Inspections are done at the intervals the project requires, with times recorded. At 23:40 a cone in the taper has been struck and is replaced. At 01:00 the crew takes a rest break, rotating one controller at a time.
Pack-down, 04:20. The work area is cleared first, then the buffer, the taper and finally the advance signs. A final drive-through confirms nothing is left in the lane, and the reopening time is recorded at 04:52. Equipment is counted back on, one damaged sign is tagged out, and the docket is signed by the client's site contact.
Incidents during the shift
The during-the-shift list includes reporting incidents, near misses and abuse the same shift. If something serious happens, the rules are strict. A death, a serious injury or illness, or a dangerous incident must be notified to the regulator straight away. The site must be left undisturbed except to help people or make it safe, and records kept for 5 years. Victoria uses different laws with different section numbers, so check your state regulator's guidance.
Using the client booking checklist
The booking list is for the person hiring the crew. Having these answers ready gets a faster, more accurate quote:
- the exact address and section of road, with a map or photos
- the work, how long it takes, and the plant and trucks involved
- dates, start time, expected finish and any approved work-hour limits
- who owns the road and whether a permit or road occupancy licence is needed
- whether a TGS or traffic management plan exists, and who prepares it
- pedestrian, cyclist, driveway and bus stop impacts
- a site contact and who signs the docket
- a purchase order and invoicing details
- cancellation terms, minimum charges and the wet weather policy, in writing
Our guide to the 12 questions to ask before you book a traffic control company goes further, and the traffic control cost estimator helps set a budget.
When to get professional advice
These are general checklists. Get advice from your WHS adviser, the TGS designer or your state regulator when:
- the site doesn't match the TGS and needs more than a small move within tolerance
- the work involves high speeds, motorways, rail crossings or other high-risk settings
- there's been an incident, a near miss or a vehicle intrusion
- your client or principal contractor requires their own forms or audits
Our roadworks after-care checklist covers what to leave in place overnight once the crew goes home.