Free Safe Operating Procedure (Tyre Recycling Intake) Template

Purpose of the Free Safe Operating Procedure (Tyre Recycling Intake) Template

Managing the intake process at a tyre recycling facility involves significant work health and safety risks. This Free Safe Operating Procedure (Tyre Recycling Intake) Template provides a structured starting point for your organisation to document the required steps for safely receiving, inspecting, and handling end-of-life tyres.

Using a documented procedure helps control hazards such as manual handling injuries, fire risks, vehicle interaction, and exposure to contaminants. A clear SOP is a critical component of a safe system of work, helping you meet your duties under Australian WHS legislation.

This template is designed to guide you in establishing controls for key tasks, including unloading delivery vehicles, initial tyre sorting, identifying non-conforming materials, and moving tyres to the initial storage or processing area. A well-developed SOP forms a fundamental part of a robust WHS management system, providing consistency in training and operational performance.

It helps ensure every worker understands the expected safety standards and procedural requirements for their role in the intake process.

How to use the Free Safe Operating Procedure (Tyre Recycling Intake) Template

This document is a template and not a complete Safe Operating Procedure. To make it effective for your workplace, you must customise it to reflect your specific site, equipment, materials, and processes.

We strongly recommend a consultation process involving workers who perform the tasks, as their direct experience is invaluable for identifying hazards and developing practical controls. You will need to add details specific to your machinery (e.g., forklifts, loaders), site layout, types of tyres accepted, and emergency procedures.

Follow these steps to effectively implement this SOP:

• Risk Assessment: Conduct a thorough risk assessment for all tyre recycling intake activities to identify all potential hazards.
• Customisation: Fill in the template with specific details including site-specific rules, types of machinery used, PPE requirements, and emergency contacts. If your process involves specialised machinery like telehandlers, you may want to cross-reference with our FREE Telehandler SOP Template.
• Consultation: Review the draft SOP with workers, supervisors, and health and safety representatives.
• Training: Provide training to all relevant personnel on the finalised SOP, ensuring they understand the procedures and can apply them correctly.
• Review: Schedule regular reviews of the SOP (e.g., annually, or after an incident) to ensure it remains current and effective.

When to use this Safe Operating Procedure

A Safe Operating Procedure for tyre recycling intake should be used consistently as a reference and training tool. It is essential during the induction and training of new employees to ensure they understand the risks and control measures from day one.

It should also be readily available in the work area for workers to reference before and during operations. Furthermore, the SOP is a key document during safety audits and incident investigations, helping to verify that established procedures were followed and to identify areas for improvement.

Regular WHS compliance auditing can help confirm that the practices outlined in your SOP are being consistently applied on the ground.

The SOP should be formally reviewed whenever there are changes to the work environment, such as the introduction of new machinery, a change in the types of tyres being accepted, or an alteration to the workflow. If conveyors are part of your intake process, it's wise to have a dedicated procedure for them, and you might find our free Conveyer System SOP a useful starting point.

Who should use this Safe Operating Procedure

This SOP is intended for use by all individuals involved in the tyre recycling intake process. This includes:

• Workers and Operators: The primary users, who must follow the procedure to perform their tasks safely.
• Supervisors and Managers: Responsible for ensuring workers are trained on and adhere to the SOP, as well as for conducting reviews and updates.
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs): To assist in the consultation, development, and review process, representing the safety interests of their work group.
• Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs): To help meet their primary duty of care to provide and maintain a safe system of work.

For other procedural documents, you can explore our broader free WHS resources library to find templates relevant to your operations.