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Take 5 safety checklist

The Take 5 is a personal pre-task check that came out of Australian mining and is now a habit across trades: Stop, Look, Assess, Manage, then Safely proceed. It takes about two minutes and puts the risk management thinking required by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 into the hands of the person about to do the task. It supports a JSA or SWMS; it does not replace one.

Who it's for: Frontline workers and supervisors in mining, construction, utilities and trades who need a fast personal check before starting a task.

Free to use and adapt · Last updated 2026-07-27 · No email required

Before you start

Name
Task
Location
Date and time

Stop and Look - spot the hazards

Stop before touching the task. Look at the work area, the tools and yourself. Tick each line only if you have actually checked it.

  • I am trained, competent and authorised for this task
  • I have the right tools and they are in good condition
  • Line of fire: nothing can hit, crush or cut me where I will be standing
  • Slips, trips and falls: the work area, access and egress are clear
  • Working at height, or work happening above me
  • Stored energy: electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, gravity or tension
  • Hazardous substances, dust or fumes involved in the task
  • Moving plant or vehicles operating nearby
  • Weather, heat, cold or poor light could affect the task
  • Other crews or the public could be affected by what I am about to do
  • Manual handling: the load and posture are within my capability
  • I am fit for the task: fatigue, dehydration and distraction considered

Assess - could it hurt me or anyone else

Worst credible outcome if this goes wrong Be honest. 'Struck by reversing loader' beats 'injury'
How likely is it with things as they are now
Can I do this task safely on my own If no, stop here and get help before proceeding

Manage - put controls in place

  • Eliminated the hazard, or found a safer way to do the task
  • Isolated or locked out stored energy before starting
  • Barricaded or signed the area to protect others
  • Selected the right PPE and put it on
  • Arranged a second person where the task needs one
  • Told my supervisor about any hazard I cannot control myself
  • Agreed a check-in if I am working alone or out of sight
  • Stopped: this task needs a JSA, SWMS or permit before it goes ahead

Safely proceed

Only proceed when every hazard you found has a control in place. If anything changes mid-task, stop and take another five.

Signature
Time completed

A Take 5 that ends in stop-work is a good Take 5. Escalate what you found to your supervisor so the JSA, SWMS or permit can be fixed before anyone attempts the task.

How to use it

Getting the most out of this template

  • Print the checklist pocket-size or load it on phones; it only works if it is in hand at the workface.
  • Take the full five steps before every new task, not just at the start of shift.
  • Treat a stop-work outcome as the checklist doing its job, and escalate to the supervisor.
  • Feed recurring hazards from Take 5s back into the JSA or SWMS for that task.

This template is general information, not legal advice. Requirements differ by jurisdiction and industry; check the guidance published by Safe Work Australia and your state WHS regulator and seek advice for your specific circumstances.

Questions

Frequently asked

Is a Take 5 legally required?
No. The Take 5 comes from mining industry practice, not from legislation. It supports the duty under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to manage risks, but it does not replace a documented risk assessment, JSA or SWMS where one of those is required or expected.
When should a Take 5 be done?
In the two minutes before starting any task, and again whenever the task, location or conditions change mid-job. It works because it is quick; if it turns into paperwork, people stop doing it honestly.
Does a Take 5 replace a JSA or SWMS?
No. A Take 5 is a personal last check that the documented controls are actually in place at the workface. If it uncovers a hazard with no control, stop and escalate; that usually means the JSA or SWMS needs revisiting.
Related

Templates that go with this one

Plant and vehicle prestart checklist The daily walk-around before an operator starts a machine or vehicle, with a defect log and clear stop conditions. Hazardous chemicals risk assessment Task-based chemical assessment: what is used, how exposure happens, what controls apply, and when health monitoring is required. Heat and outdoor work risk assessment Assess heat illness risk for outdoor and hot indoor work, covering conditions, workload, acclimatisation, hydration and the stop-work trigger. JSA template (Job Safety Analysis) Break a task into steps, list the hazards of each step, and assign a control to every hazard.

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