Scaffolding

Information for workers, employers and licence holders about managing the risks of scaffolding.

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Scaffolds

A scaffold is a temporary structure used to support workers and materials during the construction, maintenance or repair of buildings and other structures.

Scaffolds allow access to heights and other hard to reach areas. For instance, when workers need to access a ceiling inside a building, to get on roofs, or to get down into excavations. Scaffolds are also a crucial safety measure as they are used for edge protection and containment.

Scaffolding on a building under construction — A residential building with scaffolding

The risks of scaffolds and scaffolding work

Scaffold incidents commonly involve:

people falling from, or through, scaffolds that are poorly erected, incomplete or have been altered by unlicenced workers, such as brickies, builders, painters.
people falling from scaffolds due to misuse, for example standing on rails or boxes, adding makeshift work platforms.
scaffold collapse or failure of components due to incorrect assembly, overloading platforms, or incompatible or overly rusted/rotted componentry.
objects falling off scaffolds and hitting people below.
scaffolds being struck by mobile plant/vehicles or being snagged by a crane.
scaffolders being injured when unsafely erecting, adjusting or dismantling scaffold.

Scaffold set up with a plank missing. — Unlicenced workers must not remove scaffold components, for example planks.

Scaffolds must stay complete, compliant and safe for the duration of the build, to ensure structural integrity, and that there are no gaps for people to fall through.

Work health and safety obligations

As an employer, principal contractor, and/or a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you are responsible for the health and safety of everyone in your workplace, including visitors. This is your primary duty of care.

Make sure:

the scaffold is only erected, altered and dismantled by workers with the appropriate scaffolding high risk work (HRW) licence. You can check a high risk work licence is valid by visiting Verify.licence.
you inspect the scaffold before accepting written confirmation (e.g. handover certificate), to be assured you have a complete, safe and compliant scaffold
the scaffold is inspected at least every 30 days by a competent person
there is a plan or clear understanding of how/when the scaffold will be modified as the construction project progresses, so that the scaffold remains safe and compliant throughout the build
there are effective systems in place to stop unauthorised access to incomplete sections of the scaffold
unlicenced workers do not alter the scaffold
workers on scaffolds are protected from powerlines. Talk with the network provider to check the safe working distance or if hoarding etc is required
check your scaffold every day, to ensure there is no risk of falls, falling objects or scaffold collapse.

Employers have a duty to consult with workers
Make sure your site inductions and toolbox talks include scaffold safety, such as ensuring workers don’t access incomplete sections, unlicenced workers do not alter the scaffold, and who to contact if scaffolds need altering or repair.

Fines for unsafe scaffolds

SafeWork inspectors take a zero tolerance approach to workers lives being placed at risk from unsafe scaffolds and can issue on-the-spot fines for unsafe scaffolds.

View the on-the-spot fines

Here are some of the on-the-spot fines related to scaffold safety under the work health and safety legislation.

Scaffold safety

Reason for fine	Fine for individual	Fine for corporation
Using scaffold without written confirmation from a competent person.	$900	$4500
Scaffold with safety risk has not been repaired and re-inspected.	$900	$4500
Not preventing unauthorised access to incomplete scaffold.	$900	$4500

Falls from heights risks

Reason for fine	Fine for individual	Fine for corporation
Not managing the risks associated with a fall by a person.	$900	$4500

High risk work (HRW) licensing

Reason for fine	Fine for individual	Fine for corporation
Carrying out work without a scaffolding high risk work licence.	$900	$4500
Direct or allow work by persons without a scaffolding high risk work licence.	$900	$4500

Resources

Key resources for employers

Scaffolding Industry Safety Standard (PDF, 11195.23 KB)

The Scaffolding Industry Safety Standard is a high-level scaffold management tool for principal contractors, scaffolders, engineers, and other parties responsible for the provision and safe use of scaffold.

Scaffold inspection checklist (PDF, 392.98 KB)

Using scaffolds toolbox talk (PDF, 690.33 KB)

Scaffold certificate handover template (PDF, 64.48 KB)