Scaffolding

Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 a range of people have specific responsibilities for scaffolds and scaffolding including:

  • designers
  • scaffolding contractors and workers who carry out scaffolding work
  • principal contractors for a 'construction project' where the cost of construction work is $250,000 or more.

Scaffold working platforms are generally rated as light, medium or heavy duty depending on the weight they can safely support.

Light duty - up to 225 kg per bay, suitable for work undertaken by a maximum of two people with a maximum of 65 kg of tools and materials for example painting, electrical work and carpentry tasks. Platforms should be at least two planks wide.

Medium duty - up to 450 kg per bay, suitable for general trades work. Platforms should be at least four planks wide.

Heavy duty - up to 675 kg per bay, required for bricklaying, concreting, demolition work and other tasks involving heavy loads or impact forces. Platforms should be at least five planks wide.

Scaffolding of more than 4 metres in height must be erected, altered and dismantled by a competent and appropriately licensed person as defined under the Act.

A high risk work licence is required for scaffolding work. Further information can be found on the High risk work licensing page.

Mobile scaffolds are often hired and used by finishing trades people such as painters and plasterers who may have limited knowledge of scaffolds. Mobile scaffolds are easy to erect, use and dismantle, but are safe only if erected by a competent person. Instructions on the safe assembly of a mobile scaffold are available from the supplier and instructions are also displayed on most mobile scaffolds in the form of a sticker.

To prevent common problems occurring with scaffolding:

  • adequate instruction, training and supervision must be provided before and during the erecting, use and dismantling of scaffolding
  • the manufacturers/suppliers written instructions for correct erection, use and dismantling must be followed
  • it must be stably erected on level foundations with proper soleplates and baseplates
  • it must be properly braced and fully planked
  • guardrails, mid-rails and toe boards must be fitted on the working deck (mesh screens may also be used to provide additional protection from falling materials)
  • access stairs or ladders must be positioned internally with a slope of 1 in 4 and securely fastened near the top and bottom
  • defective or incomplete scaffolding must not be accessed and should be sign posted with 'Scaffold incomplete - Do not use'
  • components must be kept clear of overhead powerlines (minimum clearance of 4 metres for metal and 1.5 metres for timber)
  • where there is a likelihood of mobile plant operating nearby, the scaffolding should be protected from impact by the use of barricades, buffer rails, concrete or timber kerbs
  • no person should be on a mobile scaffold when it is being moved
  • the wheels on mobile scaffolding must be locked when the scaffold is stationary

For further information view our Scaffolding video.

Suspended Scaffolding

Either a rigger holding a high risk work licence for advanced rigging or a scaffolder holding a high risk work licence for advanced scaffolding may install and dismantle suspended scaffolds.

Before using a suspended scaffold make sure that:

  • a written hand-over certificate has been provided by the installer operators have written authorisation from their Person conducting a business or undertaking and are suitably trained
  • it has had its daily pre-operational check as set out in the operator's manual
  • the cradle is not overloaded above its rated safe working load
  • the cradle has meshed guardrails and solid flooring to ensure that materials cannot fall through
  • the area below the cradle is protected by a catch platform or is isolated so no-one can be injured from falling material or debris
  • there are suitable lateral restraints to stabilise the cradle during use where relevant
  • where access to and from the cradle cannot be gained from the ground or a protected platform, the cradle must be securely tied to the building and properly anchored safety harness and lanyards must be worn and used when climbing in and out of the cradle Suspended scaffolds should be subject to weekly inspections by a competent person, in addition to daily operator's checks.
  • Make sure cradles are properly secured when unattended and cannot be accessed by unauthorised people. For overnight and longer periods the cradle should be tied securely to the building at least 3 metres above the ground.

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