Scaffolding SWMS

Scaffold-related falls and collapses account for a significant proportion of serious construction injuries each year. The WHS Regulation 2025 classifies scaffold work above 2 metres as high risk construction work, and any scaffold erection, alteration, or dismantling above 4 metres requires a High Risk Work Licence holder. This template covers modular, tube-and-coupler, and suspended scaffold systems with controls mapped to the binding Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice effective 1 July 2026.

Legal Requirements

regulation

WHS Regulation 2025 Part 4.4 — High Risk Construction Work

hrcw category

Work at height greater than 2 metres

code of practice

Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces (binding 1 July 2026 under Section 26A)

section 26a binding

Yes — effective 1 July 2026. Non-compliance is admissible as evidence of breach.

hrwl required

Scaffold erection, alteration, or dismantling above 4 metres requires HRWL — Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced Scaffolding class

Hazards

Hazard	Consequence	Likelihood
Falls during scaffold erection or dismantling before guardrails installed	Death, spinal injury, fractures	Likely
Scaffold collapse due to inadequate ties, base plates, or overloading	Multiple fatalities, crush injuries	Unlikely
Overloading scaffold platforms beyond rated capacity	Platform failure, falls, falling material	Possible
Missing planks, gaps, or incomplete edge protection	Falls through openings, trips	Likely
Falling tools and materials from scaffold platforms	Head injuries, fractures to workers below	Possible

Controls (Hierarchy of Controls)

Ensure all scaffold erection above 4 metres is performed by HRWL holders of appropriate class

Conduct pre-shift scaffold inspection using a documented checklist before any worker access

Verify load rating signage is displayed and not exceeded — include material storage limits

Install tie connections at manufacturer-specified spacing and verify structural adequacy of tie points

Maintain full edge protection — guardrails, mid-rails, and toeboards — on all working platforms

Install scaffold mesh or brick guards to prevent falling objects

Tag scaffold with green (safe to use), yellow (restricted), or red (do not use) status tags after inspection

Recent Prosecutions

Allcott Hire Pty Ltd$90,000

Workers accessed incomplete scaffold with missing planks and no guardrails. Scaffold erected by persons without the required HRWL. No SWMS in place.

2025 — SafeWork NSW v Allcott Hire Pty Ltd [2025]

What Your SWMS Must Include

✓HRWL verification for all scaffold erectors working above 4 metres

✓Scaffold design or manufacturer specifications including maximum load ratings

✓Pre-shift inspection checklist covering ties, base plates, planks, guardrails, and bracing

✓Tag system procedures — green, yellow, red — with responsible person identified

✓Falling object prevention controls including mesh, toeboards, and exclusion zones below

Need a compliant Scaffolding SWMS?

Our WHS consultants build scaffold-specific SWMS with HRWL verification procedures and inspection checklists that satisfy regulator expectations.