Do scaffolders need a SWMS for every scaffold erection job?
Yes, where the scaffold reaches or exceeds 2 metres in height. The Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Cth) Schedule 18 classifies work involving a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres as high-risk construction work requiring a written SWMS before commencement. Virtually all commercial and residential scaffold work — including fixed scaffold, mobile scaffold towers above 2 metres, and suspended scaffold — meets this threshold. Even scaffold erection below 2 metres may require SWMS if other high-risk work factors are present, such as proximity to overhead power lines or traffic. Sole-trader licensed scaffolders must also comply — the SWMS obligation applies regardless of business size.
What scaffolding licence is needed in Australia and how does it affect the SWMS?
Australian scaffolding above 4 metres is high-risk work requiring a High-Risk Work Licence (HRWL) under the WHS Regulations. The three scaffolding licence categories are: Basic (SB) for scaffold up to 4 metres, Intermediate (SI) for non-suspended scaffold above 4 metres, and Advanced (SA) for all scaffold types including suspended systems. The SWMS must identify the scaffold type being erected, confirm the licence category required, and record the licence number and expiry date for each scaffolder involved. Workers without the appropriate licence must not perform erection or dismantling of scaffold within that licence class. SafeWork inspectors routinely check licence details during scaffold site inspections.
What does AS/NZS 1576 require for scaffold inspection before use?
AS/NZS 1576 and the Work Health and Safety Regulations require that scaffold must be inspected by a competent person before first use, after any incident that may have affected its integrity (such as a vehicle strike or severe weather event), and at intervals not exceeding 30 days during a project. A competent person for scaffold inspection purposes is a person who holds an appropriate scaffolding licence or has the skills, knowledge, and experience to identify scaffold defects and assess safety. The inspection result must be recorded — typically using a scaffold tag system showing green (safe for use), yellow (restricted use), or red (out of service) status. The SWMS must reference the inspection requirement and identify the competent person responsible.
Is a SWMS required for using a scissor lift or boom lift (EWP) on a construction site?
Yes. The operation of elevated work platforms (EWPs) including scissor lifts, boom lifts, and cherry pickers constitutes working at height and falls within the high-risk construction work categories under Schedule 18 of the WHS Regulations. A SWMS must be prepared before EWP operations commence. The SWMS must address: EWP pre-use inspection requirements per AS 2550, operator licence requirements (an EWP Licence is required for boom-type EWPs with a boom length greater than 11 metres), ground condition assessment, overhead obstruction clearance, exclusion zones below the work platform, and fall protection inside the basket.
What fall protection does a scaffolder need to wear during erection?
During scaffold erection above 2 metres where the leading edge is not yet protected by guardrails, scaffolders must use a fall arrest system consisting of a full-body harness, shock-absorbing lanyard, and a secure anchor point. The anchor point must be capable of withstanding the expected fall arrest load — typically a minimum of 15 kN per the WHS Regulations. The SWMS must specify the anchor system used during erection (e.g., pre-rigged safety line, inertia reel, or structural anchor), confirm that the anchor capacity meets regulatory requirements, and specify that fall arrest equipment is inspected before use. Scaffolders must be trained and competent in the use of fall arrest equipment — working at height without appropriate fall protection when guardrails are not in place is a serious WHS breach.
Does a roofing contractor need the scaffolding SWMS or the roofing SWMS when installing edge protection?
Both may apply depending on the scope. If a roofing contractor installs their own roof edge protection system before commencing roofing work, they need a SWMS for the edge protection installation activity itself — because installing edge protection on a rooftop involves working at height before the protection is in place, creating fall exposure. Once the edge protection is installed, a separate roofing SWMS covers the actual roof work. If a licensed scaffolding contractor installs the edge protection system separately, they will provide their own scaffolding/edge protection SWMS. In both cases, the principal contractor must ensure that the SWMS documents are in place before any height work commences.
