The Scaffolding Association Australia (SAA) will launch its Australian Best Practice Guidelines for Scaffolding on Monday 27 July, providing the industry with a single reference document covering scaffold planning, design, erection, use and dismantling.
The guidelines have been developed to give scaffold contractors, principal contractors, clients, engineers, designers and scaffold users clearer guidance on their responsibilities throughout every stage of a project.
Available free of charge, the document brings together practical advice across nine areas, including compliance, risk management, training, site management, scaffold design, inspections and the safe use of different scaffold systems.
One of the biggest themes running through the publication is accountability. Rather than focusing solely on scaffold contractors, the guidance explains the duties of everyone involved in the scaffolding process, from clients and principal contractors through to supervisors, engineers and end users.
The document also includes technical diagrams, tables and worked examples covering subjects such as foundations, bracing, ties, platform loadings and scaffold stability.
Among the recommendations is a preventative approach to scaffold inspections. The SAA advises inspections at least every 14 days, before first use, after any alteration and following severe weather or any incident that could affect a scaffold’s integrity.
The guidance is divided into nine sections:
- Compliance and risk management
- Training and certification
- Site management
- Safe erection and dismantling
- Scaffold requirements
- Scaffold design and documentation
- Scaffold use and management
- Scaffold systems and types
- Technical guidance supported by diagrams and practical examples
The SAA said the decision to make the guidelines freely available reflects its aim of improving safety, consistency and professionalism across the Australian scaffolding sector.
The association also confirmed the publication is the first stage of a wider technical programme.
Over the coming months, its Technical and Engineering Committee plans to publish a series of Technical Guidance Notes (TGNs) covering specialist subjects in greater detail. These documents will be available exclusively to SAA members, alongside other member resources including scaffold design guidance, Safe Work Method Statement templates and technical documentation.
The new guidelines will be available from Monday 27 July through the Scaffolding Association Australia’s website.
