Scaffolding SWMS

For scaffolding contractors and builders who erect, alter and dismantle modular, system and mobile scaffold. It follows the work in order, from ground checks and deliveries to handover, inspections and dismantling, and covers the licence classes, overhead power lines and falling object controls that apply in Queensland.

New to SWMS? Read What is a safe work method statement?

What is covered in our scaffolding SWMS?

After the standard pre-start checks, the job steps run from “Plan the job and inspect the ground and supporting structure” to “Lower, sort and load out components and clear the site”. The hazards and controls include:

• Falls while erecting and dismantling scaffold
• Scaffold collapse from poor ground, missing ties or overloading
• Contact with overhead power lines
• Being struck by delivery trucks, cranes and forklifts
• Falling tools and components striking people below
• Mobile scaffold rolling or tipping over
• Unsafe scaffold used by other trades before handover
• Falls through gaps and open edges on incomplete platforms
• Manual handling of heavy steel components
• Roof structure or pool platform overloaded by scaffold loads

High risk construction work

These high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are already ticked because they are part of this work. Tick any others that apply to your job:

• Involves a risk of a person falling more than 2m

Licences, training and competency

• High risk work licence for the scaffolding class that matches the scaffold (basic, intermediate or advanced) for anyone erecting, altering or dismantling a scaffold from which a person or object could fall more than 4 m
• Basic class: modular or prefabricated scaffold, including mobile scaffold built from prefabricated components
• Intermediate class: tube and coupler, cantilevered and spur scaffold
• Advanced class (hung and suspended scaffold) is outside this SWMS
• Work with a fall of 4 metres or less: trained, competent and supervised workers
• Trainees work only under the supervision of a licence holder
• Competent person to inspect the scaffold and confirm in writing that construction is complete
• General construction induction training card (white card)
• Site induction and competency for the scaffold system used
• High risk work licence for the class of any forklift truck, vehicle loading crane (10 metre tonnes or more), hoist or dogging work used to move components

Legislation and codes of practice referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Scaffolding Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Mobile Crane Code of Practice 2024 (where a vehicle loading crane lifts components)
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): overhead power line exclusion zones
• Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020 – Working near overhead and underground electric lines (distances come from the 2026 Regulation)
• AS/NZS 1576.1 Scaffolding: General requirements (cited in the Scaffolding Code)
• AS/NZS 4576 Guidelines for scaffolding (cited in the Scaffolding Code)

What you get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (17 pages), laid out on A4 landscape pages. Type your business, client and job details once and they fill in on every page, with a space for your logo
• 11 job steps for this work, each with its hazards, controls, initial and residual risk scores and the person responsible
• PPE listed for this job: safety boots; hard hat with chin strap when working at height; high-visibility long-sleeve shirt and long pants; work gloves for handling steel components and planks
• Emergency arrangements for: fall from the scaffold, person suspended in a harness and contact with an overhead power line
• Plus the parts every Work Safety QLD SWMS shares, from the s 291 checklist to the worker sign-on sheet (see the layout in our free SWMS template)

Adjust it for your site, plant and crew, and talk it through with your workers before work starts.

Checked against the Queensland laws and codes of practice listed above. Last reviewed November 2026.