Product Overview

Summary: This SOP sets out clear, practical requirements for safe access to and egress from scaffolds on Australian worksites. It provides step‑by‑step guidance to control falls, trips and structural risks, helping businesses meet their WHS obligations while keeping workers and contractors safe on every climb.

Access and egress points are among the highest‑risk areas on any scaffold. Falls commonly occur while workers are climbing on or off platforms, negotiating ladders, or moving through openings that have been altered during the job. This Access and Egress for Scaffolds Safe Operating Procedure gives your organisation a clear, repeatable method for planning, installing, inspecting and using scaffold access systems – including ladders, stair towers, landings and entry gates – in line with Australian WHS expectations.

The procedure helps you define who can erect, modify and sign‑off access routes, how access components must be configured, and what checks must be completed before workers are allowed onto the scaffold. It addresses common issues such as missing or damaged ladders, unsecured stair modules, blocked access ways, inadequate edge protection at landings and unsafe tie‑off points. By implementing this SOP, you reduce the likelihood of falls from height, improve traffic flow on busy sites, and provide clear evidence that your business is managing scaffold access risks in accordance with relevant Australian Standards, Codes of Practice and state or territory WHS legislation.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of falls from height by standardising safe access and egress arrangements for all scaffolds.
• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS legislation, scaffold standards and regulator guidance for temporary access systems.
• Improve site productivity by providing clear, consistent access routes that minimise congestion and confusion for workers and subcontractors.
• Strengthen due diligence by documenting responsibilities, inspection requirements and sign‑off processes for scaffold access points.
• Support effective training and onboarding by giving supervisors and workers a practical reference for how to safely get on and off scaffolds.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• Scaffolding Contractors
• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Principal Contractors
• Maintenance Supervisors
• Civil and Infrastructure Supervisors
• Facilities and Asset Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Falls from height while climbing on or off scaffolds
• Slips, trips and falls on access platforms, ladders, stairs and landings
• Collapse or failure of improperly installed ladders or stair modules
• Falls through unprotected openings or incomplete platforms at access points
• Struck‑by incidents from tools or materials stored or dropped near access ways
• Overcrowding and congestion on access routes during peak work periods
• Contact with live electrical installations adjacent to scaffold access points
• Manual handling injuries when negotiating awkward or obstructed access routes

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Applicable Scaffold Types
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Planning Access and Egress for Scaffolds
• 5.0 Design and Selection of Access Systems (Ladders, Stairs, Towers)
• 6.0 Installation Requirements for Scaffold Access Components
• 7.0 Safe Use of Ladders, Stair Towers and Landings
• 8.0 Housekeeping and Control of Obstructions at Access Points
• 9.0 Inspection, Tagging and Sign‑off of Access and Egress Routes
• 10.0 Managing Changes, Modifications and Restricted Access
• 11.0 PPE Requirements and Working Near Live Services
• 12.0 Emergency Access, Egress and Rescue Considerations
• 13.0 Training, Induction and Communication
• 14.0 Recordkeeping, Auditing and Continuous Improvement
• 15.0 References and Related Documents

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations (Cth) – Part 4.4: Falls
• Safe Work Australia – General Guide for Scaffolds and Scaffolding Work
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• AS/NZS 1576 Scaffolding series (including AS/NZS 1576.1: Scaffolding – General requirements)
• AS/NZS 4576: Guidelines for scaffolding
• Relevant state and territory WHS Acts and Regulations (e.g. Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW))