BlueSafe
Scaffolding and Temporary Platforms SWMS

Scaffolding and Temporary Platforms SWMS

  • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
  • Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
  • Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
  • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Scaffolding and Temporary Platforms SWMS

Product Overview

This Scaffolding and Temporary Platforms Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement effective controls for working on and around raised work platforms. It is a comprehensive document that covers multiple aspects of scaffolding safety and temporary platform use to support robust WHS compliance on Australian worksites.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

  • Safe access and egress when accessing raised platforms, including use of ladders, stairs, and designated access points
  • Managing risks when accessing high level platforms, with controls for edge protection, exclusion zones, and supervision
  • Planning and conducting platform erection, including selection of components, assembly sequence, and competent supervision
  • Platform stabilisation methods, including bracing, tying-in, outriggers, and inspection of ground and support conditions
  • Preventing falls from platforms through guardrails, mid-rails, toe-boards, fall arrest systems, and safe work practices
  • Setting up temporary work platforms for short-duration tasks, including load rating, access, and segregation from plant and traffic
  • Selection, inspection, and safe use of trestles, planks, and associated platform components
  • Working safely on platforms, trestles, or gantries, including housekeeping, material handling, and maintaining clear walkways
  • Selection of scaffolding and platform systems suitable for task, height, environment, and load requirements
  • Inspection, tagging, and ongoing monitoring of scaffolds and temporary platforms throughout the work
  • Control of dropped object risks from platforms, including use of tool lanyards, kickboards, and exclusion zones below
  • Emergency response and rescue considerations for incidents occurring on or around scaffolds and temporary platforms

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for scaffolders, builders, maintenance crews, painters, electricians, construction contractors, and site supervisors responsible for managing or working on scaffolding, trestles, gantries, and temporary work platforms.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Job Step / Activity Potential Hazards
Pre-start planning and documentation
  • • Unidentified underground services
  • • Inadequate scaffolding design
  • • Conflicting work activities
  • • Untrained workers on site
  • • Insufficient emergency planning
Site preparation and ground assessment
  • • Uneven ground surfaces
  • • Subsurface voids and trenches
  • • Overloaded ground bearing capacity
  • • Uncontrolled vehicle access
  • • Slips trips and falls at ground level
Delivery handling and storage of components
  • • Manual handling strain
  • • Uncontrolled load movement
  • • Falling components during unloading
  • • Pinch points between components
  • • Obstructed emergency egress routes
Setting out and base installation
  • • Incorrect scaffold layout
  • • Unstable base jacks
  • • Inadequate bracing at base
  • • Working near edges and penetrations
Platform erection and access installation
  • • Falls during erection
  • • Falling objects from height
  • • Incorrect plank installation
  • • Incomplete edge protection
  • • Unsecured access ladders
Platform stabilisation and tying-in
  • • Scaffold overturning
  • • Progressive collapse
  • • Tie failure
  • • Wind load effects
Setting up temporary work platforms and trestles
  • • Overloaded trestle planks
  • • Unstable trestle legs
  • • Inadequate width of platform
  • • Falls from low-height platforms
Accessing raised and high-level platforms
  • • Slips and trips on access stairs
  • • Falls from ladders
  • • Carrying loads up access ways
  • • Unauthorised platform access
Working on platforms, trestles and gantries
  • • Falls from platforms
  • • Falling tools and materials
  • • Platform overloading
  • • Contact with overhead hazards
  • • Trip hazards on decks
Preventing falls and controlling falling objects
  • • Unprotected platform edges
  • • Dropped tools and debris
  • • Gaps in platforms
  • • Inadequate exclusion zones
Use of mobile and temporary platforms
  • • Tip-over of mobile towers
  • • Uncontrolled movement during use
  • • Falls when moving platforms
  • • Inadequate platform locking
Inspection tagging and ongoing maintenance
  • • Use of defective scaffold
  • • Unauthorised modifications
  • • Deterioration from weather
  • • Missing inspection records
Dismantling platforms and scaffolds
  • • Falls during dismantling
  • • Uncontrolled component drops
  • • Structural instability during removal
  • • Manual handling strain during carry-out
Training communication and emergency response
  • • Incorrect use of platforms
  • • Delayed response to falls
  • • Miscommunication between trades
  • • Inadequate rescue capability

Need to add specific site requirements?

Don't worry if a specific job step isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom job steps at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the hazards and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Guidance on controlling fall hazards when working at height
  • Safe Work Australia – Construction Work Code of Practice: Requirements for planning and undertaking construction activities, including scaffolding
  • Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice: Risk management for plant such as scaffolding systems and temporary platforms
  • AS/NZS 1576 Scaffolding (series): Requirements for design, construction, and use of scaffolding systems
  • AS/NZS 4576 Guidelines for Scaffolding: Practical guidance for the safe use and maintenance of scaffolds
  • AS/NZS 1891 Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices (series): Requirements for fall arrest equipment used in conjunction with platforms and scaffolds
  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017

Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)
  • Operational guidelines, with a step-by-step approach to safe work
  • Possible hazards that may be encountered
  • Step-by-step safety procedures to follow
  • Before work starts – Guidelines and Checks
  • Safety measures and guides
  • Operational Safety Checks
  • Before and After Risk Ratings
  • Risk Assessment Matrix
  • High Risk Work Involved
  • Emergency Evacuation Procedure
  • Plant and Equipment
  • Qualifications and Permits
  • Specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Company Personnel Sign-off form

$96.8

Safe Work Australia Aligned