Product Overview

Summary: This Safe Operating Procedure sets out safe, compliant scaffold shoring techniques for temporary support of structures, formwork and excavations. It provides clear, step-by-step guidance to control collapse risks, protect workers at height and ensure alignment with Australian WHS and construction standards.

Scaffold shoring is a critical temporary works activity used to support loads during construction, demolition, refurbishment and maintenance. When shoring systems are poorly designed, installed or altered, the consequences can be catastrophic, including structural collapse, falls from height and serious injury to workers and the public. This Scaffold Shoring Techniques Safe Operating Procedure gives your team a clear, practical framework for planning, erecting, inspecting, using, modifying and dismantling scaffold-based shoring systems in line with Australian WHS expectations.

The SOP translates engineering and regulatory requirements into field-ready instructions that supervisors and scaffolders can actually use on site. It clarifies who is authorised to design and certify shoring arrangements, what pre-start checks must occur, how loads and ground conditions are to be assessed, and the controls required for high‑risk construction work. By standardising scaffold shoring techniques across your projects, this document helps you reduce variability, prevent shortcuts, and demonstrate due diligence to regulators, clients and principal contractors.

Whether you are propping slabs, supporting formwork, shoring walls, or stabilising existing structures during alterations, this SOP provides the procedural backbone for safe operations. It supports better communication between engineers, scaffolders and site management, reduces rework and downtime due to unsafe setups, and embeds a consistent approach to inspections, documentation and sign-off across your organisation.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of scaffold and structural collapse through clearly defined shoring design, erection and inspection requirements.
• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant scaffolding and temporary works standards for high‑risk construction work.
• Standardise scaffold shoring practices across multiple sites, contractors and shifts to improve safety and productivity.
• Improve coordination between engineers, scaffolders and site supervisors by clarifying roles, responsibilities and approval processes.
• Minimise project delays, rectification work and regulatory scrutiny arising from unsafe or non‑compliant shoring arrangements.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• Scaffolding Supervisors
• Qualified Scaffolders
• Formwork Supervisors
• Civil and Structural Engineers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Principal Contractors
• Maintenance and Shutdown Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Structural collapse of shoring systems due to overloading, incorrect assembly or inadequate bracing
• Falls from height during erection, alteration and dismantling of scaffold shoring
• Struck-by injuries from falling components, tools or materials
• Ground failure or subsidence under shoring standards and sole plates
• Uncontrolled movement or settlement of supported structures or formwork
• Contact with overhead powerlines or underground services during installation
• Manual handling injuries from lifting and positioning heavy shoring components
• Slips, trips and falls around congested shoring layouts and access routes

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Terminology (Scaffold, Shoring, Propping, Temporary Works)
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Planning, Design and Engineering Approval of Shoring Systems
• 5.0 Risk Assessment and Safe Work Method Integration
• 6.0 Selection of Shoring System, Components and Materials
• 7.0 Ground Conditions, Foundations, Sole Plates and Base Plates
• 8.0 Load Assessment, Capacity Limits and Load Control
• 9.0 Erection Procedures for Scaffold Shoring
• 10.0 Bracing, Ties, Connections and Stability Requirements
• 11.0 Access, Egress and Fall Protection Controls
• 12.0 Inspection, Tagging and Handover to Site
• 13.0 Monitoring, Adjustments and Control of Changes to Shoring
• 14.0 Use of Shoring – Operational Controls and Prohibited Practices
• 15.0 Dismantling Procedures and Demobilisation
• 16.0 Emergency Response and Incident Management (Partial Collapse, Instability)
• 17.0 Training, Competency and Toolbox Talks
• 18.0 Documentation, Records and Compliance Evidence
• 19.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement of Shoring Practices

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations – High Risk Construction Work and Falls
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Construction Work
• AS/NZS 1576 Scaffolding series
• AS 3610 Formwork for concrete
• AS 3990 Mechanical equipment – Steelwork
• AS/NZS 1170 Structural design actions (for load assessment and design input)
• Relevant state or territory Scaffolding Codes of Practice or guidance material