Product Overview

Summary: This Temporary Structure Stability Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, practical framework for designing, erecting, inspecting and dismantling temporary structures so they remain safe and stable throughout their use. It helps Australian businesses control structural and environmental risks, meet WHS obligations, and protect workers and the public wherever temporary platforms, stages, scaffolds or shelters are installed.

Temporary structures such as scaffolds, stages, platforms, hoardings, gantries, marquees and site shelters are routinely used across construction, events, civil works and maintenance activities in Australia. While they may only be in place for days or weeks, a failure of stability can have catastrophic consequences, including structural collapse, serious injuries, damage to property and regulatory enforcement action. This Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, end‑to‑end approach to managing the stability of temporary structures from planning and design through to installation, inspection, use, modification and dismantling.

The procedure translates Australian WHS duties and relevant engineering and construction standards into practical, on‑site controls. It guides your team on assessing ground conditions, loadings, wind and weather exposure, interaction with plant and traffic, and the impact of changes during the life of the structure. It also defines clear roles and sign‑off points between engineers, contractors and site supervisors, ensuring that only competent persons design, verify and alter temporary works. By implementing this SOP, organisations can reduce the risk of structural incidents, standardise their approach across multiple sites and contractors, and demonstrate due diligence to regulators, clients and principal contractors.

This document is particularly valuable for businesses that regularly deploy temporary structures in dynamic environments—such as construction sites, roadworks, festivals and public events—where conditions can change rapidly. It supports consistent pre‑start checks, scheduled inspections after adverse weather, and controlled processes for tying in, bracing, ballast, exclusion zones and emergency response. The result is a robust, repeatable system that helps keep workers, performers, visitors and the public safe while maintaining project timelines and reputations.

Key Benefits

• Ensure temporary structures are planned, designed and installed in line with Australian WHS and engineering requirements.
• Reduce the likelihood of structural collapse, component failure and associated injuries or fatalities.
• Standardise how supervisors, engineers and contractors assess, inspect and sign off temporary structures across all sites.
• Improve response to adverse weather and site changes through clear triggers for re‑inspection, modification or removal.
• Demonstrate due diligence to clients, principal contractors, insurers and regulators with documented controls and records.

Who is this for?

• Construction Project Managers
• Site Supervisors
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Structural Engineers
• Event Managers and Production Managers
• Scaffolding Contractors and Supervisors
• Facilities and Maintenance Managers
• Civil Works Supervisors
• Local Government Infrastructure Officers

Hazards Addressed

• Structural collapse of scaffolds, stages, platforms, hoardings and gantries
• Instability due to inadequate foundations, ground conditions or settlement
• Overloading from personnel, equipment, materials or crowd movement
• Wind loading and uplift on hoardings, marquees and elevated platforms
• Impact from mobile plant or vehicles striking temporary structures
• Falling objects from unstable or poorly secured structural components
• Uncontrolled modifications or removal of bracing, ties or ballast
• Trips, falls and crush injuries during erection and dismantling activities

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Types of Temporary Structures
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Planning, Design and Engineering Verification
• 5.0 Site Assessment (Ground Conditions, Services, Environment and Interfaces)
• 6.0 Materials, Components and Equipment Requirements
• 7.0 Erection and Installation Procedure
• 8.0 Stability Controls (Foundations, Bracing, Ties, Ballast and Fixings)
• 9.0 Load Management (People, Plant, Equipment and Environmental Loads)
• 10.0 Inspection, Testing and Sign‑off Requirements
• 11.0 Ongoing Monitoring, Change Management and Adverse Weather Protocols
• 12.0 Interaction with Plant, Traffic and Adjacent Structures
• 13.0 Use, Access Control and Exclusion Zones
• 14.0 Dismantling and Removal Procedure
• 15.0 Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control Measures
• 16.0 Emergency Response and Incident Management
• 17.0 Training, Communication and Consultation
• 18.0 Recordkeeping, Forms and Checklists
• 19.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Construction Work
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• AS/NZS 1170 series: Structural design actions (including wind actions)
• AS 1576 series: Scaffolding
• AS/NZS 4994 series: Temporary edge protection
• AS 4687: Temporary fencing and hoardings