Product Overview

Summary: This Trestle Scaffolding Safe Operating Procedure provides clear, practical guidance for the safe erection, use, adjustment and dismantling of trestle scaffolds in Australian workplaces. It helps businesses control common fall-from-height risks, meet WHS obligations, and ensure workers use portable trestle systems correctly on construction, maintenance and fit‑out jobs.

Trestle scaffolding is widely used across Australian construction, fit‑out and maintenance work because it is quick to set up and highly mobile. However, its very convenience can encourage shortcuts: overreaching from planks, unstable setups on uneven ground, makeshift guardrails, or using damaged trestles and planks. These behaviours significantly increase the risk of falls, structural collapse and serious injury, particularly where work is undertaken at or above two metres. This Trestle Scaffolding Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, easy‑to‑follow method for planning, erecting, inspecting, using and dismantling trestle scaffolds so that work at low to medium heights is carried out safely and consistently.

The procedure translates Australian WHS requirements and industry good practice into clear, step‑by‑step instructions that can be used for training, toolbox talks and day‑to‑day supervision. It covers pre‑use inspection criteria, load limits, working platforms, access methods, controls for working near edges and openings, and requirements for exclusion zones and housekeeping around the scaffold. By implementing this SOP, businesses can demonstrate due diligence, reduce the likelihood of falls and scaffold failures, and give workers unambiguous guidance on what is and is not acceptable when using trestle scaffolding on site.

Key Benefits

• Reduce fall-from-height risks by standardising safe setup, access and work practices on trestle scaffolds.
• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS laws and relevant guidance on working at heights and scaffolding.
• Improve site productivity by providing clear, repeatable steps for rapid but safe erection and dismantling.
• Support effective worker training and competency assessment with a documented, easy-to-follow procedure.
• Minimise equipment damage and unplanned downtime through structured inspection and maintenance requirements.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• Leading Hands
• Carpenters
• Painters and Decorators
• General Tradespeople
• Maintenance Technicians
• WHS Managers
• Safety Advisors
• Facilities Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Falls from height due to overreaching, unstable platforms or lack of edge protection
• Collapse of trestle scaffold from overloading or incorrect assembly
• Slips and trips on cluttered or poorly maintained working platforms
• Struck-by injuries from falling tools or materials from the scaffold
• Musculoskeletal injuries from manual handling of trestles, planks and components
• Electrocution risk when working near overhead or exposed electrical services
• Instability due to use on uneven, soft or contaminated ground surfaces

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 References, Legislation and Standards
• 3.0 Definitions (Trestle Scaffold, Working Platform, Edge Protection, etc.)
• 4.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 5.0 Competency, Training and Licensing Requirements
• 6.0 Required PPE and Safety Equipment
• 7.0 Pre-Start Planning and Site Assessment
• 8.0 Equipment Selection, Inspection and Rejection Criteria
• 9.0 Erecting Trestle Scaffolding – Step-by-Step Procedure
• 10.0 Using Trestle Scaffolding Safely (Access, Positioning and Work Practices)
• 11.0 Load Limits, Material Handling and Housekeeping on Platforms
• 12.0 Working Near Edges, Openings and Electrical Hazards
• 13.0 Dismantling Trestle Scaffolding – Step-by-Step Procedure
• 14.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Control Measures
• 15.0 Emergency Response and Incident Reporting (Falls and Structural Failure)
• 16.0 Inspection, Maintenance and Storage of Trestle Components
• 17.0 Training, Induction and Toolbox Talk Guidance
• 18.0 Recordkeeping and Audit Requirements
• 19.0 Review and Continuous Improvement of this SOP

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and State/Territory equivalents)
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth and State/Territory equivalents), including provisions for working at heights and plant
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• AS/NZS 1576 Scaffolding (series), where applicable to trestle and portable scaffolds
• AS/NZS 1892 Portable ladders (for integrated ladder access where used)
• AS/NZS 1891 Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices (for use of harnesses where required)