COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Apply Compliant Work Practices in Scaffolding Operations course. This program has been designed to build your skills, knowledge, and safety awareness so that all scaffolding tasks you undertake are structurally sound, legally compliant, and aligned with organisational and regulatory expectations on site.

Scaffolding provides critical access and working platforms for a wide range of construction and maintenance activities, and it must be installed, used, and dismantled in a strictly controlled manner. This course begins by introducing the foundations of compliant scaffolding practice, clarifying the roles and responsibilities of scaffolding workers, and emphasising the importance of safety, stability, and regulatory compliance, together with the legal and organisational accountability that applies when scaffolding activities are not performed correctly.

Scaffolding work is subject to defined licence classes and scope-of-work limitations that cannot be overlooked. This section examines how to identify the different scaffolding licence classes, understand the authorised activities and supervision requirements for each, and ensure that you work strictly within your permitted scope while recognising your responsibilities under work health and safety legislation and related site procedures.

Workplace health and safety requirements must be applied to every stage of scaffolding operations, from planning and set-up through to daily use and dismantling. This section addresses the identification of common scaffolding hazards, the practical application of WHS procedures and site rules, the correct use of personal protective equipment, and appropriate responses to incidents and emergencies so that risk is controlled in a proactive and systematic way.

Accurate interpretation of scaffolding plans, drawings, and work instructions is essential to building safe, fit-for-purpose structures. This section explores how to read scaffolding drawings correctly, understand load ratings and design requirements, interpret work method statements, and confirm instructions with supervisors or designers before commencing work, ensuring that what is built on site matches the intended design and capacity.

Careful planning of scaffolding tasks and work sequences supports safe, efficient operations and minimises disruption to other site activities. This section outlines how to assess site conditions and access requirements, plan scaffold erection and dismantling sequences, identify the necessary equipment and personnel, and coordinate scaffolding activities with other trades and site operations to prevent clashes, congestion, and unnecessary safety risks.

Selecting and inspecting scaffolding equipment is a key control in preventing structural failure and unsafe conditions. This section highlights how to identify appropriate scaffold components for the task, conduct thorough inspections of planks, standards, ledgers, fittings, and other elements, verify load ratings and component condition, and remove any defective or non-compliant equipment from service so that it cannot be used inadvertently.

Ground conditions and the broader work area must be properly prepared before any scaffold is erected. This section explains how to assess ground stability and bearing capacity, install sole boards and base plates correctly, establish exclusion zones to protect workers and the public, and maintain clear, safe access routes so that the scaffold is supported on a sound foundation and surrounded by a controlled work environment.

The actual erection of scaffolding structures must follow a logical, safe, and compliant sequence. This section covers the correct installation of standards, ledgers, transoms, and associated components, ensuring appropriate spacing, alignment, and secure connections, and maintaining scaffold stability during erection through the use of temporary supports and ongoing monitoring of the structure as it progresses.

Working platforms and edge protection transform the scaffolding structure into a safe place of work for other personnel. This section provides guidance on installing planks and decking securely, applying guardrails and mid-rails, fitting toe boards correctly, and ensuring that safe access and egress are provided so that workers can move, handle materials, and perform tasks without unnecessary risk of falls or dropped objects.

Scaffolds rely on effective tying, bracing, and securing systems to withstand loads and environmental forces. This section examines how to install ties to supporting structures in line with design specifications, apply bracing to maintain rigidity and prevent distortion, check overall scaffold stability, and verify that the completed arrangement complies with design and manufacturer requirements throughout its use.

Managing load limits and ensuring the safe use of scaffolds is essential in preventing overloading and structural failure. This section addresses how to interpret scaffold load classifications, prevent overloading of platforms, monitor the type and quantity of materials stored on scaffolds, and communicate load restrictions clearly to workers and subcontractors so that the scaffold is always used within its designed capacity.

Because scaffolding work almost always involves exposure to height, fall prevention measures must be consistently applied. This section explores the use of working-at-heights procedures, appropriate fall protection systems, management of edge and fall risks, and practical techniques such as maintaining three points of contact, ensuring that both scaffold users and scaffolders themselves work in a way that systematically reduces the likelihood of falls.

Once in service, scaffolds must be inspected and maintained so that any deterioration or unauthorised change is identified promptly. This section explains how to conduct pre-use and periodic inspections, recognise signs of damage, movement, or alteration, tag and isolate unsafe scaffolds, and report maintenance needs so that only safe, correctly configured scaffolds remain available for use on site.

Dismantling scaffolding is a phase in which risk can increase if work is rushed or sequences are not followed. This section outlines how to plan dismantling sequences, remove components safely and methodically, lower materials without introducing new hazards, and maintain site safety and housekeeping standards throughout dismantling so that workers, other trades, and the public remain protected.

Accurate documentation and clear reporting are integral to demonstrating compliant scaffolding practice. This section covers how to record scaffold inspections, complete handover and compliance documentation, report hazards, incidents, or defects, and follow site documentation procedures so that records are reliable, traceable, and capable of supporting both internal reviews and external regulatory scrutiny.

Ongoing review of performance supports continuous improvement in scaffolding operations and personal competency. This section discusses how to reflect on completed scaffolding tasks, accept and act on feedback from supervisors, identify skills and licence development needs, and contribute to improved scaffolding practices, systems, and communication so that safety and compliance standards continue to strengthen over time.

By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the knowledge, practical understanding, and compliance awareness needed to apply safe, methodical, and legally compliant work practices across all stages of scaffolding operations—from planning and erection through to use, inspection, dismantling, documentation, and continuous improvement.

Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:

1. Introduction to Scaffolding Practice

• Understanding compliant work practices in scaffolding operations
• Roles and responsibilities of scaffolding workers
• Importance of safety, stability, and regulatory compliance
• Legal and organisational accountability in scaffolding work

2. Understanding Scaffolding Roles, Licences, and Scope of Work

• Identifying scaffolding licence classes and limitations
• Understanding authorised scaffolding activities
• Working within permitted scope and supervision requirements
• Recognising responsibilities under WHS legislation

3. Applying Workplace Health and Safety Requirements

• Identifying common scaffolding hazards
• Following WHS procedures and site rules
• Using personal protective equipment correctly
• Responding to incidents and emergencies

4. Interpreting Scaffolding Plans, Drawings, and Work Instructions

• Reading scaffolding drawings accurately
• Understanding load ratings and design requirements
• Interpreting work method statements
• Confirming instructions before commencing work

5. Planning Scaffolding Tasks and Work Sequences

• Assessing site conditions and access requirements
• Planning scaffold erection and dismantling sequences
• Identifying equipment and personnel needs
• Coordinating work with other site activities

6. Selecting and Inspecting Scaffolding Equipment

• Identifying appropriate scaffold components
• Inspecting planks, standards, ledgers, and fittings
• Checking load ratings and component condition
• Removing defective equipment from service

7. Preparing the Work Area and Ground Conditions

• Assessing ground stability and bearing capacity
• Installing sole boards and base plates
• Establishing exclusion zones
• Ensuring clear and safe access

8. Erecting Scaffolding Structures Safely

• Installing standards, ledgers, and transoms correctly
• Ensuring correct spacing and alignment
• Securing components according to specifications
• Maintaining stability during erection

9. Installing Working Platforms and Edge Protection

• Installing planks and decking securely
• Applying guardrails and mid-rails
• Installing toe boards correctly
• Ensuring safe access and egress

10. Tying, Bracing, and Securing Scaffolding

• Installing ties to supporting structures
• Applying bracing to maintain rigidity
• Checking scaffold stability
• Ensuring compliance with design requirements

11. Managing Load Limits and Safe Use of Scaffolds

• Understanding scaffold load classifications
• Preventing overloading of platforms
• Monitoring material storage on scaffolds
• Communicating load restrictions to workers

12. Working at Heights and Fall Prevention

• Applying working-at-heights procedures
• Using fall protection systems
• Managing edge and fall risks
• Maintaining three points of contact

13. Inspecting and Maintaining Scaffolding During Use

• Conducting pre-use scaffold inspections
• Identifying damage or movement
• Tagging and isolating unsafe scaffolds
• Reporting maintenance requirements

14. Dismantling Scaffolding Safely and Systematically

• Planning dismantling sequences
• Removing components safely
• Lowering materials correctly
• Maintaining site safety during dismantling

15. Completing Scaffolding Documentation and Reporting

• Recording scaffold inspections accurately
• Completing handover and compliance documentation
• Reporting hazards, incidents, or defects
• Following site documentation procedures

16. Reviewing Performance and Continuous Improvement

• Reflecting on completed scaffolding tasks
• Accepting feedback from supervisors
• Identifying skills and licence development needs
• Contributing to improved scaffolding practices

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 3-4 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.