COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Communication Protocols for Safe Scaffolding Erection & Dismantling course. This training is designed to equip you with the communication tools and protocols necessary to safely coordinate scaffold erection, modification, and dismantling activities.

In high-risk scaffolding environments, poor communication is a leading cause of incidents such as falls, equipment damage, load drops, and structural failure. Clear, consistent, and coordinated communication reduces misunderstandings, supports hazard control, and ensures compliance with WHS legislation, which mandates effective consultation and coordination among all workers involved in scaffold-related work.

The course begins by exploring the importance of communication during scaffolding operations. Participants will examine common causes of communication breakdown—such as unclear instructions, misinterpreted hand signals, or lack of briefing—and how these failures can result in serious injury or non-compliant outcomes. The legal duty of care under the WHS Act to maintain effective consultation and cooperation is also addressed, particularly for high-risk tasks involving height, manual handling, and suspended loads.

Clear role allocation is essential for coordinated communication. This section outlines the responsibilities of scaffolders, leading hands, spotters, and site supervisors in maintaining information flow. Participants will review who communicates what, when, and how, to ensure consistent message delivery and clarity across all phases of the job.

Planning communication before work begins is crucial to avoid confusion. Participants will learn how to review scaffold design documents and SWMS, identify access and trade interface issues, and allocate specific communication tasks—such as spotter coordination or crane signal control—to designated team members.

Toolbox talks and pre-start briefings are daily opportunities to align the team. This section provides guidance on delivering effective briefings that address hazards, sequencing, weather considerations, and changes to task scope. Participants will be trained to verify understanding by checking that scaffolders can recall key steps and risk controls.

Scaffold plans and work instructions must be well understood. This section teaches how to interpret elevation drawings, platform load zones, bracing diagrams, and tie-off locations, ensuring that everyone on the team is aligned with the intended structure and layout before work starts.

Consistent language helps prevent errors. Participants will learn to use standard terms for scaffold components—such as ledgers, transoms, and standards—and avoid slang or unclear terminology. Confirming a shared vocabulary reduces the risk of mistakes during fast-paced work.

During scaffold erection, verbal instructions must be clear and deliberate. This section reinforces the importance of confirming brace positions, tie-in locations, and load paths out loud with teammates. Scaffolders must communicate before securing or repositioning any component to avoid unintended movement or injury.

Hand signals and visual cues are vital when noise or distance hinders verbal exchange. Participants will learn to use standardised hand gestures for lifting, lowering, and stopping movement. Flags, arm motions, and agreed-upon signals are particularly useful when operating in crane zones or congested areas.

Two-way radio use enhances coordination across multiple levels or zones. This section outlines how to establish radio call signs, follow channel discipline, and keep messages clear and concise. Participants will also learn how to manage shared-frequency environments and avoid cross-communication with other trades.

Trade coordination is necessary to prevent schedule conflicts and unsafe overlap. This section covers how to communicate scaffold access restrictions, notify teams of partial dismantling, and liaise with other contractors to prevent interference with ongoing scaffold work.

Hazard communication is a core safety responsibility. Participants will be trained to speak up when encountering damaged gear, unstable ground, or incomplete platforms, and to escalate concerns using the appropriate chain of command. Scaffolders must also know when to halt work and initiate formal reporting.

Working at height introduces unique communication requirements. This section explores how to signal changes to fall protection systems, call out before moving between scaffold levels, and use designated verbal cues to avoid unintentional movement or contact with other personnel.

Exclusion zones protect the public and co-workers. This section teaches how to alert others when tools or materials are being hoisted or dismantled overhead, confirm that barricades are in place, and communicate pedestrian restrictions or safety warnings to surrounding crews and the public.

Alterations to scaffold structures must be communicated in real time. Participants will learn how to announce platform shifts, brace removal, or load changes to all scaffold users, and use signage, tagging systems, and verbal announcements to keep users informed during modification works.

Safe dismantling depends on constant communication. This section provides strategies for sequencing tasks, warning team members before lowering components, and updating the team at every level of disassembly. All scaffolders must remain alert and synchronised throughout the process.

Emergencies require fast, effective messaging. Participants will learn how to activate alarms, call for help, communicate the nature of the emergency, and assign roles such as emergency services contact or site access coordination. Maintaining calm, clear communication under pressure is essential.

Communication doesn’t stop after the task. This section encourages post-job debriefs to identify where communication worked well or failed. Feedback loops help refine future protocols, reduce repetition of errors, and promote professional development across scaffold teams.

Lastly, fostering a culture of open communication is vital. Participants will explore how to encourage speaking up, recognise team members who demonstrate good communication, and embed communication as a key safety control—not just an optional add-on. A communicative scaffold team is a safer, more efficient team.

By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the communication techniques, planning tools, and leadership strategies required to ensure that scaffold erection and dismantling tasks are executed safely, clearly, and in full compliance with Australian WHS regulations and site expectations.

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 Communication in Scaffolding Work

• Importance of effective communication for safe scaffold erection and dismantling
• Common causes of communication failures and resulting incidents
• Legal duties under WHS legislation for coordination and consultation

2. Roles and Responsibilities in Scaffold Communication

• Communication responsibilities of scaffolders, leading hands, and spotters
• Role of supervisors and site managers in relaying information
• Accountability for information flow during all stages of scaffold work

3. Pre-Work Communication Planning

• Reviewing scaffold design documentation and SWMS
• Coordinating with other trades and identifying shared access points
• Allocating communication responsibilities within the scaffold team

4. Toolbox Talks and Pre-Start Briefings

• Delivering clear, relevant safety briefings each day
• Verifying worker understanding of job sequence and hazard controls
• Communicating weather risks, interface issues, and task updates

5. Interpreting Scaffold Plans and Work Instructions

• Reviewing scaffold drawings, engineering diagrams, and layout plans
• Clarifying elevation levels, load zones, and tie-off requirements
• Ensuring plans are accessible, updated, and discussed prior to work

6. Standard Terminology and Scaffold Component Language

• Using consistent terms for parts
• Avoiding slang or regional terminology that can cause confusion
• Confirming task-related terms are understood across the team

7. Communication During Scaffold Erection

• Using clear verbal instructions during assembly sequence
• Confirming tie-ins, brace positions, and connection points aloud
• Checking with team members before moving or locking components

8. Use of Hand Signals and Visual Cues

• Standardised hand signals for lifting, stopping, or guiding loads
• Establishing visual contact before lifting components by crane or hoist
• Using flags or gestures to communicate in noisy or restricted areas

9. Two-Way Radio and Electronic Communication Use

• Establishing call signs and protocols for radio communication
• Maintaining clear, concise messages during scaffold lifts or alterations
• Managing radio communication in shared-frequency environments

10. Coordinating with Other Trades and Site Crews

• Communicating scaffold zone availability and access restrictions
• Scheduling erection or dismantling work to avoid clashes with other teams
• Reporting scaffold readiness or closures to the site supervisor

11. Hazard Reporting and Risk Escalation Procedures

• Communicating unsafe conditions
• Stopping work and notifying a supervisor when critical issues arise
• Using appropriate reporting chains to escalate unresolved risks

12. Working at Heights Communication Protocols

• Communicating changes to fall protection or harness systems
• Alerting others when moving between scaffold levels
• Using designated verbal cues before ascending, descending, or dismounting

13. Exclusion Zone and Public Safety Communication

• Notifying ground crews of materials or tools above
• Alerting pedestrians or other workers near scaffold perimeter
• Confirming barricades, signage, and spotters are in place

14. Communication During Scaffold Alteration and Load Shifts

• Coordinating structural changes while other trades are using the scaffold
• Verifying all users are informed of tie removal or platform repositioning
• Using signage or barricades to indicate partial dismantling

15. Scaffold Dismantling Communication Strategies

• Sequencing dismantling tasks and confirming readiness at each level
• Warning others before dislodging or lowering components
• Maintaining continuous verbal updates during each dismantling phase

16. Emergency Communication Protocols

• Communicating falls, collapses, or injuries effectively
• Activating emergency alarms or signals and contacting site first aid
• Designating who will call emergency services and manage access

17. Debriefs, Feedback, and Continuous Improvement

• Holding post-task reviews to identify communication strengths and gaps
• Discussing how miscommunication affected safety or efficiency
• Implementing changes to future communication plans based on lessons learned

18. Promoting a Culture of Open Communication in Scaffold Teams

• Encouraging workers to speak up without fear of blame
• Recognising team members who model effective communication
• Reinforcing communication as a critical safety control

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 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”.