COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Site Preparation Requirements for Scaffolding Activities course. This training will provide you with the knowledge and skills to carry out site preparation for scaffolding operations in alignment with safety, compliance, and project efficiency expectations.
Effective site preparation is a critical foundation for scaffold safety, as it directly impacts the stability, accessibility, and performance of the entire scaffold structure. Failure to properly assess and prepare a site before scaffold erection can result in structural failure, legal non-compliance, and serious harm to workers and the public. This course will guide you through the essential planning, assessment, and coordination tasks required to ensure your scaffold setup begins on solid, safe ground.
This course begins by addressing the importance of thorough preparation before any scaffold work begins. Participants will explore the responsibilities of workers and PCBUs under WHS legislation and consider the consequences of inadequate planning, such as collapses, restricted access, or site shutdowns. Understanding how to proactively manage the setup phase helps eliminate hazards before they become high-risk issues.
Reviewing project documentation is essential to understanding the scope of scaffolding requirements. This section focuses on interpreting project drawings, confirming scaffold types (such as hung, independent, or cantilevered), and aligning scaffold sequencing with broader project timelines. Clarifying these details early helps avoid delays and resource misallocation.
Initial site assessments allow for the early identification of hazards and obstructions. This section teaches how to perform a visual walk-through of the proposed scaffold area, document terrain and access challenges, and evaluate site cleanliness, clearance, and workspace readiness prior to equipment delivery or assembly.
Ground conditions play a major role in scaffold stability. This section covers how to assess different surface types—such as soil, slab, or suspended flooring—and test for load-bearing capacity. It also explains when to use crane mats, sole plates, or engineered support solutions on uneven or soft terrain.
Access and egress planning ensures the safe delivery of scaffold components and equipment. This section highlights how to map transport routes for materials, scaffolders, and lifting equipment, and avoid site congestion or interference with other high-traffic areas.
Identifying and isolating underground and overhead services is a legal and safety requirement. This section provides instruction on locating utilities such as power, gas, water, and communications systems, and how to use “Dial Before You Dig” and barrier systems to prevent contact with live services.
Establishing the scaffold footprint and working zones is a key planning step. Participants will learn how to mark boundary lines, tie-in points, and height limits, while coordinating with adjacent trades to prevent overlapping work and spacing bays or platforms for safe access.
Exclusion zones are critical for protecting both scaffolders and non-scaffolders on site. This section explains how to define drop zones, erect fencing and barricades, and use signage to communicate no-go areas. Clear control zones prevent injuries from falling tools or unauthorised entry.
Scaffold material delivery must be well-organised. This section discusses selecting flat, accessible laydown areas, ensuring safe and stable stacking, and implementing weather protection for steel, timber, and fittings. Poorly stored gear can pose tripping and crushing hazards.
Design and engineering inputs must be verified before scaffold setup. This section covers how to check drawings, confirm load ratings, tie locations, and if engineered sign-off is required. Ensuring all technical documentation is approved and accessible onsite prevents regulatory breaches.
Workers must be equipped with PPE and scaffold-specific gear. This section covers the allocation of helmets, gloves, steel-cap boots, and harnesses, as well as the presence of anchor points and fall-prevention systems. All tools must be inspected, tagged, and ready for use.
Site amenities and emergency points must be factored into preparation. This section outlines how to confirm access to sanitation, drinking water, rest areas, first aid kits, extinguishers, and muster points. Scaffolders must also be inducted in emergency protocols before beginning work.
Environmental conditions such as weather and ground saturation affect scaffold safety. This section provides strategies for scheduling scaffold setup during appropriate weather windows, installing drainage control, and managing dust or surface runoff on exposed sites.
Coordination with other trades ensures scaffold preparation does not interfere with parallel activities. This section explains how to organise pre-start meetings, confirm crane bookings, and manage shared access points or staging areas to streamline operations and reduce conflict.
Temporary structural supports may be required before scaffold erection begins. This section addresses how to plan props or shoring for voids, install sleepers for uneven ground, and verify that adequate support exists for roof-mounted or suspended scaffolds.
Scaffold inspection readiness must be built into site setup. This section outlines how to assign tagging responsibilities, prepare logbooks, and plan scaffold status checks at the base, intermediate, and top lift levels. A properly managed inspection regime begins with clear tagging systems.
Effective communication and sign-off are required before any erection work starts. This section explains how to confirm that all scaffolders understand site hazards, collect pre-start sign-offs from site management, and verify that the erection area is free from obstructions or conflicting works.
The final handover completes the site preparation process. This section provides guidance on conducting a final inspection of the site’s readiness, ensuring documentation and permits are in place, and handing over a safe, compliant, and accessible workspace to the scaffold erection team.
By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the skills, knowledge, and compliance insight to carry out site preparation tasks that support safe, efficient, and regulation-compliant scaffolding operations—ensuring a professional foundation for every scaffold setup.
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 Site Preparation for Scaffolding
- Importance of thorough preparation before scaffold work begins
- Overview of WHS responsibilities during site preparation
- Consequences of inadequate site planning in scaffold operations
2. Reviewing Project Documentation and Scope
- Understanding scaffolding requirements from project plans and drawings
- Clarifying scaffold types
- Confirming project timelines and sequencing requirements
3. Conducting Initial Site Assessments
- Performing a visual walk-through of the proposed scaffold area
- Identifying hazards such as overhead services, trenches, or debris
- Documenting access, clearance, and workspace conditions
4. Assessing Ground Conditions and Load-Bearing Capacity
- Identifying surface types: soil, slab, suspended flooring
- Testing compaction and stability for base plates and soleboards
- Planning for crane mats or steel sole plates on soft or uneven ground
5. Reviewing Access and Egress Routes
- Ensuring safe delivery paths for scaffold materials and components
- Planning access for scaffolders, vehicles, and lifting equipment
- Avoiding congestion and interface with other site operations
6. Identifying and Isolating Overhead and Underground Services
- Locating powerlines, gas, water, telecommunications, and stormwater assets
- Contacting relevant authorities
- Installing protective barriers and signage for utility zones
7. Setting Up Scaffold Footprint and Work Zones
- Marking scaffold boundary, tie-in points, and working height limits
- Coordinating with adjacent trades to avoid conflict
- Determining spacing for bays, returns, and loading platforms
8. Establishing Exclusion Zones and Safety Barriers
- Calculating drop zones and pedestrian risk areas
- Erecting fencing, barricades, and exclusion signage
- Communicating no-go zones to all site workers
9. Verifying Scaffold Material Delivery and Storage
- Allocating flat, accessible laydown areas near worksite
- Ensuring safe stacking, stability, and separation of scaffold components
- Protecting equipment from weather or contamination
10. Confirming Design and Engineering Inputs
- Reviewing scaffold drawings, load specifications, and tie locations
- Identifying if an engineered solution is required for the structure
- Verifying that all documentation is approved and available onsite
11. Ensuring Worker Access to PPE and Equipment
- Distributing PPE: helmets, gloves, steel-caps, harnesses, and hi-vis
- Confirming harness anchor points and fall prevention gear is present
- Inspecting hand tools, levels, and tag systems for readiness
12. Establishing Site Amenities and Emergency Points
- Locating nearest first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and muster points
- Confirming scaffolders are inducted in emergency procedures
- Ensuring access to water, sanitation, and rest areas
13. Environmental and Weather Considerations
- Assessing exposure to wind, rain, sun, and stormwater runoff
- Planning drainage protection and dust control where applicable
- Scheduling scaffold erection in suitable weather windows
14. Coordinating with Other Trades and Site Management
- Holding pre-start meetings with forepersons or supervisors
- Confirming crane or hoist bookings for gear lifts
- Managing shared access points and scaffold handovers
15. Installing Temporary Ground or Structural Supports
- Preparing props, shoring, or back-propping if scaffold is to be erected over voids
- Installing crane mats or sleepers for base plate stability
- Ensuring additional support for suspended or roof-mounted scaffolds
16. Preparing for Scaffold Inspection and Tagging
- Setting up tagging stations and logbook locations
- Assigning responsibility for scaffold status identification
- Planning inspection points for base, intermediate, and top lifts
17. Communication and Sign-Off Prior to Erection
- Verifying that all personnel understand the site plan and hazards
- Documenting pre-start sign-offs from scaffolders and site supervisors
- Ensuring the site is clear for scaffold erection to begin
18. Final Review and Handover to Erection Team
- Conducting a final check of access, ground, and hazards
- Confirming availability of plans, permits, and SWMS
- Handing over the prepared site to the scaffold team for safe setup
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”.