Coming Soon: SAA Best Practice Guidelines for Scaffolding in Australia
The Scaffolding Association Australia (SAA) will soon release the SAA Best Practice Guidelines, a comprehensive national reference document developed by the scaffolding industry for the scaffolding industry.
The guidelines represent a significant step forward in strengthening safety, consistency, and professionalism across the Australian scaffolding sector. They provide practical guidance for those involved in planning, designing, erecting, managing and using scaffolding.
The goal is simple: to provide clear, practical and nationally relevant guidance that supports safer scaffolding work across all sectors of the construction and industrial industries.
While legislation sets the minimum legal requirements, the SAA Best Practice Guidelines aim to provide a higher benchmark for the industry.
A guideline written by industry
One of the most important aspects of the SAA Best Practice Guidelines is that they have been developed by industry practitioners who understand scaffolding work on real sites.
Across Australia, scaffolding businesses operate under a mix of legislation, codes of practice and regulator guidance that can vary between jurisdictions. This can create uncertainty for contractors, clients and workers.
The SAA Best Practice Guidelines aim to bridge that gap by providing a practical national reference point, informed by industry knowledge and aligned with Australian Standards and WHS legislation.
The document is intended to support scaffold contractors, builders and principal contractors, engineers and designers, scaffold users and site supervisors, and safety professionals and regulators.
By bringing these perspectives together, the guidelines aim to help lift standards across the entire industry.
What the guidelines will cover
The document has been structured to address the full lifecycle of scaffolding work, from planning and design through to erection, use, inspection and dismantling.
Key areas covered in the guidelines include:
Compliance and Risk Management
An overview of the regulatory framework governing scaffolding in Australia, including WHS legislation, codes of practice and the responsibilities of different duty holders.
Training and Competency
Guidance on scaffolder competency, High Risk Work Licence requirements and the importance of appropriate training and supervision.
Site Management and Planning
Practical guidance on planning scaffold work safely, including site assessment, coordination with other contractors and managing hazards such as powerlines, traffic and environmental risks.
Scaffold Erection and Dismantling
Recommended methods and controls for safe scaffold erection and dismantling, including fall protection, exclusion zones and safe work practices.
Scaffold Systems and Components
Guidance on scaffold materials, structural components and the requirements for platforms, bracing, containment and access.
Scaffold Use and Management
Responsibilities for scaffold users and clients, including handover procedures, management of scaffold modifications and maintaining scaffold safety during use.
A detailed focus on scaffold design and documentation
One of the most significant sections within the new guidelines focuses on scaffold design and documentation.
This section provides comprehensive guidance on when scaffold design is required, when engineering verification should be obtained, the roles and responsibilities of designers, engineers, contractors and clients, and the documentation required for scaffold design and verification.
Across Australia there is currently significant inconsistency between jurisdictions regarding when scaffold design is required and what level of engineering verification is necessary.
The SAA Best Practice Guidelines aim to provide clear and practical guidance for industry, and it is hoped that this section will ultimately become a national benchmark for scaffold design requirements across all Australian states and territories.
Advocating for improved scaffold inspection intervals
The SAA is also advocating for a change to current scaffold inspection practices.
Under current legislation, scaffolds must be inspected at least every 30 days. However, the SAA believes this interval does not adequately reflect the dynamic nature of construction sites or the risks associated with scaffolding.
The guidelines will therefore recommend that scaffolds be inspected at least every 14 days, in addition to inspections before first use, after alteration, and after severe weather or other events that could affect stability.
Construction sites are constantly changing environments. Trades interact with scaffolds daily, materials are loaded onto platforms, weather conditions vary, and structures can be modified over time. More frequent inspections help ensure potential issues are identified early and managed before they create safety risks.
By recommending a 14-day inspection interval, the SAA is advocating for a stronger preventative approach to scaffold safety.
Supported by technical guidance documents
The Best Practice Guidelines will form the foundation of a broader body of industry guidance. Throughout 2026, SAA will release a number of supporting Technical Guidance Documents that will expand on specific technical topics within scaffolding.
These documents will be developed and led by the new SAA Technical and Engineering Committee. The committee brings together experienced engineers, designers and senior industry professionals to provide deeper technical guidance on complex scaffolding matters.
Together, the Best Practice Guidelines and the supporting Technical Guidance Documents will create a structured and evolving knowledge base for the scaffolding industry in Australia.
Raising standards across the industry
The SAA Best Practice Guidelines are intended to become a key reference document for the Australian scaffolding industry.
While the guidelines do not replace legislation or Australian Standards, they provide practical, experience-based guidance that supports safer and more consistent scaffolding practices across the country.
Most importantly, they represent a collective effort by the industry to take ownership of improving safety and professionalism.
This is scaffolding guidance written by the industry, for the industry.
Release coming soon
The SAA Best Practice Guidelines will be released soon and will be made available to industry through the Scaffolding Association Australia.
Further updates will be shared first with members and then the broader industry as the release date approaches.
The SAA looks forward to working with industry stakeholders and regulators to support the adoption of these guidelines and continue strengthening scaffolding safety across Australia.
