Scaffold Plant Design Registration

Strengthening Compliance and Safety in Australia’s Scaffolding Sector

The Scaffolding Association Australia (SAA) has introduced a new policy requiring scaffold product supplier members to provide Plant Design Registration (PR) numbers for all scaffolding systems they manufacture, import, or distribute. This step is being taken to support national efforts in improving safety, transparency, and compliance across construction and related industries.

What is Plant Design Registration?

Plant Design Registration is a formal process under Australian WHS regulations that applies to certain types of plant – including prefabricated scaffolding systems – before they can be supplied or used in the workplace. Once a scaffolding system has undergone appropriate engineering assessment and testing, it is issued a PR number by the relevant state or territory regulator.

This PR number confirms that the system meets the required safety and design standards under the model Work Health and Safety Regulations. It becomes a critical point of reference for scaffolders, builders, and principal contractors when verifying that a scaffolding system is legal and safe to use.

Why Is the Collection of PR Numbers Important?

Our recent report to the Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner highlighted several concerns about the current lack of access to verified PR information. While privacy protections are essential, the inability to confirm PR details has led to significant industry issues including:

• Delays during site inspections where systems can’t be verified quickly.
• Insurance complications, as insurers increasingly demand proof of compliance.
• Use of forged or copied PR documents, creating serious safety and legal risks.
• Increased exposure to liability for scaffolders and builders alike.

By collecting PR numbers directly from scaffold suppliers within our membership, SAA aims to play a leading role in reducing these risks and helping end users operate with greater confidence.

How Will the Policy Work?

All scaffold product supplier members will be required to:

• Submit the PR number(s) for each scaffolding system they manufacture, import or distribute in Australia.
• Identify the legal entity that holds the PR registration.
• Provide SAA with a copy of the front page (only) of the Certificate of Registration of Plant Design.
• Notify SAA of any changes, including deregistration or updates to the registered design.

SAA will compile this information into a secure internal database, available to members who need to verify system compliance. This database will not include proprietary technical data and will be strictly limited to the PR number and registered holder, balancing transparency with intellectual property protection.

How the SAA Plant Design Registration Database Will Work

Key features of the database include:

• Restricted Access: The database will not be publicly available. SAA members may apply directly to the SAA for information on a supplier member’s PR registration on a case-by-case basis, subject to a formal request and purpose aligned with compliance verification.
• Supplier Consent Required: As part of this policy, supplier members must agree to the release of their PR numbers, including associated details (owner name and applicable product), when other members make a legitimate request through SAA.
• What Will Be Recorded: The database will include only three fields for each registered scaffolding system:
  1. Plant Design Registration Number
  2. Registered Owner (individual or company)
  3. Product Name/Model or Description (e.g. “XYZ Ringlock System”)

No technical or engineering data will be collected, stored or shared. This ensures the protection of proprietary information while still enabling essential compliance checks.

Supporting Better Practice and Safer Outcomes

This policy aligns with broader SAA goals of lifting standards and fostering a culture of safety-first across our industry. It also builds on our recommendations for a centralised, secure PR verification portal and improved cross-state standardisation, as outlined in our 2024 report to the Federal Safety Commissioner.

SAA is also engaging with regulators and insurers to advocate for shared responsibility in this space; where PR verification becomes a routine, supported process for all parties across the supply and use chain.

What’s Next?

SAA will be reaching out to all scaffold product supplier members over the coming weeks to begin collecting PR details. If you’re a product supplier member, you’ll receive direct instructions shortly. If you’re a scaffolder, contractor, or end user, this policy means you’ll soon have improved access to compliance information, helping reduce the risk of unknowingly using non-compliant scaffolding.