Scaffolding Risk Assessment
A professionally structured, ready-to-edit Task Risk Assessment (TRA) for scaffolding operations, aligned to Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW) and the Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice (NSW). The template applies the four-step risk management process (identify, assess, control, review), scores each hazard before and after controls using a 5×5 matrix, classifies every control against the hierarchy of controls, and records the SFAIRP outcome with a competent-person sign-off. Yellow input fields make site, plant and personnel details quick to complete. Supplied as a fully editable Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) file. This is a generic starting-point template that must be customised and verified by a competent person in consultation with workers; full conditions of use are included in the document.
Operating this plant is licensed high-risk work. Operators must hold a valid Scaffolding HRWL SB/SI/SA licence or unit of competency before commencing. Verify currency at site induction.
Hazards covered in this assessment
6 representative rows · register holds 20+ on openThe hazard register opens pre-filled with the typical scaffolding hazards below — each scored inherent vs residual against the 5×5 matrix. You add, edit or remove rows to match your task. Examples:
Outcome if uncontrolled: Fatality from height.
Outcome if uncontrolled: Struck-by injury to crew below.
Outcome if uncontrolled: Mass-casualty event.
Outcome if uncontrolled: Electrocution of erectors.
Outcome if uncontrolled: Sheeting and material flying loose.
Outcome if uncontrolled: Unrated scaffold in use.
Controls applied — hierarchy of controls
Every row in the register classifies its controls against the hierarchy. You stay in the highest-tier control your task allows and drop down only when forced to.
Remove the task, reroute the work, design out the hazard before mobilising.
Swap the plant for a safer alternative — smaller machine, different reach pattern, lower-energy tool.
Physical barriers, fencing, exclusion zones, ROPS / FOPS, interlocks, isolation, ventilation.
Permit-to-work, exclusion zones, traffic management plans, training, spotter assignment, shift limits.
Hard hats, hi-vis, hearing protection, safety glasses, gloves, fall-arrest harness as the last line.
What you see when you open the file
Six tabs across the bottom of the workbook. Yellow cells are the only ones you need to edit on a typical job.
Site, plant / area, supervisor, competent person and worker representative sign-offs in one yellow-cell page.
Likelihood × consequence with colour-coded risk bands (low / medium / high / extreme).
One row per hazard with task step, inherent score, controls applied (hierarchy-classified) and residual score.
Reference tab showing each tier and what counts as that tier — kept on hand for re-assessment.
Worker names, date, what was discussed, what was changed in response — proves Section 47 consultation.
Review-by date, revision history and re-assessment triggers (incident, plant change, site change).
Frequently asked
What format is the file?
Editable Microsoft Excel (.xlsx). Yellow input cells are unlocked for site, plant and personnel details. Pre-filled hazards and controls are editable too so you can adapt them to your job.
How is the assessment structured?
A 5×5 likelihood × consequence matrix sits on its own tab. The hazard register scores each row inherent (before controls) and residual (after controls) and classifies each control against the hierarchy of controls. A consultation record and sign-off block sit at the back.
What hazards does the scaffolding assessment cover?
The pre-filled hazard register covers the typical incident outcomes for scaffolding operations — tip-over, struck-by, services strike, manual handling, environmental and operator-related hazards. You add and remove rows to match your site and task.
Do I still need a competent person to sign it off?
Yes. These are consultant-drafted starting points. Australian law requires a competent person to assess the actual site, in consultation with workers, before any risk assessment is used in the field.
Can I reuse it across multiple jobs?
Yes. Buy once, save a working copy per site, and update only the site-specific cells. The review log tab tracks revisions across uses.
Is operating this plant licensed high-risk work?
Yes. Operators must hold a valid Scaffolding HRWL SB/SI/SA licence or unit of competency. Holding the licence is verified at the site induction; this assessment supports that verification but does not replace it.
Editable consultant-drafted starting point. Not legal, safety or professional advice. No warranty of compliance. The buyer is responsible for customising this document to the actual site, equipment and personnel, and for having it reviewed by a competent person in consultation with workers before relying on it. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the vendor's liability is limited to the price paid. $150 per assessment.