When is a licence required?
If you wish to perform scaffolding work, where a person or object may fall more than four metres from the scaffold, you must hold a high risk work licence for scaffolding.
When is a licence not required?
A licence is not required if the height of the completed scaffold is less than four metres and a person or object cannot fall more than four metres. However, regardless of the height of the scaffold, persons conducting a business or undertaking and the principal contractors have an obligation to ensure the workplace health and safety of themselves, workers and others on site. Obligation holders need to provide information, instruction, training and supervision to workers in the safe erection, dismantling, maintenance and alteration of scaffolds.
Did you know?
If the principal contractor is supplying the scaffold for use by various trades, the principal contractor has the responsibility to maintain the scaffold to ensure it is safe for its intended use.
NSW Workcover says:
SCAFFOLDING
Scaffolding work is the erection, alteration or dismantling of a temporary structure erected to support a platform from which a person or object could fall more than four metres from the platform or the structure.
There are three type of scaffolding:
Basic scaffolding (SB)
Consists of scaffolding work involving:
- modular or prefabricated scaffolds
- cantilevered materials hoists with a maximum working load of 500 kg
- ropes and gin wheels
- safety nets and static lines, and
- bracket scaffolds (tank and formwork)
Intermediate scaffolding (SI)
All basic scaffolding work plus scaffolding connected with the use and operation of:
- cantilevered crane loading platforms
- cantilevered and spurred scaffolds
- barrow ramps and sloping platforms
- perimeter safety screens and shutters
- mast climbers
- tube and coupler scaffolds (including tube and coupler covered ways and gantries)
Advanced scaffolding (SA)
All intermediate scaffolding work plus scaffolding connected with the use and operation of:
- cantilevered hoists
- hung scaffolds, including scaffolds hanging from tubes, wire ropes or chains
- suspended scaffolds
Note: advanced certificates cover the requirements for the intermediate certificates; intermediate certificates cover the requirements for the basic certificates.
Queensland Workcover says:
Scaffolding licences
Scaffolding work includes putting up, changing or taking down of a temporary structure that is used to support a work platform, where a person or object could fall more than four metres.
This section covers high risk licences for the following:
- Basic scaffolding work (SB)
- Intermediate scaffolding work (SI)
- Advanced scaffolding work (SA)
Basic scaffolding – SB
To perform basic scaffolding duties you need to have a Basic Scaffolding – SB high risk work licence.
Basic scaffolding work includes:
- modular or prefabricated scaffolds
- cantilevered hoist with a maximum working load of 500 kg (materials only)
- ropes
- gin wheels
- safety nets and static lines
- bracket scaffolds (tank and form work).
Intermediate scaffolding – SI
To perform intermediate scaffolding duties you need to have an Intermediate Scaffolding – SI high risk work licence.
To apply for an intermediate scaffolding licence you must hold, or have passed assessment for, a basic scaffolding licence.
Intermediate scaffolding work includes:
- scaffolding work included in the class of Basic Scaffolding
- tube and coupler scaffolds including tube and coupler covered ways and gantries
- cantilever crane loading platforms
- cantilever and spurred scaffolds
- barrow ramps and sloping platforms
- scaffolding associated with perimeter safety screens and shutters
- mast climbers.
Advanced scaffolding – SA
To perform advanced scaffolding duties you need to have an Advanced Scaffolding – SA high risk work licence.
To apply for an advanced scaffolding licence you must hold, or have previously passed assessment for, a basic scaffolding licence and an intermediate scaffolding licence.
Advanced scaffolding work includes:
- scaffolding work included in the Intermediate scaffolding class
- cantilevered hoists
- hung scaffolds, including scaffolds hanging from tubes, wire ropes or chains
- suspended scaffolds.
Apply for a high risk work licence.
Victoria Worksafe says:
Do I Need A Licence?
The law requires you to obtain a licence from WorkSafe before doing certain types of work.
WorkSafe licenses and registrations are bound by two sets of legislation:
- Occupational Health & Safety Regulations (includes High Risk Work licensing)
- Dangerous Goods Regulations (including Road Transport and Explosives)
You must be licensed to perform any of the following types of work:
- High risk work (e.g. scaffolding and rigging, operating cranes and forklifts, and using boilers and other pressure equipment)*
- removing specific types and amounts of asbestos
- operating a major hazard facility
- using scheduled carcinogens
- transporting dangerous goods
- using dangerous goods that pose a security concern (High Consequence Dangerous Goods)
- transporting, storing, selling, manufacturing or importing explosives or fireworks
- using explosives or discharging fireworks
In addition, certain designs, types and items of plant need to be registered before being used in the workplace.
Refer to types of licences and registrations for a list of licences and registrations administered by WorkSafe.
*Please note: If you already hold a certificate of competency or ‘ticket’ you need to transfer to the new Licence for high risk work.
Safework South Australia says:
Scaffolding work has been classed as High Risk Work since 1 September 2010. To undertake this work you need a Licence to Perform High Risk Work.
To get a new qualification in scaffolding work you must undertake appropriate training and be assessed as competent by an Assessor who is accredited with SafeWork SA (PDF 45kb). For further details see Getting a new licence or adding a class.
There are three classes of scaffolding work:
| Basic scaffolding (Class SB) | consists of scaffolding work connected with the operation or use of:
|
| Intermediate scaffolding (Class SI) | consists of all basic scaffolding work, as well as scaffolding work involving any of the following:
|
| Advanced scaffolding (Class SA) | consists of all intermediate scaffolding work, as well as scaffolding work involving any of the following:
|
Department of Commerce WA says:
High Risk Work – Classes of licence
High Risk Work – Classes of licence