ob activity What can harm What can happen Causes which need to be

(Tasks) you (Hazards) (Risks) managed (Controlled)

 Insufficient skills (competency) to
General planning Inadequate training, consultation, planning Injury due to inexperience complete the required task
and improvisation. or failure to provide or use correctly. 
appropriate equipment   Inadequate consultation
with relevant employees. 
 Competent person not used for
scaffold erection up to 4 metres in
height. 
 Certificated scaffolder not used to
erect scaffold in excess of 4 metres
in height or where
complex configurations are
involved. 

  Unstable scaffold due to lack of competency Injury due to scaffold  Competent person not used for
in erection.  collapse or partial collapse.  scaffold erection up to 4 metres in
height. 
 Certificated scaffolder not used to
erect scaffold where the working
platform exceeds 4 metres in
height or if the scaffold has
cantilevers or outriggers. 
 Foundation or ground not suitable
ob activity What can harm What can happen Causes which need to be
(Tasks) you (Hazards) (Risks) managed (Controlled)

for mobile scaffold.

 Different scaffold systems mixed
together. (mix and match
problems)

  Overload of scaffold components. Collapse causing fall from  Wrong type of scaffold used for

height. the job.
 Scaffold components overloaded
beyond design limits.
 Different scaffold systems mixed
together. (mix and match
problems).

  Unstable or incorrect erection of scaffold.  Injury due to scaffold  Instructions are not provided, or
collapse or partial collapse.  are not clear – print is too small
and/or photocopy cannot be
accurately followed. 
 Scaffold poorly maintained
by supplier – colour
coding referred to in instructions
is not visible on components. 
ob activity What can harm What can happen Causes which need to be
(Tasks) you (Hazards) (Risks) managed (Controlled)

 Damaged scaffold. 

Planning Scaffold erected too close to power lines or Electric shock  Earth Leakage Switch not installed
by Principal Contractor completed scaffold is moved too close to or electrocution. on mains supply or portable
or Subcontractor depending power lines during use. generator. 
on contract conditions  Working on or moving
mobile scaffold too close to
live power lines. 
 Scaffold components or material
handled are greater than 4 metres
in length. 
 Scaffold component or material
contacts power lines. Insulation
(tiger tails) not in place on power
lines or wet
conditions makes them
ineffective. 
 Strong wind causes power lines to
swing closer to work area.

Erection of base frames  Unsupported frames being erected at Frames fall over striking  Bracing or team member not used
and bracing ground level.   person erecting scaffold or to support first frames. 
ob activity What can harm What can happen Causes which need to be
(Tasks) you (Hazards) (Risks) managed (Controlled)

other person close to the  Foundation not level or

work area.  unsuitable for mobile scaffold. 
 Castor wheels not
adjusted correctly or not locked.

  Incorrectly assembled first frames Fall from completed scaffold  Insufficient skills (competency) to

causing unstable scaffold base.  or fall from scaffold during complete the required task. 
erection.  Instructions are not provided or
are not clear – print is too small
and/or photocopy cannot be
read. 
 Scaffold poorly maintained
– colour coding referred to
in instructions is not visible
on components. 
 Base frame assembled upside
down – castor wheels will not fit
correctly. 

Erection of second Climbing lightweight scaffold base frames Scaffold tips over causing  Climbing up the outside of
level frames and bracing  during erection.  fall.  the frame causing scaffold to
tip sideways. 
ob activity What can harm What can happen Causes which need to be
(Tasks) you (Hazards) (Risks) managed (Controlled)

 Only one person used in frame

erection. 
 Foundation not level or unsuitable
for mobile scaffold. 

  Base frames not adequately braced or Instability/ collapse of  Scaffold distorts out of square due

supported.  base frames causing fall.  to plan bracing being left out. 
 Insufficient diagonal bracing or
bracing fixed incorrectly. 
 Castor wheels not locked
to prevent movement or
lock/s broken. 
 Foundation not level or unsuitable
for mobile scaffold. 
 Castor wheels not
adjusted correctly when levelling
the base frames. 

  Live power lines too close to work area.  Electric shock burns  Earth Leakage Switch not installed
or electrocution.  on mains supply or portable
generator. 
 Working too close to live power
ob activity What can harm What can happen Causes which need to be
(Tasks) you (Hazards) (Risks) managed (Controlled)

lines. 
 Scaffold components or materials
handled are greater than 4 metres
in length. 
 Tiger Tails (insulation) not in place
on power lines or wet conditions
make them ineffective. 
 High wind causes power lines to
swing closer to work area. 
 Scaffold component strikes and
shatters unprotected light bulb. 

  Scaffold used without Scaffold topples over causing  General height of the light duty

following manufacturers instructions a fall from height.  prefabricated aluminium mobile
(e.g. indoor or outdoor specifications).  scaffold exceeds three times the
minimum base dimension (ref
AS/NZS4576). 
e.g. a scaffold with
base dimensions of 2.4m x
1.8m the height to the
working platform should be no
more than 5.4m. 
ob activity What can harm What can happen Causes which need to be
(Tasks) you (Hazards) (Risks) managed (Controlled)

 For a scaffold with a narrow base

width of less than 1.2m the height
of the light duty prefabricated
aluminium mobile scaffold
exceeds twice the base width (ref
AS4576). e.g. a scaffold with a
base of 2.4m x 1.2m the height to
the working platform should
be no more than 2.4m. 

Erection of working platform  Manual Handling. Sprains, strains and fractures.  Only one person used to
lift platforms onto second
level frames. 

  Split (uneven) decks installed onto Step backward off higher  Working platform installed with

second frames.  deck causing fall split decks, i.e. both
from height.  deck platforms are not set at
the same height. 

Erection of Climbing on lightweight scaffold Scaffold moves unexpectedly  Only one person used in frame
edge protection, ladder base frames.  or tips over causing fall. erection. 
ob activity What can harm What can happen Causes which need to be
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and toeboards   Foundation uneven or soft. 

 Planks and ply or steel plates not
used where soft ground is a
problem. 

  Movement of scaffold tower. Fall from  Castor wheels not locked

unprotected working to prevent movement whilst edge
platform. protection is erected. 

  Edge protection incomplete.  Fall from the edge of the  Handrail not positioned 900
working platform.  – 1100mm above the
working platform on all sides. 
 No midrail or
fenderboard installed to all sides.

  Ladder access hatch (trap door) in working Fall through ladder  Hatch not closed or
deck. access hatch.  trapdoor missing. 

  Inappropriate access to working deck.  Fall whilst gaining access to  Climbing up or down the outside

working platform.  of the scaffold – no ladder access. 
ob activity What can harm What can happen Causes which need to be
(Tasks) you (Hazards) (Risks) managed (Controlled)

 Ladder not positioned internally

and at the appropriate angle 1:4
i.e. for every 4 metres in height
1 metre out from the base. 
 Ladder not secured at the top and
the bottom. 
 Ladder does not project at least
900 mm above the working
platform. 
 Ladder does not access
the working platform through
a trapdoor. 
 Ladder hung vertically off
the handrail or ledger on
the external or internal face of
the scaffold. 

  Unsecured tools and/or equipment lying on Struck by falling object.  No fenderboards fitted to

working platform.  the working platform. 
 No exclusion zone around scaffold
positioned in a public or work
area. 
ob activity What can harm What can happen Causes which need to be
(Tasks) you (Hazards) (Risks) managed (Controlled)

 Area around base of scaffold not

barricaded or bunted off. 

Use of scaffold Vehicle or mobile plant strikes scaffold.  Injury due to scaffold  Scaffold positioned too close to
collapse.  plant operating area. 
 Plant not operated in a defined
exclusion zone. 
 Base of scaffold not adequately
protected from impact e.g.
concrete kerbs. 
 'Spotter' not used to supervise
plant. 

  Carrying out 'hot work' from the scaffold. Burns.  Fire extinguisher not maintained

or adjacent to work area on
scaffold working platform. 
 Worker/s not trained in the use of
fire fighting equipment. 
 Incorrect type of fire extinguisher
provided for the required task. 
 No PPE or incorrect PPE for the
ob activity What can harm What can happen Causes which need to be
(Tasks) you (Hazards) (Risks) managed (Controlled)

required task.

  Incomplete scaffold.  Fall from scaffold frames or   Un-authorised removal of

working platform.  or interference with
scaffold components. 
 Scaffold not inspected
by competent person prior to use. 
 No isolation system
for incomplete scaffolds,
e.g. Danger tag warning signs
not in place. 
 Incomplete edge protection
to working platform – no Handrail,
midrail, or fenderboards. 

  Split (uneven) decks installed onto Step backward off higher  Working platform installed with

second frames.  deck causing fall split decks, i.e. both
from height.  deck platforms are not set at
the same height. 

  Scaffold left unattended and unsecured.  Scaffold accessed by  Scaffold not barricaded to prevent

ob activity What can harm What can happen Causes which need to be
(Tasks) you (Hazards) (Risks) managed (Controlled)

inexperienced person or un-authorised use. Scaffold not

scaffold falls onto person or secured to prevent movement
object.  e.g. during windy weather. 
 Castor wheels not locked. 

Moving scaffold to new Moving scaffold to a new location. Scaffold topples over  Failure to descend from scaffold
location resulting in a fall.  and re-position from the base of
scaffold. 
 Moving scaffold whilst a person is
still positioned aloft on the
working platform, e.g. grasping
overhead roof trusses to pull
scaffold along. 
 Scaffold moved onto bitumen or
other soft surface causing castor
wheels to subside. 
 Planks and ply or steel plates not
used where soft ground is a
problem. 
 Scaffold too close to an exposed
edge or penetration, i.e. within 1
metre. 
ob activity What can harm What can happen Causes which need to be
(Tasks) you (Hazards) (Risks) managed (Controlled)

  Electrical supply too close to work area.  Electric shock burns  Earth Leakage Switch not installed
or electrocution.  on mains supply or portable
generator. 
 New work area not inspected for
electrical hazards. 
 Working too close to live power
line, check for danger zones. 
 Scaffold components are greater
than 4 metres in length. 
 Insulation - Tiger Tails not in place
over power lines. 
 Strong wind causes power lines to
swing closer to the work area. 
 Scaffold component strikes and
shatters unprotected light bulb. 

Dismantling and/or alteration  Scaffold incomplete or partly dismantled.  Fall from scaffold.  Un-authorised removal of
or interference with
scaffold components. 
 Scaffold not inspected
by competent person prior to use. 
 Isolation system for incomplete
scaffold, e.g. danger tag or
ob activity What can harm What can happen Causes which need to be
(Tasks) you (Hazards) (Risks) managed (Controlled)

warning signs, not in place. 

  Unstable or incorrect dismantling of scaffold.  Injury due to scaffold  Insufficient skills (competency) to

collapse.  complete the required task. 
 Instructions are not provided or
are not clear – print is too small
and/or photocopy cannot be
accurately followed. 
 Scaffold poorly maintained
by supplier – colour
coding referred to in instructions
is not visible on components. 

  Inappropriate alterations to scaffold.  Scaffold collapse or fall  Competent person not used for

from scaffold. scaffold alteration. 
 Certificated scaffolder not used for
complex alteration, e.g. cantilever
or outrigger. 
 Scaffold not inspected
by competent person prior to use. 
 Isolation system for incomplete
scaffold, e.g. danger tag or
ob activity What can harm What can happen Causes which need to be
(Tasks) you (Hazards) (Risks) managed (Controlled)

warning signs, not in place.