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Managing Plant (Scaffolds)
By Andy Perry
WorkSafe Victoria has released some great resources to industry to assist duty holders with their legal obligations with managing plant. Many people classify ‘Plant’ as a moving object such as an excavator, conveyors that operates through mechanical action.
The definition of ‘Plant’ is defined in the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act 2004 as any machinery, equipment, appliances, implement and tool and any component of those things including anything fitted, connected or related to any of those things. As a result, the Victorian OHS Regulations 2017, Part 3.5Plant that further describes the process of mechanical action and other items of plant such as scaffolding.
There are additional duties and responsibilities on suppliers who hire or lease plant, where this plant must be inspected and maintained to ensure it is fit for purpose and any risks arising from the use of the plant is eliminated and/or reduced as far as reasonably practical. This includes retaining records. In many cases, person who obtains and uses the plant, generally relies on the supplier of the plant to complete these checks. However, the employers and self-employed persons who use the plant must also identify and control all hazards associated with the installation, erection, commissioning, dismantling and the use of the plant at the workplace.
This is particularly important with installing and erecting scaffolds as described in the Victorian OHS Regulations 2017, Regulation 118-Scaffolds. As a result, WorkSafe has released some user-friendly guidance material that accompanies the Victorian Compliance Code for Plant which can be obtained and applied by persons. This material includes, but is not limited to:
- The Victorian Compliance Code Plant https://content-v2.api.worksafe.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-02/ISBN-Compliance-code-plant-2019-12.pdf
- The pocket guide for construction safety https://content-v2.api.worksafe.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-10/The-pocket-guide-construction-safety-2024-10.pdf and
- The industry standard for scaffolding https://content-v2.api.worksafe.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-12/Scaffolding-industry-standard-2024-12.pdf
There are some other reference materials for Scaffolding that can be purchased through Standards Australia such as:
- AS/NZS 4576 -Guidelines for scaffolding
- AS/NZS 1576 -Scaffolding
- AS/NZS 1577-Scaffold decking components
