• Insufficient skills (competency) to complete the required task correctly. 
• 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 in erection. 

Injury due to scaffold collapse or partial collapse. 

• Competent person not used for 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 for mobile scaffold.
• Different scaffold systems mixed together. (mix and match problems)

• Wrong type of scaffold used for the job.
• Scaffold components overloaded beyond design limits.
• Different scaffold systems mixed together. (mix and match problems).

• 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. 
• Damaged scaffold. 

• Earth Leakage Switch not installed on mains supply or portable generator. 
• 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.

• Bracing or team member not used to support first frames. 
• Foundation not level or  unsuitable for mobile scaffold. 
• Castor wheels not adjusted correctly or not locked.

• Insufficient skills (competency) to complete the required task. 
• 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. 

• Climbing up the outside of the frame causing scaffold to tip sideways. 
• Only one person used in frame erection. 
• Foundation not level or unsuitable for mobile scaffold. 

• Scaffold distorts out of square due 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. 

• Earth Leakage Switch not installed on mains supply or portable generator. 
• Working too close to live power 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. 

• General height of the light duty prefabricated aluminium mobile 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. 
• 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. 

• Only one person used to lift platforms onto second level frames. 

• Working platform installed with split decks, i.e. both deck platforms are not set at the same height. 

• Only one person used in frame erection. 
• Foundation uneven or soft. 
• Planks and ply or steel plates not used where soft ground is a problem. 

• Castor wheels not locked to prevent movement whilst edge protection is erected. 

• Handrail not positioned 900 – 1100mm above the working platform on all sides. 
• No midrail or fenderboard installed to all sides.

• Hatch not closed or trapdoor missing. 

• Climbing up or down the outside of the scaffold – no ladder access. 
• 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. 

• No fenderboards fitted to the working platform. 
• No exclusion zone around scaffold positioned in a public or work area. 
• Area around base of scaffold not barricaded or bunted off. 

• Scaffold positioned too close to 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. 

• 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 required task.

•  Un-authorised removal of 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. 

• Working platform installed with split decks, i.e. both deck platforms are not set at the same height. 

• Scaffold not barricaded to prevent un-authorised use. Scaffold not secured to prevent movement e.g. during windy weather. 
• Castor wheels not locked. 

• Failure to descend from scaffold 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. 

• Earth Leakage Switch not installed 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. 

• 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 warning signs, not in place. 

• Insufficient skills (competency) to 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. 

• Competent person not used for 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 warning signs, not in place.