The Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner is excited to join with the Scaffolding Association Australia (SAA) and the International Access and Scaffolding Association to celebrate the first ever International Scaffolding and Access Day. The day will be held on 14 May each year, starting in 2026. 

This day is an opportunity to recognise the important work done by the scaffolding and access industry. Scaffolders and access workers play a key role in keeping construction and infrastructure sites safe, both in Australia and around the world.  

This year’s theme is “Recognising the industry. Supporting its people. Shaping its future.” The day focuses on issues that matter most, including new ideas and innovation, meeting safety rules and requirements, and consistent and high-quality training across the industry. 

The focus is timely, as scaffolding remains a significant concern for the OFSC and continues to appear amongst the lowest performing audit criteria. Speaking about the inaugural event, Federal Safety Commissioner David Denney said:  

“Scaffolding is seen on most modern construction sites and is essential for any work at heights. When it’s done right, it helps builders manage risks. When it’s done wrong, there can be serious harms to workers on site. What we’re seeing at the OFSC is that scaffolding and access work is still not being done safely enough.”  

International Scaffolding and Access Day is a great opportunity to work with your scaffolder to confirm that scaffolds are erected to plan, tamper controls are in place and effective, and 30-day inspections have been completed. 

The OFSC is continuing its work helping to improve scaffolding safety. Check out our range of scaffolding webinars and supporting resources.

More information about International Scaffolding and Access Day can be found at the SAA website.