| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Construction and Projects |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Safety Supervisor (Construction) |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 2 to 6 years in scaffolding work |
Scaffolder job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Scaffolder
Department: Construction and Projects
Reports to: Safety Supervisor (Construction)
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Scaffolder erects and dismantles the scaffolding that lets workers reach height safely on a construction site. They build stable, correctly braced access platforms from pipes, couplers or system scaffold, and take them down safely when the work is done. Because people work and climb on their structures, safety is everything. A good Scaffolder builds scaffolds true, stable and fully braced to the standard, checks footings and ties, tags scaffolds as safe to use, and never leaves an incomplete or unsafe structure in service.
Key responsibilities
- Erect scaffolding from pipes, couplers or system components to reach the work height.
- Build stable, level and correctly braced platforms with proper footings and ties.
- Fix guardrails, toe boards and access ladders so platforms are safe to use.
- Check and tag scaffolds as safe before they are handed over for use.
- Dismantle scaffolding safely and in the correct sequence after the work.
- Inspect scaffold materials and reject bent, cracked or damaged parts.
- Move and stack scaffold materials safely at the work area.
- Work at height using a harness and follow fall-protection rules.
- Report any unsafe or altered scaffold to the safety supervisor.
- Follow all site lifting and height-work safety rules without exception.
Requirements
- Scaffolding training or certificate
- Physically fit for height work
- Experience erecting scaffolding
- 2 to 6 years in scaffolding work
KRAs and KPIs for a Scaffolder
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Scaffold safety | Zero scaffold failures or fall incidents from erected structures |
| Build quality | Scaffolds built stable, braced and to the standard on inspection |
| Tagging | Scaffolds tagged and handed over only when safe to use |
| Material check | Damaged scaffold parts identified and removed from use |
| Safe dismantling | Scaffolds dismantled in the correct sequence without incident |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Scaffold pipes and couplers, Spanner and level, Safety harness, Scaffold tags, Safety gear.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Scaffolder, Scaffold Supervisor
Interview questions for a Scaffolder
- How do you make sure a scaffold is stable before it is used?
- What checks do you make before tagging a scaffold as safe?
- How do you dismantle a scaffold safely?
- How do you inspect scaffold materials before erection?
- What fall-protection steps do you follow when working at height?
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What does a Scaffolder do?
A Scaffolder erects and dismantles the scaffolding that lets workers reach height safely. They build stable, correctly braced platforms from pipes, couplers or system scaffold, fix guardrails and ladders, and tag scaffolds as safe before use. They inspect materials, dismantle safely in sequence, and never leave an incomplete or unsafe structure in service.
Why is scaffolding a safety-critical job?
Workers stand, walk and carry loads on scaffolds many metres above the ground, so a poorly built or unbraced scaffold can collapse and cause fatal falls. A scaffolder's work directly protects everyone who uses the structure. That is why scaffolds must be built to standard, checked, tagged as safe, and never altered without a scaffolder.
What qualifications does a Scaffolder need?
Scaffolding training or a recognised certificate is important, along with physical fitness for height work and experience erecting scaffolds. Employers value knowledge of bracing, tying and fall protection, the discipline to inspect materials and tag scaffolds correctly, and a strong safety mindset, since lives depend on the structures being built right.