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Free scaffold inspection tag (scaftag-style)

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Free scaffold inspection tag and register (PDF-ready). Record handover and 30-day checks per WHS reg 225 and AS 4576:2020 before use.

Jarrod Milford

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 5 July 2026
Also see:Compliance and inspections →Best inspection software →MapTrack vs SafetyCulture →

Updated 5 July 2026

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What is a scaffold inspection tag (scaftag-style)?

A scaffold inspection tag and register is the record that tells a crew whether a scaffold is safe to use and who has signed off on it. On the tag itself it shows the scaffold's status, the inspection date, the competent person's name, and the load rating. As a register it lists each scaffold or bay per row with the handover inspection, the re-inspections, the results against the base, ties, bracing, platforms and edge protection, and the date the next inspection is due. Together they turn the physical scaffold tag on the standard into a documented, auditable history that backs the written handover certificate.

Under model WHS Regulation 225, a scaffold from which a person or thing could fall more than 4 m must be inspected by a competent person before use, after any incident, repair or alteration that may affect stability, and at least every 30 days. That 30-day rule is a WHS Regulation duty, not an Australian Standard. AS 4576:2020 (Guidelines for scaffolding, now AS-only) gives the practical method for erection and inspection, and AS/NZS 1576.1:2019 covers scaffold design. Erecting, altering or dismantling a scaffold with a fall risk over 4 m is high risk work needing the relevant scaffolding licence, and the person with management or control must receive a written handover certificate from the competent person. A consistent tag and register proves the scaffold was handed over safe, re-inspected on time, and never left in use with an out-of-date or missing tag.

Learn more about compliance and inspections in MapTrack.

Benefits of using this scaffold inspection tag (scaftag-style)

  • Clear go / no-go: a status tag on the standard tells any worker at a glance whether the scaffold is safe to step onto.
  • Handover proof: a signed handover inspection shows the scaffold was checked and accepted before the first crew used it.
  • Thirty-day discipline: weekly entries with a next-due date stop a scaffold drifting past the maximum thirty-day interval.
  • AS 4576: 2020 evidence: dated results against base, ties and bracing show the structure was inspected by a competent person.
  • Event re-inspection trail: a record for storms, impacts and alterations proves the scaffold was re-checked before reuse.
  • Accountability: the competent person's name against each inspection means every sign-off has someone standing behind it.

Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

When you move from paper or static PDFs to digital forms in MapTrack, you get:

  • Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
  • Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
  • Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
  • Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
  • Ability to share forms digitally.
  • Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
  • Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
  • Electronic signatures.
  • Edit forms later without reprinting.
  • Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
  • Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
  • Escalate critical hazards instantly to safety managers via push notification.
  • Maintain an auditable safety register that satisfies WHS regulator requests.
  • Correlate incident trends across sites with built-in safety analytics.

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What to include in a scaffold inspection tag (scaftag-style)

This scaffold inspection tag (scaftag-style) covers 10 key areas:

  • Scaffold ID, bay or zone reference and site location
  • Scaffold type and maximum load rating (light, medium, heavy duty)
  • Erected by, scaffolding licence class held, handover date and written handover certificate reference
  • Inspection type: handover, 30-day re-inspection, after alteration or event
  • Base plates, sole boards and firm footing set correctly
  • Standards, ledgers, transoms and bracing complete and secure
  • Ties to the structure present at required spacing and not removed
  • Platforms fully planked, secured and free of gaps or trip hazards
  • Guardrails, mid-rails, toeboards and access ladders in place
  • Status set (safe / do not use), competent person name, and next inspection due

How to use this scaffold inspection tag (scaftag-style)

  1. Confirm the scaffolder and load rating: At handover, confirm who erected the scaffold, that the correct licence class was held for the height, and the maximum load rating the structure is designed for. Recording the rating stops the scaffold being overloaded with materials it was never built to carry.
  2. Inspect the base, standards and ties: Check the base plates and sole boards are on firm footing and level, the standards, ledgers and bracing are complete, and the ties to the building are present at the required spacing. These hold the whole structure up, so any missing tie or loose brace is a stop before use.
  3. Check platforms and edge protection: Confirm platforms are fully planked, boards are secured against uplift, and there are no gaps or trip hazards. Verify guardrails, mid-rails and toeboards are fitted at every open edge and that safe ladder access is in place before anyone works from the deck.
  4. Set the tag status and sign off: Update the scaftag on the standard to show safe to use or do not use, record the competent person's name and the inspection date, and set the next inspection due date within thirty days. A scaffold with a missing, blank or expired tag must be treated as unsafe.
  5. Re-inspect after any change or event: Re-inspect and re-tag the scaffold after any alteration, after a storm, high wind or impact, and at least every thirty days. Log the reason for each re-inspection so the register shows the scaffold was re-checked before it went back into use rather than assumed to be sound.

In MapTrack, you can digitise safety inspections and compliance forms. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.

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How often should you complete this form?

Inspect a scaffold before it is first used, straight after any alteration, and after any event that could affect its stability such as a storm, high wind or a vehicle impact. On top of these, re-inspect at intervals not exceeding thirty days while the scaffold stays in use, which in practice most sites run as a weekly re-inspection.

Use the physical scaftag on the standard as the live status and this register as the backing record, adding a dated entry for every handover and re-inspection. A scaffold with a missing, blank or out-of-date tag is treated as unsafe and taken out of use until a competent person inspects it and updates the status.

Frequently asked questions

A scaffold from which a person or thing could fall more than 4 m must be inspected by a competent person before it is first used, after any incident, repair or alteration that may affect stability, and at intervals not exceeding 30 days while it remains in use. This 30-day rule comes from model WHS Regulation 225 (the Victorian OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic) set the equivalent duty), with AS 4576:2020 giving practical guidance on erection and inspection. Erecting, altering or dismantling scaffolding with a fall risk over 4 m is high risk work needing the relevant scaffolding licence. A dated register plus the tag on the standard, backing the written handover certificate, is how you show these intervals were met.

Scaffold inspections must be carried out by a competent person, meaning someone with the knowledge, training and experience to identify defects and hazards in the scaffold and judge whether it is safe to use. For scaffolds with a fall risk of more than 4 m, the erection, alteration and dismantling is high risk work that must be done by a holder of the relevant scaffolding licence (SB, SI or SA). The person who inspects and signs the tag takes responsibility for the go or no-go decision, so record their name against every entry.

The scaftag fixed to the scaffold standard is the live status: it shows whether the scaffold is safe to use or must not be used, the date it was last inspected, who inspected it, and often the load rating. A green or complete tag means it has passed inspection and can be used within its rating. A missing, blank, incomplete or expired tag means the scaffold has not been signed off and must be treated as unsafe until a competent person inspects it and updates the tag.

Re-inspect a scaffold outside the routine cycle after any alteration, addition or partial dismantle, after a storm, high wind, heavy rain or lightning, after any impact from a vehicle or crane load, and if there is any doubt about its condition. Overloading, removed ties or boards taken for use elsewhere are all reasons to stop, re-inspect and re-tag. Log the reason for each unscheduled inspection so the register shows why it was done, not just that it happened.

Yes, it is completely free. Open it in your browser, then use Print and choose Save as PDF. You do not need a MapTrack account. If you want to move beyond paper, MapTrack keeps a digital inspection history for every scaffold, schedules the thirty-day re-inspection automatically, and lets a competent person run mobile inspections from a phone with photos attached. Start a free trial or book a demo to see how.

Applicable regulatory standards

This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:

  • Model WHS Regulation 225 - scaffold with a fall risk over 4 m: inspection before use, after any incident/repair/alteration, and at least every 30 days (Victoria: OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic))
  • AS 4576:2020 Guidelines for scaffolding (AS-only; supersedes AS/NZS 4576:1995)
  • AS/NZS 1576.1:2019 Scaffolding - General requirements (design)
  • Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act and Regulations (all states and territories except Victoria - OHS Act 2004 (Vic) and OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic)) - duty to provide and maintain safe plant
  • Safe Work Australia Scaffolds and scaffolding work Guide

Related resources

More safety templates and guides:

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<div style="max-width:480px;font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,'Segoe UI',Roboto,sans-serif;border:1px solid #E5E7EB;border-radius:12px;padding:20px;background:#ffffff;">
  <p style="font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.05em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#0E7490;margin:0;">Free template</p>
  <p style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;color:#071D49;margin:6px 0 0;">Scaffold Inspection Tag (Scaftag-style)</p>
  <ul style="margin:12px 0 0;padding-left:18px;color:#374151;font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;">
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Scaffold ID, bay or zone reference and site location</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Scaffold type and maximum load rating (light, medium, heavy duty)</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Erected by, scaffolding licence class held, handover date and written handover certificate reference</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Inspection type: handover, 30-day re-inspection, after alteration or event</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Base plates, sole boards and firm footing set correctly</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Standards, ledgers, transoms and bracing complete and secure</li>
  </ul>
  <p style="font-size:13px;color:#6B7280;margin:14px 0 0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid #E5E7EB;">Free <a href="https://www.maptrack.com/templates/scaffold-inspection-tag-template" style="color:#071D49;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;">Scaffold Inspection Tag (Scaftag-style)</a> by MapTrack</p>
</div>

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