Safe Work Australia releases new model code of practice: Elevating Work Platforms

Safe Work Australia has released a new model code for elevating work platforms

Safe Work Australia has released the model Code of Practice: Elevating Work Platforms – a practical guide for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs), employers and other duty holders who own, hire or operate scissor lifts, boom lifts and travel towers.

Key points at a glance

• What it is: a national model code that provides practical guidance on elevating work platforms.
• Who it applies to: PCBUs (employers), designers, importers, suppliers, hirers and machine operators.
• What it replaces: two existing guides previously issued by the agency.
• Why it matters: clearer expectations help every business meet its legal duties.

How the model code addresses health and safety risk

This code serves as a practical resource for PCBUs and duty holders on how to address health and safety risks associated with elevating work platforms, according to Safe Work Australia. Falls from height, entrapment and contact with overhead electrical lines rank among the most serious hazards linked to mobile plant of this kind.

Adopting the document helps organisations recognise and satisfy their work health and safety obligations, from equipment selection and pre-start inspection through to rescue planning and maintenance records.

Which guides does the new code replace?

“The model Code of Practice will replace two existing guides – the guide to managing the risks of elevating work platforms and the guide to inspecting and maintaining elevating work platforms,” says Safe Work Australia.

Consolidating both documents into one approved reference gives supervisors a single source of truth rather than two, which reduces confusion during audits or regulator visits.

Who should read this guide?

Anyone accountable for people operating at height should review it, including:

• Construction principal contractors and site managers
• Facilities, maintenance and warehousing teams
• Plant hire businesses and equipment suppliers
• Health and safety representatives or committee members

Applying the guide on site

Approved codes are admissible in court as evidence of what is known about a hazard, so documented controls carry real weight. Practical steps include:

• Matching machine selection to ground conditions and reach requirements
• Verifying licensing and familiarisation for each specific unit
• Completing pre-start checks, then logging faults before use
• Preparing rescue procedures for stranded or suspended personnel
• Recording routine servicing, major inspections and repairs

Task-specific documentation supports each control measure. Our Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) guide explains how to build compliant paperwork, while ready-made templates such as our Rigging Safe Work Procedure cover related high-risk activities performed alongside lifting plant.

Related updates from the regulator

Model codes are refreshed regularly as evidence and technology evolve. Recent examples include a tower crane model code, the silica dust code update, and industry consultation when Safe Work Australia sought feedback on proposed codes.

For further information, read the published document on the Safe Work Australia website.