Non-Negotiable

Unyielding Safety

Our Safety Philosophy

At Mana Scaffolding, safety is not a box we tick. It is the foundation of everything we do, embedded in every decision we make and every scaffold we erect.

The word mana carries a responsibility. It speaks to doing things properly, to standing behind your work, to protecting the people who depend on you. When a worker steps onto one of our scaffolds, when a pedestrian walks past one of our sites, when a homeowner trusts us to protect their property — they are trusting our mana. We take that trust seriously.

Our safety culture goes beyond regulatory compliance. Yes, we meet and exceed every applicable standard and regulation. But our real commitment is to the people behind the paperwork. Every person on our crew understands that safety is their first priority, their right, and their responsibility. No one on our team will ever face pressure to cut a corner, rush a job, or compromise on safety for the sake of speed or cost.

Compliance Standards

Mana Scaffolding operates in full compliance with all relevant New Zealand scaffolding and workplace safety standards. Our primary regulatory and standards frameworks include:

AS/NZS 1576 Series — Scaffolding

The joint Australian and New Zealand standard for scaffolding is the technical backbone of our operations. This series covers:

  • AS/NZS 1576.1 — General requirements for scaffolding, including load capacities, material specifications, and structural design criteria
  • AS/NZS 1576.2 — Couplers and fittings
  • AS/NZS 1576.3 — Prefabricated and tube-and-coupler scaffolding
  • AS/NZS 1576.4 — Suspended scaffolding
  • AS/NZS 1576.5 — Scaffolding — Prefabricated splays and bay units

Every scaffold we design, erect, and dismantle meets or exceeds the requirements of this standard. We do not rely on generic configurations — each scaffold is assessed and built to suit the specific conditions of the site, the load requirements, and the environmental factors present.

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA)

The HSWA 2015 is New Zealand’s primary workplace health and safety legislation. As a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU), Mana Scaffolding holds specific duties under this Act, including:

  • Ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and others influenced by our work
  • Providing and maintaining safe plant and structures
  • Providing adequate facilities for workers
  • Providing information, training, instruction, and supervision
  • Monitoring worker health and workplace conditions

We take our duties as a PCBU seriously and actively engage with principal contractors, clients, and other parties on site to ensure coordinated safety management.

Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016

These regulations require specific management of risks in the workplace, including the management of falls from height. Our risk assessment and management processes are designed to meet these requirements on every project.

The Best Practice Guidelines for Scaffolding in New Zealand

Published by WorkSafe New Zealand and the Scaffolding and Rigging Association of New Zealand (SARNZ), these guidelines provide practical guidance on the safe planning, erection, alteration, dismantling, and use of scaffolding. We use these guidelines as a minimum benchmark for our operations.

Certifications and Memberships

SARNZ — Scaffolding and Rigging Association of New Zealand

Mana Scaffolding holds membership with SARNZ, the peak industry body for scaffolding and rigging in New Zealand. SARNZ membership demonstrates our commitment to industry best practice, ongoing professional development, and contributing to the advancement of scaffolding standards across the country.

Site Safe

Our team holds current Site Safe certifications, including passports relevant to scaffolding operations. Site Safe is New Zealand’s leading health and safety organisation for the construction industry, and their training programmes ensure our crew maintains up-to-date knowledge of site safety practices, hazard identification, and risk management.

Safety Protocols

Our safety protocols are comprehensive and applied consistently across every project, regardless of size or complexity.

Pre-Start Planning

Before any scaffold goes up, we conduct a thorough assessment that includes:

  • Site inspection and hazard identification
  • Ground condition assessment for base requirements
  • Overhead hazard identification (power lines, trees, structures)
  • Public access and pedestrian management planning
  • Environmental considerations (wind exposure, weatherproofing)
  • Load calculation based on intended use and worker numbers
  • Emergency access and egress planning

Erection and Dismantling

All scaffolding erection and dismantling is carried out by trained, competent personnel under appropriate supervision. Our protocols include:

  • Sequential erection following the manufacturer’s system guidelines and AS/NZS 1576 requirements
  • Continuous inspection during the erection process
  • Edge protection installed progressively as the scaffold is built
  • Use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including fall arrest systems where required
  • Sign-off by a competent person upon completion
  • Handover documentation provided to the client

In-Service Inspections

Scaffolds remain in service for varying durations, and we implement inspection regimes to ensure ongoing safety:

  • Pre-use inspections at the start of each work period
  • Weekly documented inspections for scaffolds remaining in service
  • Post-event inspections following significant weather events or any incident that may affect scaffold integrity
  • Inspection tags maintained and updated at the scaffold access point

Public Protection

Where our scaffolds are adjacent to public access areas, we implement additional protections:

  • Hoardings, barriers, and signage as required
  • Debris nets and toe boards to prevent falling objects
  • Pedestrian gantries where footpath access must be maintained
  • Lighting and hazard marking for visibility

Training and Competency

Our commitment to safety extends to the ongoing development of our team’s skills and knowledge.

Team Training

Every member of the Mana Scaffolding crew undergoes:

  • Scaffolding-specific training aligned with New Zealand qualifications framework requirements
  • Site Safe passport training, renewed within required timeframes
  • First aid certification
  • Height safety and fall prevention training
  • Hazard identification and risk assessment training

Ongoing Development

We invest in our team’s continuous professional development through:

  • Regular toolbox talks covering site-specific and general safety topics
  • Post-project reviews to identify lessons learned and improvement opportunities
  • Engagement with SARNZ technical updates and industry guidance
  • Mentoring of less experienced crew members by senior scaffolders

Competency Verification

We maintain records of qualifications, certifications, and training for every team member. No person is assigned to a task beyond their verified competency level. Periodic reassessment ensures that skills and knowledge remain current.

Our Safety Promise

Safety is not a destination — it is a continuous practice. Every day, on every site, we work to ensure that our team, our clients, and the public return home safely. That is our commitment, our responsibility, and our mana.

If you have questions about our safety standards, certifications, or approach to a specific project’s safety requirements, we are happy to discuss them in detail. Contact our team.