The Overhead Protective Structures (OPS) Code of Practice 2025 is now in effect in New South Wales. Commencing on 12 December 2025, this revised code introduces a modern, practical framework for managing Class B Hoardings and other protective plant.
If you are a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU), a site manager, or an installer, you have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of your workers and the public. The 2025 Code provides a roadmap for managing health and safety risks in strict accordance with NSW Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws.
By following this guide, you can meet your HSEQ requirements and manage hazards related to overhead protective structure. It provides steps for overseeing the safety risks inherent in these structures, ensuring your site remains in full alignment with NSW Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws.
1. Know Your Goal
Before you build, define what the structure must do. Map out the exact area of the footpaths and neighboring properties that you need to cover.
Consider time. How long will the structure stay up? A scaffold-based OPS requires inspection every 30 days; other types may only require inspection every 6 months. Finally, decide what goes on top. If you plan to put sheds or tools on the deck, you must design for those live loads.
2. Check the Ground
The best structure will fail on bad soil. Before you start, test the ground for soft spots, service pits, or nearby excavations. Look for physical hurdles: trees, bus stops, or hydrants. Always use “Before You Dig Australia” to find underground pipes and cables before you break ground.
3. Meet the Standards
An overhead protective structure is a serious piece of engineering. A structural engineer (ideally one with five years of experience in OPS design) must verify your plans.
Follow these benchmarks:
- Importance Level 2: The standard classification for these structures.
- 5kPa Loading: For light work, like painting.
- 10kPa Loading: The minimum for standard construction or demolition.
- Stability: Use the AS/NZS 1170 Series to ensure the structure won’t tip or slide.
4. Protect the Public
Since most of these structures sit over public walkways, you must keep the way clear. Maintain at least 2.2 meters of headroom for pedestrians, including people in wheelchairs or with prams.
If the structure is near a road, decide if you need concrete barriers to protect the legs from traffic. The deck must be waterproof and drain properly. Don’t let rainwater dump onto the sidewalk or into unauthorized areas.
5. Watch the Powerlines
Electricity is the most significant danger in the 2025 Code. Keep the structure at least 4 meters away from powerlines. Before you start, stop and ask: “Have we verified the voltage?” If you aren’t sure, call the Electricity Network Operator (ENO). It is better to pause and ask for advice than to risk a life.
6. The Paper Trail
No job is finished until the safety checks are signed.
- SWMS: You must have Safe Work Method Statements for the installation and teardown.
- Certification: Once it’s up, a competent person must sign a handover certificate to prove the structure matches the engineer’s design.
Takeaway Message
Planning an overhead protective structure is a non-negotiable legal duty. If this structure fails, the ensuing legal fees and repairs will burn through your profits faster than a bushfire in a drought. Six-figure tenders in NSW demand proof of compliance, strong safety systems, and a clean track record. Miss the mark, and you’re out before the real work begins. In a crowded market, no one awards major contracts to a builder known for cutting corners.
Success comes down to doing the “boring” stuff right. Use the OPS Code of Practice 2025 and the NSW Procurement Policy Framework as roadmaps. It keeps the public safe, your workers coming home, and your business in the clear. Plan well, build to the standard, and document everything.
