In an industry where safety, precision, and compliance are non-negotiable, Alpine Scaffolding has established itself as a benchmark for excellence in South Africa’s scaffolding sector. Operating predominantly in the Western Cape, but with a capacity to service projects nationwide, the company has consistently demonstrated that technical expertise and ethical practices can and must go hand in hand. Construction World spoke to David Poole, joint Managing Director of the company about this non-negotiable focus on people, training and safety and the company’s quest to revolutionise the local scaffolding industry.
David Poole and his partners, who founded Alpine, have a long history in the scaffolding industry. Before starting Alpine Scaffolding in March 2021, they were all partners in a successful Cape Town-based scaffolding company, started in the 1980s.
Founded with a clear mission to bring professionalism and safety to a fragmented industry, Alpine Scaffolding’s leadership - spearheaded by Poole and co-founder, Peter Harper - has remained resolute in its commitment to best practices, even when faced with market pressures to do otherwise.
“There is sometimes misconception that we are an expensive scaffold provider,” Poole notes. “However, when one considers the full scope of the client requirements over the project against what we deliver - trained personnel, compliant systems, documented safety checks, immediate response times, and an unmatched safety record - we are not only competitive but believe that we provide far greater value.”
Compliance beyond the minimum
A significant portion of Alpine Scaffolding’s market differentiation lies in its adherence to compliance and regulatory standards, particularly its full compliance with the Building Industry Bargaining Council (BIBC).
While BIBC regulations apply only within the Western Cape, Poole emphasises that these standards represent the ethical and professional foundation of the business.
“We pay our waged employees above the minimum wage, and ensure that they are registered and compliant. This provides them with income security and benefits such as holiday pay,” Poole explains. “Unfortunately, many operators in the industry do not fulfil these requirements - Some do not register with BIBC or are habitually non-compliant. Many register a small portion of their staff and employ the remainder informally, often without proper documentation or fair compensation.”
This discrepancy not only creates a pricing imbalance in the market but, more critically, compromises the employees, staff and public safety and undermines the credibility of the scaffolding profession.
Uncompromising safety and technical expertise
Alpine Scaffolding’s approach to safety is neither superficial nor reactive. The company has embedded a rigorous safety culture at every level of its operation. All scaffolds are designed and erected in accordance with the SANS 10085 scaffolding code and the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). Alpine Scaffolding ensures that every crew member is appropriately competent and trained, holding up-to-date certifications for their particular position, be it working at height and scaffold erection, or more specialised roles such as scaffolding inspection and first aider.
“It’s not enough to just pass a scaffold training course,” Poole asserts. “Experience matters. Many of our team members have between 15 and 20 years or more, of hands-on scaffolding experience. That level of expertise allows us to deliver superior service and mitigate risk in ways that newer or less formalised teams simply cannot.”
The company has won multiple safety accolades from the Master Builders Association and continues to offer comprehensive compliance documentation, including scaffold handover certificates, inspection registers, and site-specific risk assessments.
Strategic investment in system innovation
In a move that underscores Alpine Scaffolding’s progressive outlook, the company was the first in the region to introduce Layher, a high-spec modular scaffolding system engineered in Germany, into the Western Cape’s access scaffolding market. Alpine remains the only access scaffolding company in the Western Cape that offers clients access to the Layher system on a medium to large scale.
Poole explains that Alpine Scaffolding uses the Layer rosette scaffold system as it is widely regarded as the best in the world. This reputation is due to its exceptional manufacturing quality, safety, full galvanization, and it’s incredible versatility for any access requirement. Before partnering with Layher, Poole and Harper visited the company's factories in Germany to see the operations firsthand. Over the past year and a half, Alpine has made a significant investment into Layher scaffolding and has adopted this system across all projects that can benefit from its use.
While the Kwik-Stage system remains an industry standard and forms the backbone of most construction projects, Layher offers unique advantages in terms of strength, aesthetics, versatility, and ease of assembly - particularly in complex or high-spec environments.
“Despite Layher being more expensive to procure than Kwik-Stage, we have maintained price parity for our clients,” says Poole. “We believe in offering the best possible solution without imposing unnecessary costs. Once clients experience the performance and safety of Layher, they rarely want to use anything else.”
Alpine Scaffolding now owns over 1 000 tons of Layher material and has deployed it on sites ranging from petrochemical and industrial maintenance projects to small to large redec projects.
National capability, local focus
While Alpine Scaffolding maintains its operational headquarters in Cape Town, the company has successfully delivered projects across South Africa including as far afield as George, Pretoria, and along the West Coast.
However, Poole acknowledges the logistical and economic challenges of operating outside the province, particularly when local competitors can undercut pricing due to proximity and relaxed compliance.
“It is challenging to remain competitive when factoring in transport, accommodation, and the cost of relocating trained supervisors,” he admits. “Nevertheless, for the right contract, we are fully prepared and equipped to deliver anywhere in the country.”
People: The cornerstone of success
For all its systems, innovations, and compliance procedures, Alpine Scaffolding attributes its long-term success to one key element: its people. The company employs 18 salaried staff, over 200 waged workers.
“We were fortunate to start the business with a team we knew well – managers, supervisors, foremen, and scaffolders we had worked with for years,” says Poole. “That institutional knowledge and loyalty are invaluable. Today, we continue to invest in our people and foster a culture of accountability, pride, and mutual respect.”
A call for industry accountability
Perhaps most notably, Alpine Scaffolding has emerged as a vocal advocate for improving industry standards. Poole urges clients, construction companies, and contractors to prioritise compliance and ethical employment practices - not only for legal or reputational reasons but for the integrity of the industry at large.
“There is an urgent need for main contractors to demand compliance from their subcontractors,” he argues. “When corners are cut on labour or safety, it puts lives at risk. It’s time for the market to move beyond price alone and start valuing the principles that ensure long-term sustainability and professional credibility.”
Alpine Scaffolding continues to set the standard for what a responsible, innovative, and people-first scaffolding company can achieve. Through strategic investment, rigorous compliance, and a deep respect for its workforce, the company not only supports structures - but upholds the very framework of industry integrity.
