National safety group now has 600 staff and 150 trucks
Buildsafe has launched operations in South Australia as the state’s new 2-metre fall regulations took effect in mid-2026. The move comes as the residential scaffold and height safety provider marks its 25th anniversary in July 2026.
Founded in Victoria in 2001 with a few utes, the business has grown into a national operator with more than 600 specialists and a fleet of more than 150 trucks. Its expansion has stretched across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria before the latest move into South Australia.
The company announced the milestone in an announcement issued on Wednesday, 29th July 2026 from the Gold Coast, Queensland.
South Australia’s entry is tied directly to the new fall rules. Buildsafe said the new operation will help builders meet the state’s 2-metre fall compliance requirements introduced in mid-2026.
Michael Shipton on growth
Chief executive Michael Shipton linked the company’s long run to two priorities: product innovation and workforce development. He pointed to the AI-powered BuildCam site monitoring system and the First Lift training programme as examples of that approach.
“Reaching 25 years is an incredible credit to our entire team and the building partners who have trusted us to secure their sites day in and day out,” Shipton said.
Buildsafe works with several of Australia’s biggest residential construction groups. Its listed partners include Metricon, Mirvac, Coral Homes, Brighton Homes, G.J. Gardner Homes, Henley Homes, Hudson Homes and Plantation Homes.
Its anniversary theme is “honouring our legacy, leading our future”. The line reflects a plan to keep expanding its national presence while trying to stay at the front of residential construction safety.
Shipton also credited staff development for the business’s growth over the past quarter-century. Buildsafe has paired that training push with safety engineering, installation compliance and digital monitoring as it broadens its footprint.
The 25-year mark caps a sharp rise from a small Victorian operation in 2001 to a national construction services business in 2026. Meanwhile, the South Australian launch gives the company a foothold in another state at a time when builders face tighter height safety rules.
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