Buildsafe, a leading name in construction safety systems, has transformed how the residential building industry protects and accesses roof spaces. Through the development of its Walkway Boards, Buildsafe has solved one of the industry’s most persistent issues; roof damage caused by trade access during multi-storey builds.

We sat down with Bo Ceprnja, National Services Manager from Buildsafe, to discuss the inspiration, evolution, and future of this innovative product that’s helping builders save time, money and stress  while setting a new standard in roof safety and site efficiency.

Bo: For years, builders have struggled with a simple but costly problem — trades damaging roofs while accessing upper levels of two-storey homes. Once a roof is installed, it becomes a finished surface, yet painters, cladders, and other trades still need to cross it to reach their work areas.

That constant traffic leads to cracked tiles, dented metal sheets, and expensive repair bills at handover. We kept hearing the same frustration from our builder clients, so we asked: what if we could protect the roof itself?

That idea became the Walkway Board, a protective, load-bearing surface that sits on the roof. It features a durable top layer and a foam-like underside that absorbs impact, preventing surface damage. Since launching around four years ago, the Buildsafe Walkway Boards have been widely adopted and are now an integral part of our edge protection and site safety systems.

Bo: The adoption has been fantastic, especially among Australia’s leading volume builders. In Queensland, Brighton Homes uses our Walkway Boards, and we’re also seeing strong uptake from Metricon, Henley, and Simonds.

Some builders now specify the boards on every lower roof, while others install them when supervisors identify risk. The trend, however, is clear, the Walkway Boards are becoming a standard control measure for preventing roof damage rather than an optional add-on. It’s shifting site culture from reactive repair to proactive protection.

Bo: Initially, the boards were made from timber ply, simple but effective. Today, we’ve moved to a lightweight, engineered plastic composite that’s stronger, longer-lasting, and easier for trades to use.

Each board is typically 600mm x 600mm, with triangular and smaller infill pieces to suit different roof shapes and pitches. It’s now a modular, adaptable system designed to integrate seamlessly with our broader Buildsafe solutions.

But the real leap is what’s coming next; the guided walkway system. Instead of barriers, this next generation uses subtle guides to influence movement and behaviour. It’s designed to naturally direct trades to stay on the protected areas, reducing the temptation to step onto finished roof surfaces.

This next evolution is currently in testing, and we’re planning to launch it later this year. It’s the biggest leap we’ve made yet. It combines smart design, safety and behavioural psychology into one system.

Bo: It’s about changing behaviour through design and communication. Builders can now say to trades:

“We’ve invested in this system to help you work safely and efficiently. Please stay within the designated walkway zone.”

Although ‘do not walk on unprotected roofs’ is still featured prominently on the product  the message is driven by positive reinforcement.  The design of the walkway board which encourages trades to always use the safest passage from one point to the other. 

That reframes the safety conversation from enforcement to empowerment. Instead of punitive messaging like “do not walk here,” it becomes collaborative; “here’s where we want you to work.”

Over time, we expect this guided system to not only prevent damage but also foster a safer, more respectful work culture across residential building sites.

Bo: You’re right,  many see Buildsafe as “just scaffolding.” But behind the scenes, we’re a highly engineered operational system focused on innovation, efficiency, and behavioural safety.

Our advantage lies in our national distribution network. We’re already on-site, every day, across Australia. Buildsafe has the trucks, crews, and builder relationships to deliver new solutions directly to where they’re needed.

That’s what gives us the edge. Whether it’s Walkway Boards or technology like Buildcam, our products succeed because they protect profits and create more value for builders.

Ultimately, construction safety isn’t just about compliance; it’s about improving productivity, reducing costs, and helping supervisors manage more efficiently. That’s the foundation of everything we build at Buildsafe.

Bo: This product started from an industry pain point — and through feedback, collaboration, and iteration, it’s become something that genuinely transforms how trades operate.

The next generation of Buildsafe Walkway Boards will go even further, blending safety with behavioural design to change how Australia’s construction industry approaches roof access.

We’re proud that this innovation was born directly from builder feedback and we’re even prouder that it’s delivering real results on-site. The best part? We’re only just getting started.