Technical requirements for safety in metal scaffolding – Cast-in and drilled-in anchorages used as ties

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Technical requirements for safety in metal scaffolding – Cast-in and drilled-in anchorages used as ties

5.1.3  Cast-in and drilled-in anchorages used as ties

(a)    Cast-in anchorage

In some cases, it is possible to ‘build in’ scaffold ties into the fabric of the building during construction. A variety of screwed plates, sockets and nuts are available for setting into concrete during pouring, in a similar manner to formwork anchors, for subsequent use as scaffolding  ties. The  appropriate  bolts  should  be  welded  to scaffolding tubes or scaffolding fittings for use as tie attachments. Alternatively, the bolts may be used directly to attach this type of fitting. Ring bolts may also be used.

(b)    Drilled-in anchorage

A   variety   of   expanding   anchor   sockets   are   available   for fixing into holes drilled into hardened concrete. The attachments are similar to cast-in anchors. Care should be taken that the facade  material  is  a  structural  material  and  not  a  surface cladding with little or no strength. Anchor sockets and ring bolts rely  on  an  expanding  wedge  to  secure  the  anchor  into  the pre-drilled  hole. As  such,  overtightening  should  be  avoided  to prevent damage of the base material of the pre-drilled hole. Torque wrenches or other special tools supplied by the manufacturers should be used to fix the anchors, the ring bolts or other devices inserted and tightened by hand. Drilled-in anchorages should be tested before use.

(c)    Anchorages should be tested to ensure that they are of sufficient strength. They should be tested in accordance with BS 5080 or other equivalent national/international standards or provisions.

Technical requirements for safety in metal scaffolding – Support for metal scaffold

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Technical requirements for safety in metal scaffolding – Support for metal scaffold

5.1.2  Support for metal scaffold

(a)    The  stability  of  the  ground  or  supporting  structure  should  be

justified by recognized engineering principles.

(b)  The ground or supporting structure for a scaffold should be adequate to carry and dispose the load imposed both locally at each standard and, in general, to carry the design loads of the scaffold without undue settlement.

(c)     The ground on which a scaffold is constructed should be solid, levelled and rammed to give a hard surface, and should be strong enough to keep the scaffold upright. Soil should be compacted or consolidated and as far as practicable, water be drained off.

(d)    Hard surface: on surfaces such as steel and concrete where there is adequate hardness and thickness to prevent the scaffolding tubes from penetrating into the surface, the standards can be placed directly on the surface but preferably to be placed on a base plate.

(e)  Pavements and other surfaces of intermediate hardness: on surfaces such as hard asphalt, timber and flooring, where there is a possibility of the standards deforming the surface, base plates or metal packing plates should be used at the bottom of the standards.

(f)      Other surfaces: on soil, ash, hoggin, gravel, soft asphalt and any type of flooring or paving which would be penetrated by a standard with a base plate beneath it or if there is doubt about the surface, there should be a further spreading of the load by a sole plate of timber or other suitable material.

(g)     The sole plate area beneath one standard should be at least 0.1m2 with the least dimension of 219mm, and if the sole plate is of timber, it should be not less than 35mm thick. Where the ground is soft or has been disturbed, the sole plate area should be not less than 0.17m2 when individual sole plates are used.

(h)     The  ground  or  soil  beneath  the  sole  plate  should  be  well compacted and free from irregularities, which would make the sole plate unstable or poorly bedded.

(i)     On sloping supports, the base of the scaffold should be effectively prevented from sliding. An appropriately shaped wedge should be inserted to the void between each standard’s base plate and the sloping support to ensure tightness and verticality. To resist lateral loads, the base of the scaffold should further be adequately anchored to the sloping support.

(j)      The supports for a scaffold should be maintained in an adequate condition  as  described  in  this  section  during  the  life  of  the scaffold.

 

Technical requirements for safety in metal scaffolding

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Technical requirements for safety in metal scaffolding

5.1  General requirements

5.1.1  Materials

(a)  Sufficient material should be provided for and used in the construction of scaffolds.

(b)     Scaffolding  components  should  be  of  sound  material,  good construction, adequate strength and free from patent defects and should be properly maintained.

(c)     Boards and planks used in the construction of working platform should be straight-grained and free from large knots, dry rot, wormholes and other dangerous defects. Where necessary, they should be protected against splitting.

(d)    These  boards  and  planks  should  be  unpainted  so  that  any defects are readily visible.

(e)     Timber scaffold boards and their permitted tolerances should comply with BS 2482 or other equivalent national/international standards or provisions.

(f)      All   scaffolding   components   should   comply   with   BS   1139, BS EN 39, BS EN 74, BS EN 1004 and BS EN 12810 or other equivalent national/international standards or provisions. Hot dipped galvanized, painted or unprotected tube may be used in scaffolding structures. Unprotected tube should generally not be used in water and particularly not in marine structures. If used in such conditions, tubes should be thoroughly cleaned afterwards, carefully inspected, e.g. for signs of excessive corrosion and only returned to stock if suitable.

(g)  Tube ends should be free from distortion, corrosion, splits, laminations, surface flaws and undue rust. Used tubes should be free from cracks, splits and excessive corrosion (for example, corroded steel tube should be wire brushed for checking) and be straight to the eye. The ends of load-bearing tubes should be cut cleanly and squarely with the axis of  the tube and should not show excessive

wear. Sections of tube, which have been deformed or creased by abuse, should be cut out and discarded. Where tubes have become thin or split at the ends, these should be cut off and the cuts should be at right angles to the axis to the tube.

(h)     The   safe   working   loads   for   individual   couplers   and   fittings should comply with BS EN 12811 or other equivalent national/ international  standards  or  provisions.  Special  attention  should be paid to the use of joint pins because they cannot bear any tension. All couplers and fittings should be free from rust and distortion, worn threads and damaged bolts and should be maintained  in  lubricated  condition.  The  nuts  should  be  run  on their bolts to ascertain that they have a free-running fit. Spanners and  podgers  should  have  lengths  as  recommended  by  the coupler manufacturer.

(i)      Regarding  the  loads  on  working  platforms,  all  decking  units  of working platforms should have adequate strength to meet the recommendations for the appropriate duty of that specified in the following table:

 

Minimum Imposed Loads
Duty Use of platform Distributed load on platform Concentrated load to be applied on plan

over any square with a

300mm side and at the end portion of a cantilever
 

Inspection and very light duty

  

Inspection, painting, stone cleaning, light cleaning and access

  

0.75 kN/m2

  

2 kN
Light duty Plastering, painting, stone cleaning, glazing and pointing 1.5 kN/m2 2 kN
General

purpose

 General building work including brickwork, window and mullion fixing, rendering, plastering 2 kN/m2 2 kN
Heavy duty Blockwork, brickwork,

heavy cladding

 2.5 kN/m2 2 kN
Masonry or

special duty

 Masonry work, concrete blockwork and very heavy cladding 3 kN/m2 2 kN

Scaffold  boards  of  working  platforms  should  be  cleaned  on return from a construction site prior to stacking. They should be stacked flat and raised from the ground by cross battens. The end hoops or other means of end protection should be replaced or refixed as necessary. Boards with split ends should be cut down to  form  boards  of  reduced  length.  Boards  should  be  inspected after each job. Any boards showing signs of ill-treatment, abuse, decay or excessive warp should be discarded. Damaged or suspect sections should be cut off and destroyed. Care should be taken in the use of boards. Any over stressing (for example, that caused by impact loading) likely to cause unseen damage should be avoided. They should not be used as ramps or platforms over long spans, nor should they be put on the ground where vehicles or other loads can be put on them. Boards, which show evidence of vehicle tyre marks, should be destroyed. Where boards are treated for fire retardant purposes, care should be taken to select a process, which would minimize the loss of board strength.

Managing safety and health at metal scaffolding work

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Managing safety and health at metal scaffolding work

A safety management system and a safe system of work should be developed, implemented and maintained for the safety and health at work of workers. Further reference should be made to the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Safety Management) Regulation. Among other things, the following actions should also be taken into account:

4.1  Design and initial planning

A  construction   project   should   be   designed   with   safety   in   mind.   This approach makes it possible to eliminate or minimize the work hazards by proper planning and design of the methods of construction, sequences of activities, coordination, etc.

4.1.1  During the design of a metal scaffold, attention should be paid in the following areas:

(a)   The safe scaffold and its erection/alteration/dismantling for all different stages of construction should be designed and planned well beforehand.

(b)     The  safe  method  of  scaffolding  devised  should  be  kept  under continual review.

(c)     The strength and stability of the scaffold throughout all stages of scaffolding should be ensured.

(d)     The strength of scaffolding members such as tubes and couplers should be ensured. Reference should be made to the procedures laid down in relevant standards of the International Organization for Standardization or equivalent procedures for their sampling and mechanical testing.

(e)    Realistic  assessment  of  loadings  on  the  scaffold  at  all  work stages should be made. In considering the wind load on the scaffold, reference should be made to the Code of Practice on Wind Effects in Hong Kong, 2004 (Buildings Department).

(f)      Safe  access  to  and  egress  from  the  working  places  should  be provided.

(g)    Effective  bonding  system  to  earth  should  be  provided  to  the scaffold.

(h)    Additional  features  such  as  attachment  points  for  ladders, working platforms, guard-rails and toe-boards should be provided for the protection of workers using the scaffold. Safety nets and safety belts should also be provided for the protection of scaffolders.

(i)      Scaffolding  components/materials/equipment  should  be  handled, lifted, stored, stacked and transported safely.

(j)      The time when the scaffold would be erected and dismantled should be decided in the design and planning stage. The scaffold should be dismantled as soon as it is no longer required to be used.

4.1.2  Specification for scaffolding contract document:

(a)     Specification     for     scaffolding     contract     document     should incorporate    particular   requirements   and   essential   information for the scaffolding work to be planned and implemented safely. (For example,  the  provision  of  design  drawings  and  method statement; phasing of work – particularly with other contractors; periodic maintenance and repair of scaffold.)

(b)    Special   requirements   relating   to   compliance   with   safety legislation should be highlighted and, where appropriate, these items should be included in the Bills of Quantities.

(c)     Depending on the size of the project and/or the complexity of the work involved, tenderers for the scaffolding work should be required to submit an outline scaffolding plan at tendering stage, giving sufficient information to demonstrate their intended safe system of work.

4.1.3  Coordination and communications:

(a)     There should be close liaison between all relevant parties even at the design and planning stage.

(b)     Effective lines and systems of communication should be devised for each stage of the scaffolding work and a person should be assigned to maintain effective communication.

4.1.4  Initial planning:

(a)    Site considerations and risk assessment

Potentially  hazardous  site  features  and  other  aspects  likely  to impair safe scaffolding should be identified. The risk arising from each individual hazardous event should be evaluated according  to its probability and consequence. The following special conditions of the site should be taken into account:

(i)     The existence of overhead electric power lines.

(ii)    The   existence   of   overhead   signboards   or   projections,

particularly those in the urban areas.

(iii)    The  existence  of  buried  services,  including  underground electric cables, gas or other fuel pipelines.

(iv)   The existence of storage tanks.

(v)    Restricted access to, and onto the site.

(vi)    Restricted space for erection, manoeuvring, storage and, if required, for on-site pre-assembly or fabrication.

(vii) Low ground bearing pressures that may be due to, for example, made ground or existing underground services or structures.

(viii) The proximity and condition of other buildings and premises that may by itself or so-induced special wind effect (for example, funnelling effect) affect the planned method of scaffolding.

(ix)   The shape and the structure of the building. (x)    The juxtaposition of the public and the site. (xi)   The activities of other contractors.

(xii)  The  existence  of  noxious  gases,  chemicals,  fluids  or  dust

emitted from processes on or around the site.

(xiii) The proximity of the site to seashore where the strength of the scaffolding may be affected by seawater.

(b)    Preliminary method statement

The preparation of a preliminary method statement is an important part of planning for a safe system of work in scaffolding. Where appropriate, a preliminary method statement should include:

(i)      the arrangements for coordination and the responsibilities and authority of supervisory personnel during scaffolding work;

(ii) the scaffolding sequences including erection and dismantling;

(iii)    the  methods  of  ensuring  stability  with  due  consideration of future construction activities (for example, trench work, external building services /facilities installation);

(iv)    the detailed scaffolding work method which should ensure that the work could be carried out safely;

(v)    the construction tolerance;

(vi)    the assessed maximum allowable loading (includes vertical and lateral loads) on the scaffold/working platform;

(vii)  the provisions to prevent falls from height, including safe means

of access and egress and safe places of work;

(viii) the protection from falls of materials, tools and debris, and the

provision of catch-fans and protective screens at the scaffold;

(ix)   the provision of suitable plant, tools and equipment;

(x)    the   arrangements   for   delivery,   stacking,   storing   and movement on site for scaffolding components, materials and equipment;

(xi)   the details of site features, layout and access; and

(xii)  the contingency arrangements.

4.2  Selection of subcontractor for metal scaffolding work

4.2.1  If   a   subcontractor   is   to   be   engaged   in   metal   scaffolding   work, whether he would make adequate provisions for safety and health should be an important selection consideration. Selection criteria should also include the ability of the subcontractor in providing a good scaffolding plan.

4.2.2  During the process of selection, the subcontractor should be required to submit an outline scaffolding plan, giving preliminary information to demonstrate the intended safe system of work. Depending on the complexity of the project, the outline scaffolding plan should briefly describe items such as safety organization, communication, monitoring, equipment, facilities, emergency procedures, accident reporting, and accident investigation procedures.

4.2.3  After the subcontractor has been appointed, he is required to finalize a detailed scaffolding plan on the basis of the outline scaffolding plan if any, for agreement in writing. The detailed scaffolding plan should spell out the ways and means to carry out work safely and effectively in order to fulfil the objective of protecting workmen at work. The detailed scaffolding plan should also be incorporated into the safety plan of the main project.

4.3  Site management and procedures

4.3.1  Managing for safe erection/alteration/dismantling

Safe  working  methods  and  practices  on  site  should  be  ensured  as follows:

(a)    Preparation and use of a detailed method statement

The extent of detail in a detailed method statement will depend upon the size and/or complexity of the work, with a simple job requiring a simple method statement and repetitive tasks being covered by standard sheets. Preliminary method statement produced at the planning stage should be developed into a detailed method statement that should be incorporated into the detailed scaffolding plan. The whole method statement should be reviewed and updated as necessary so that it remains current. It should be distributed to all those concerned with the supervision of scaffolding work.

(b)    Thorough and active contract coordination both on and off site

Coordination and liaison between parties should be maintained throughout the job. Any changes in previously agreed procedures must  be  verified  by  the  person  responsible  for  coordination  as being safe before they are implemented. Matters that will contribute to safe scaffolding work on site, including the availability of information, plant and manpower, and the quality and supply of materials should also be coordinated.

(c)    Implementation and maintenance of effective communications

To  ensure  that  precautions  for  safe  scaffolding  outlined  in  the method  statement  are  followed,  lines  of  communication  should be clearly designated, with the responsibility for implementing the method statement well defined.

(d)    Contingency plan for adverse weather conditions

Weather conditions that could have an adverse effect on the scaffolding work such as rain, high wind, lightning or typhoon, and those causing poor visibility, such as fog, mist or glare should be constantly monitored.

If  a  decision  is  made  to  stop  work,  then  measures  should  be taken to maintain the stability of the scaffold and the plant, equipment and works erected on the scaffold.Also, all personnel should be safely and efficiently evacuated from the scaffold. After the adverse weather, the scaffold should be inspected and certified in safe working order by a competent person and all the plant, equipment and works erected on the scaffold should be checked and confirmed to be in order before work is to be restarted.

(e)    Provision of suitable staff

No scaffold shall be erected on the site or substantially added to, altered  or  dismantled  except  under  the  immediate  supervision of a competent person and by trained workmen possessing adequate experience of such work (Regulation 38E of the CSSR). Training should be a continuing process with on-the-job instruction and formal training sessions provided as appropriate (refer to Section 4.6).

(f)     Provision of protective equipment

Protective  equipment  that  is  necessary  and  appropriate  for  the work  should  be  provided.  Examples  of  protective  equipment are: safety helmets, safety nets and safety belts with suitable anchorage.

4.3.2  Preparing the site and the work

(a)     Plans  and  drawings  should  be  checked  for  matters  relating  to scaffolding safety before work is to be started.

(b)     The need to exclude other personnel from scaffolding areas when scaffolding work is in progress should be considered.

(c)    Site   inspection   should   be   conducted   to   check   the   physical

conditions, the hazards involved and other special features. (d)    The ground condition should be made firm, level and suitable.

(e)    The  maximum  safe  loading  (includes  vertical  and  lateral  loads)

imposed on the scaffold should be assessed, and strictly adhered to.

(f)      The scaffolding members should be checked for their fitness before despatching to the site. Defective materials should be prohibited to be used and should be removed from site as soon as possible. During their stay on site pending for removal, they should be properly labelled to show that they are defective and should not be used.

(g)    A suitable  place  should  be  provided  at  the  site  for  storage  of scaffolding members and the associated materials, tools or equipment. Also, they should be properly stacked and tied to prevent accidental displacement and collapse. The storage area should be clearly shown on the site plans.

(h)     Documents  such  as  scaffolding  plan,  method  statement,  design drawings and specifications of the scaffold, etc. should be made available to all parties concerned in good times.

4.4  Working places and access

4.4.1  Working platform of scaffold

(a)     A  method   statement   for   construction   of   a   working   platform should be devised. Please refer to Section 4.3.1 (a) on method statement.

(b)    Guard-rails  and  toe-boards  shall  be  installed  at  edges  where persons are liable to fall from height. The guard-rails shall have adequate  strength  and  be  securely  fixed.  The  height  of  a  top guard-rail  shall  be  between  900mm  and  1 150mm  above  the platform.  The  height  of  an  intermediate  guard-rail  shall  be between 450mm and 600mm above the platform. The height of a toe-board shall be not less than 200mm (Third Schedule to the CSSR).

4.4.2  Safety net

Provision of a workplace without risk of falling should always be the first consideration. However, if this is not practicable, safety nets and safety belts shall be used (Regulation 38H of the CSSR). Reference should be made to national/international standards or provisions for the standards of safety nets and safety belts.

4.4.3  Safety belt

In all the circumstances of the case, if it is impracticable to provide safety net, wearing of safety belt with effective anchorage system is required as the last resort for fall prevention (Regulation 38H of the CSSR). Further reference should be made to the Guidance Notes on Classification and Use of Safety Belts and their Anchorage Systems prepared by the Labour Department. It is strongly recommended that, when a choice of safety belt is possible, a safety harness incorporating buttock straps, as distinct from a general purpose safety belt, should be used.

4.4.4  Provision of catch-fan and protective screen

(a)    At  least  a  sloping  catch-fan  at  not  more  than  15m  vertical

intervals  to  give  a  minimum  horizontal  projection  coverage  of

1 500mm  should  be  provided.  The  sloping  catch-fan  should consist  of  timber  boarding  and  a  layer  of  galvanized  metal sheeting, both of adequate thickness to capture and retain falling objects.

(b)     A suitable receptacle should be provided within each catch-fan to trap falling objects. The weight of the receptacle should not affect the stability of the catch-fan.

(c)     The sloping catch-fan and receptacle should remain in place until all works are completed.

(d)     On  the  face  of  the  scaffold,  suitable  protective  screen  of  fire retardant  material  should  be  provided  to  confine  falling  objects. If tarpaulin is being used as protective screen, its fire retardant characteristic should meet the requirements of BS 5867-2:2008 (Type B performance requirements) or other equivalent national/ international standards or provisions.

4.5  Monitoring safety performance

4.5.1 Requirements on safety and health, particularly those relating to compliance with safety legislation, are advisable to be incorporated into the conditions of contract for engagement of subcontractor for metal scaffolding work or other subcontractors using the scaffold.

4.5.2  Regular records on the safety conditions of the scaffolding should be kept.

Such records should consist of detailed information on work hazards, precautions taken, accident analysis and recommendations. These records should be constantly reviewed for hazard identification and improvement.

4.5.3 Workmen’s feedback on the safety conditions of the site should be encouraged and as far as possible documented.

4.5.4 A monitoring system should be developed, implemented and maintained on site for checking the safety performance of the subcontractor for metal scaffolding work or other subcontractors using the scaffold against the requirements mentioned in Section 4.5.1.

4.6  Training of metal scaffolders

4.6.1  The objective of training is to increase the efficiency of workers and to improve safety performance in erecting, altering, maintaining and dismantling scaffolds. The importance of ensuring that workers who erect, alter, maintain and dismantle scaffolds are fully competent is obvious, but the degree of skills which are required differ according to the duty to be performed. There is a great span of proficiency and experience required. Properly controlled training is therefore vital for safety and it would eventually attract a better type of man to make a career in the industry. Before training of the scaffolders is to be considered, they should be physically fit for the scaffolding work first.

4.6.2  Training  of  scaffolders  needs  to  relate  to  basic  site  safety,  familiarity with everyday hazards and the requirements for a safe place of work. In general, training for scaffolders should start at ground level, where basic  skills  can  be  acquired,  and  when  scaffolders  are  proficient, using   those   skills   at   increasing   height   would   be   appropriate. Training should continue after basic skills have been acquired to ensure that scaffolders  are  familiar  with  improvements  in  techniques,  the  use of  newly  developed  equipment/materials,  and  to  ensure  that  safe methods of work continue to be used.

4.6.3  When   a   new   scaffolder   is   employed,   the   management   should ascertain the previous safety training of him, and should not assume that any scaffolder has a particular skill or training without seeing some proof or demonstration. Induction training will be needed to explain such matters as the company’s safety policy/organization, company safety rules, accident reporting requirements, etc. Besides, training/instruction would be necessary when the new scaffolder first starts on a project, to cover the particular requirements of the site such as emergency procedures, any special hazards and the safety aspects of the scaffold.

 

Issue of improvement notice and suspension notice under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance

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Issue of improvement notice and suspension notice under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance

3.3.1  Section 9

This section empowers the Commissioner to serve on an employer or an occupier of premises where a workplace is located an improvement notice requiring the rectification of contravention against safety legislation within a specified period.

3.3.2  Section 10

This  section  empowers  the  Commissioner  to  serve  on  an  employer who   is   responsible   for,   or   an   occupier   of,   premises   where   a workplace is located a suspension notice requiring suspension of an activity or use of premises or of any plant or substance where there is an imminent risk of death or serious bodily injury.

 

Principal safety and health legislation relating to safe metal scaffolding in Hong Kong

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Principal safety and health legislation relating to safe metal scaffolding in Hong Kong

The following is a summary of the statutory provisions in relation to safe metal scaffolding under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and its subsidiary legislation and the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance. It is advisable to refer to the relevant Ordinances and regulations for full details of the statutory provisions summarized in this part or referred to in other parts of the Code.

3.1  General duties provisions under FIUO

Sections 6A and 6B of the Ordinance impose general duties on proprietors and persons employed with regard to the health and safety at work in industrial undertakings. In a construction site, these provisions do not only bind the principal contractor of the site. Subcontractors who are employers and who have management or control of construction activities within the site are also regarded as proprietors and are therefore bound by Section 6A. Besides, with regard to metal scaffolding works, workers using metal scaffolds and scaffolders, who are employed to work in the site are also bound by Section 6B.

3.1.1  Section 6A(1)

The   general   duties   imposed   on   the   proprietor   of   an   industrial undertaking  are  to  ensure,  so  far  as  is  reasonably  practicable,  the health  and  safety  at  work  of  all  persons  employed  by  him  at  the industrial undertaking.

3.1.2  Section 6A(2)

These general duties extend to include five specific areas:

(a)     The  proprietor  shall  provide  machinery,  equipment,  appliances and other plant that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health and must maintain them in that condition. He must also ensure that the systems of work are safe and without risks to health.

(b)     The proprietor shall make adequate arrangements for ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, safety and absence of risks to health in  connection  with  the  use,  handling,  storage  and transport of articles and substances.

(c)    The proprietor shall provide such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of all persons employed by him. The information to be provided should include information about the hazards in the workplace and the necessary precautions to be adopted.

(d)    The proprietor shall ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, any place of work under his control is kept safe and without risks to health. This requirement covers not only buildings, but also includes,        for   example,   open   sites   and   temporary   structures such as scaffolds. The proprietor shall also ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the provision and maintenance of means of access to and egress from the workplace that are safe and without risks to health.

(e)     The   proprietor   shall   provide   and   maintain   for   all   persons employed by him a working environment that is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health.

3.1.3  Section 6B(1)

The general duties imposed on every person employed at an industrial undertaking while at work are as follows:

(a)     The person employed shall take reasonable care for the safety and health of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work.

(b)     Also,    he    shall    co-operate    with    the    proprietor    or    other persons  so  far  as  is  necessary  to  enable  them  to  perform  or comply with the safety duties or requirements imposed on them by the Ordinance.

3.2  Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations

The CSSR are to protect workmen in the construction industry. These regulations  lay  down  legal  requirements  to  ensure  the  safety,  health  and welfare   of   workmen   on   construction   sites.   In   respect   of   scaffolding safety, the contractors/workmen are subject to the requirements of the following regulations:

3.2.1  Regulations 38A and 38AA

These regulations specify general provisions for ensuring safety of places of work, safe means of access to and egress from places of work and that no person gains access to any place on the site where any hazardous conditions are present.

3.2.2  Regulation 38B

This    regulation    requires    that    adequate    steps    such    as    the provision, use and maintenance of working platforms, etc. shall be taken to prevent any person from falling from a height of 2 metres or more.

3.2.3  Regulation 38C

This regulation requires the provision of safe scaffolds, ladders, etc. and ensures their use where work cannot be safely done on or from the ground or from part of a permanent structure.

3.2.4  Regulation 38D

This regulation requires that all the scaffolds, ladders, etc. shall be so designed, constructed, maintained and every part thereof so securely supported or suspended as to ensure that they are stable. Besides, all such scaffolds, ladders, etc. shall be made of suitable and sound materials of sufficient strength.

3.2.5  Regulation 38E

This regulation requires that only trained workmen with adequate experience and under the supervision of a competent person shall erect, alter or dismantle scaffolds.

3.2.6  Regulation 38F

This regulation requires that a scaffold shall not be used unless it has been inspected by a competent person:

(a)    before being taken into use for the first time;

(b)     at regular intervals not exceeding 14 days immediately preceding each use of the scaffold;

(c)     after   any   substantial   addition,   partial   dismantling   or   other alteration, exposure to weather conditions likely to have affected its strength or stability or to have displaced any part,

and a report has been made by the person carrying out the inspection on Form 5, which includes a statement to the effect that the scaffold is in safe working order.

3.2.7  Regulation 38H

This regulation requires the use of safety nets and safety belts when it is impracticable to provide safe scaffolds.

3.2.8  Regulation 38I

This regulation requires that any workman who has been provided with a safety belt shall wear the safety belt and keep it attached to a secure anchorage.

3.2.9  Regulation 48

This regulation requires that suitable safety helmets shall be provided for every workman; and all reasonable steps shall be taken to ensure that no workman remains on site unless he is wearing a suitable safety helmet.

3.2.10 Regulation 49

This  regulation  requires  that  scaffolding  materials  and  waste materials, tools and other objects, shall not be thrown, tipped or shot down from height. Where proper lowering by lifting appliances or gear is impracticable or demolition is being carried on, steps shall be taken to protect workmen from being hit by falling debris.

3.2.11 Regulation 52

This regulation requires that all platforms, gangways, etc. shall be kept

clear of any loose materials that are not required for immediate use.

3.2.12 Third Schedule to the CSSR

This schedule relates to the protection of any person from falling from a height of 2 metres or more. (See Appendix II for details)

 

Metal Scaffolding Safety – Interpretation

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Metal Scaffolding Safety – Interpretation

Unless otherwise defined in this Code of Practice, the terms used in this Code of Practice have the same meaning as those in the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, and

2.1  ‘FIUO’  is  the  abbreviation  for  the  Factories  and  Industrial  Undertakings

Ordinance, Chapter 59.

2.2  ‘CSSR’ is the abbreviation for the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations,

subsidiary legislation of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance.

2.3  ‘competent person’

2.3.1  A competent person, in relation to any duty to be performed by such a person under the CSSR, means a person who is:

(a)     appointed for that purpose by the contractor required by the CSSR to ensure that the duty is carried out by a competent person; and

(b)    by   reason   of   substantial   training   and   practical   experience,

competent to perform the duty.

2.3.2  As a general guidance:

(a)     ‘substantial training and practical experience’ of a competent person in respect of metal scaffolding refers to a person

(i)      who    has    satisfactorily    completed    a    full-time    formal training in metal scaffolding works organized by the Construction Industry              Council   Training   Academy   (CICTA)   or   other similar     metal    scaffolding    training    courses/programmes and possesses an experience of 4 years or more in metal scaffolding works (inclusive of experience under the formal training period); or

(ii)     who has at least possessed a higher certificate in civil/structural engineering or other similar disciplines and has satisfactorily completed a metal scaffolding training course/programme organized  by  the  CICTA or  other  similar  metal  scaffolding training courses/programmes and possesses an experience of 1 year or more in metal scaffolding works (inclusive of experience under the formal training period); or

(iii)    who   has   satisfactorily   passed   the   trade   test   on   metal scaffolding  of  the  CICTA and  possesses  an  experience  of

4  years  or  more  in  metal  scaffolding  works  (inclusive  of

experience under the formal training period),

and has the ability to read and understand the scaffolding plan, design drawings, specifications and method statement of the scaffolding  work  in  order  to  competently  supervise  the scaffolding   work   and   certify   that   the   scaffolding   is   in   safe working order. He should also be capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions that are unsanitary or hazardous to employees.

(b)     A competent  person  should  be  appointed  in  writing  and  should have authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate existing and predictable hazards mentioned above.

2.4  ‘trained workman’

A trained workman in respect of metal scaffolding refers to a scaffolder who is  responsible  for  on-site  erection,  addition,  alteration  and  dismantling  of metal scaffold under the immediate supervision of a competent person, and has satisfactorily completed a formal training in metal scaffolding works equivalent to any of those mentioned for a competent person or has satisfactorily passed the intermediate trade test for metal scaffolder of the CICTA and possesses at least

1 year of experience in metal scaffolding works (inclusive of experience under the formal training period). This Code of Practice also recognizes scaffolders who are registered skilled, semi-skilled, skilled (provisional) or semi-skilled (provisional) workers under the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance (Cap. 583) for the trade of metal scaffolder as trained workmen.

2.5  ‘Form 5’ is a form approved by the Commissioner for Labour for the purposes of

Regulation 38F(1) of the CSSR. A sample of the form is at Appendix I.

2.6  ‘ladder’ includes a folding step-ladder.

2.7  ‘place of  work’ means any place which is used by any person for the purposes of

(a)    construction work; or

(b)     any work activities arising from, or in connection with, construction work,

and includes any place to which such a person has access whilst at work.

2.8  A   ‘professional  engineer’  means  an  engineer  of  structural  or  civil discipline. He should be a corporate member under the constitution of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers or equivalent and should have adequate training and experience, and be able to justify how and why the scaffold he designed can safely resist the imposed loads in accordance with recognized engineering principles.

2.9  ‘safety belt’ includes a safety harness.

2.10 ‘scaffold’  means  any  temporarily  provided  structure  on  or  from  which persons perform work in connection with operations or works to which the CSSR apply, and any temporarily provided structure which enables persons to obtain access to or which enables materials to be taken to any place at which such work is performed, and includes any working platform, gangway, run, ladder or step- ladder (other than an independent ladder or step-ladder which does not form part of such a structure) together with any guard-rail, toe-board or other safeguards and all fixings, but does not include a lifting appliance or a structure used merely to support such an appliance or to support other plant or equipment.

 

METAL SCAFFOLDING SAFETY – Introduction

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METAL SCAFFOLDING SAFETY – Introduction

1.1    This   Code   of   Practice   for   Metal   Scaffolding   Safety   is   issued   by   the Commissioner  for  Labour  under  Section  7A of  the  Factories  and  Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, Chapter 59. It provides practical guidance for the compliance with the requirements set out in Sections 6A & 6B of the Factories and  Industrial  Undertakings  Ordinance  and  the  requirements  of  the  Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations regarding the safety in metal scaffolding. In this Code, metal scaffolding refers to scaffolding with metal components as structural skeleton. The advice contained in this Code should not be regarded as exhausting those matters that need to be covered by the relevant safety legislation. Compliance with this Code of Practice does not confer immunity from relevant legal requirements.

1.2    This Code of Practice has a special legal status. Although failure to observe any provision of this Code is not itself an offence, that failure may be taken by a court in criminal proceedings as a relevant factor in determining whether or not a person has breached the relevant safety and health legislation under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance.

1.3    Metal scaffolding can be used for different purposes in different construction activities. In Hong Kong, it is commonly used as the supporting scaffolding in a falsework system. Collapse of falsework due to reasons such as insufficient strength to carry the imposed loads or inadequacy in design and construction frequently occurs and has inflicted heavy casualties to workers working on it. In order to prevent collapse of falsework on construction sites, this Code of Practice also highlights good practices that have frequently been overlooked.

1.4    Section 5 of this Code of Practice has given technical guidance that should be followed in respect of metal scaffolding safety. If in any special situation where such requirements need to be modified, the stability and strength of the scaffolds should be justified by recognized engineering principles and national/ international standards or provisions so that equal or even higher safety standards can be achieved.

1.5   The statutory provisions summarized or referred to in this Code of Practice are

the provisions in force as at 1 January 2013.