METAL SCAFFOLDING SAFETY
Henry T. Lam
BSc, MSc, CEng, MICE, MHKIE, MIEAust, RPE, RSO
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Industrial Centre
Alexander C.S. Chan
MSc(Eng), DipOccHyg, MIPantE, MIOSH, FHKISA, RSO
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Industrial Centre
ABSTRACT
Safety is a basic human need. To be zero accident is a common goal that every body would
like to see. However it is not easy to attain it and we still have much to work towards it. In
fact, construction safety can be further developed and continually improved by providing
adequate and practical training to the relevant workers of the contractors. This paper is aimed
at not only introducing the relevant regulations and the code of practice for scaffolding safety,
but also describing how the metal scaffolding training program was developed by the
Industrial Centre of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University to meet such requirements and
industry needs.
A Typical Example of Metal Scaffolding Work in Hong Kong
1
Introduction
In view of the current trend of Hong Kong construction industry, not only the safety
regulations and codes of practice but also the practical training programs are necessary to
enhance the degree of safety awareness.
The statistics made by Labour Department on the occupational injuries in all workplaces in
1998 (analyzed by major economic activity) indicate that construction industry has the highest
injury accident figure (31%) and fatal accident (29%) as shown in Table 1.
Major Economic Activity
Agriculture and Fishing
Mining and Quarrying
Manufacturing
Electricity and Gas
Construction
Wholesale & Retail Trades, Restaurants
and Hotels
Transport & Related Services, Storage and
Communication
Financing, Insurance, real Estate and
Business Services
Community, Social & Personal Services
Activities not adequately defined
TOTAL
No. of
Injuries
100
15
7689
93
19674
16855
% of Total
of Injuries
0.2%
0.02%
12.1%
0.1%
31.0%
26.5%
No. of
Deaths
2
1
30
1
70
17
% of Total
of Deaths
0.8%
0.4%
12.5%
0.4%
29.2%
7.1%
5587
8.8%
33
13.8%
3496
5.5%
47
19.5%
9901
116
63526
15.6%
0.2%
100%
39
0
240
16.3%
0%
100%
Table 1 - Occupational Injuries in All Workplaces, 1998
As far as the type of accident in construction industry is concerned, it can be seen that most of
the fatal accidents mainly came from fall of person from height (55%) and struck by falling
object (16%) as shown in Fig. 1. Further analysis does show that fall of person is mainly
caused by metal scaffolding work. The main reason for this is because there were lots of the
contractors who did not provide proper training and safe working procedures to their
employees. To prevent the said accidents, a practical training together with a safe system of
work with written procedures and guidelines for the metal scaffolding operation, should be
devised and implemented along side with the regulations.
2
Industrial Fatal Accidents in Construction Industry
Analyzed by Type of Accident, 1998
( ) = the figure in bracket denotes the number of deaths
T rap p ed b y
collap sing
or overturning
ob ject
7% (4)
S truck b y
falling ob ject
16% (9)
S truck b y
moving vehicle
5% (3)
S triking against
or struck b y
moving ob ject
2% (1)
C ontact with
electricity or
electric
d ischarge
9% (5)
T rap p ed in or
b etween ob jects
4% (2)
S triking against
fixed or
stationaey ob ject
2% (1)
F all of p erson
from height
55%
(31)
Fig. 1 - Fatal Accidents in Construction Industry 1998
This paper aims to take a closer look at the safety of metal scaffolding with respect to the
existing regulations, code of practice and the relevant training programs. Moreover, the
curriculum of the metal scaffolding training course developed by the Industrial Centre of The
Hong Kong Polytechnic University will also be discussed.
Metal Scaffolding Regulations
Part VA of Construction Site (Safety) Regulations (Chapter 59I) of the Factories and
Industrial Undertakings Ordinance in Scaffolds, Working Platforms and Ladders etc. has been
amended and enacted on 1st October 1999. The amended regulations identify the following
issues:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
safety scaffolding inspection,
boatswain's chairs (not power operated),
interstice of metal platforms, and
intermediate guard-rail
Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 show the details of the amended regulations.
3
To have a quick glance between the old and the amended regulations, a summary of their
differences is shown in Table 2.
Old Regulation
Amended Regulation
38K (1)(a)(i) Inspection of scaffolds
The scaffold shall not be used on a
construction site unless it has been inspected
by a competent person within the immediately
preceding month.
38F 1(a)(iv) Inspection of scaffolds
The scaffold has been inspected by a
competent person at regular intervals not
exceeding 14 days immediately preceding
each use of the scaffold.
38I (1)(a) Boatswain's chairs (not power
38G Boatswain's chairs (not power
operated)
operated)
The boatswain’s chair or similar plant or The contractor responsible for a
equipment shall not be used unless it is of construction site shall ensure that no
good construction, sound material, adequate boatswain’s chair or similar plant or
strength and free from patent defect.
equipment is used on the site.
38L (a) Construction of working platforms,
gangways, runs, etc,
Every working platform, gangway or run from
which a person is liable to fall a distance of
Third schedule - Requirements with
which certain safety equipment must
comply 2(2)(a)
Working platforms, consisting of open
more than 2 metres shall be a platform metal work having interstices none of
consisting of open metal work having which exceeds 4000 square mm in area.
interstices none of which exceeds 3800 square
mm in area.
Code of Practice for Scaffolding Safety 1995
5.3.2 (d)(vii)
Toe-boards and end toe-boards should be of
such a height that the gap between the top of
Third schedule - Requirements with
which certain safety equipment must
comply 6(b)
The height of a guard-rail above any place
the toe-board and the guardrail does not of work on a working platform, gangway,
run or stairway shall be in case of an
exceed 700 mm.
intermediate guard-rail, not less than
450 mm and not more than 600 mm. (not
for bamboo scaffold)
Table 2 - Comparison between the old and amended regulations of Construction Site (Safety)
Regulations.
4
Metal Scaffolding Training Course
At present, there is no institution offering the specific metal scaffolding training course except
the Industrial Centre which developed the first course for construction companies in 1995.
Since then, a total of twelve courses of about 300 participants (Site Agent, Engineer, Safety
Officer, Safety Supervisor, General Foreman, Foreman and worker) has been conducted. The
Course contents have been recently revised to meet the amended regulations.
The metal scaffolding training course consists of two different sessions: Lecture and Practice.
Each session is a half-day duration and can be conducted in the Centre's workshop or at the
construction site. The practical session aims to back up the lecture part. In the lecture session,
the participants will be taught with the concept of metal scaffolding as well as the relevant
regulations, code of practice, design principles and safety measures. In the practical session,
the participants will practice the job skill by erecting the metal scaffold including how and
where to tie in the scaffold throughout the whole process. Figures 2 and 3 show the course
participants attending the lecture session and undertaking the skill training in the practical
session respectively. A certificate in Metal Scaffolding Training will be issued to the trainees
upon satisfactory completion of the course.
Fig. 2 - Lecture Session
Fig. 3 - Practical Training Session
5
Moreover, the Job Safety Model developed by the authors will be introduced to the
participants as well, so that they can realize the importance of risk assessment before carrying
out any work
Job Safety Model
The Job Safety Model which aims to prevent the job-related accidents is emphasized in this
training course. Figure 4 shows the general principles of the model as explained below:
Risk assessment is a key factor for accident prevention. For any job to be done, risk
assessment should be made with respect to:
 the person assigned to do the job, whether competent or not;
 the equipment necessary for the job, whether adequate and in good condition or not;
 the job environment (i.e. work place/site environment), whether safe or not; and
 the job steps (more specific analysis), what particular hazards associated with each job
step.
After such analysis, the risk control measures for the job can be developed. Then, the control
measures should be integrated into the job steps to form the safe working procedures.
Integration is important! It is through integration that people will not miss the safety steps.
As stated by Petersen (1978), “We do not want production and a safety program, or
production and safety, or production with safety - but, we want safe production." This
concept of 'integrated' safety should be recognized and implemented.
Safe working procedures are the standard operation procedures for the job and must be
implemented. Before implementation, it is essential that the person assigned to do the job
must fully understand the procedures. In other words, job instruction including safety aspects
must be given to the operator to ensure the know-how.
Control cannot be exercised over any system unless its performance is monitored. Therefore,
to ensure job safety, monitoring should be done through work supervision, and this should be
the responsibility of the front-line supervisor.
Safety is a line function, as said by Anton (1979) and Petersen (1978). As top management
directs the effort by objective setting, planning, organizing and controlling, it assigns
responsibility to line management people and grants them authority to accomplish results.
6
The most important person for monitoring and ensuring safety at work is the front line
supervisor. It is important in the sense that he/she deals most directly with the employees and
thus bears the greatest responsibility for enforcing the company rules and procedures. To be
successful, front line supervisors must be given the appropriate authority as well as adequate
training in safety.
If the supervisor when monitoring discovers some unsatisfactory condition such as unsafe
performance/environment, or deviation from the laid down standards/procedures, it is
essential for him/her to identify the causes of the problems by going through again the
previous steps of the Model where appropriate, so that suitable actions can be taken. If
necessary, the supervisor may seek advice from the safety experts.
Also, if there is a change in the job elements such as change of the operator, equipment,
environment or job steps, risk assessment should be made accordingly.
JOB TO BE DONE
RISK ASSESSMENT
- Operator
- Equipment
- Environment
- Job steps
Risk control
measures
STANDARD
OPERATION
PROCEDURES
Integrate
Integrate
Job steps
JOB INSTRUCTION
to ensure the operator
fully understands
Operator
MONITORING
Unsatisfactory
Equipment
7
Satisfactory
Environment
SAFETY AT WORK
Fig. 4 - Chan & Lam's Job Safety Model
Conclusion
The accident rate concerning the scaffolding work in construction industry is very high. In
this respect, the Labour Department has recently amended Part VA of the Construction Site
(Safety) Regulations for the purpose of reducing accident occurrence and improving safety
record. The authors believe the amended regulations can achieve the said purpose.
To support the legislation, the Industrial Centre developed a metal scaffolding training course
for construction industry in 1995, and since then a total of 12 training courses for 300
participants has been successfully completed.
Job Safety Model developed by the authors is emphasized in the training course. The Model
stresses on the importance of risk assessment, safe working procedures, job instruction and
safety monitoring. By emphasizing the Model to the trainees, their safety concept and safety
awareness can be enhanced, and thus safety at work can be achieved.
References
1) Anton, Thomas J., 1979, "Occupational Safety and Health Management", McGraw Hill
Book Co., New York.
2) Hong Kong Government, 1999 "Regulation of Factories and Industrial Undertakings
Ordinance (Cap 59I), Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations", Hong Kong Government.
3) Petersen, Dan, 1978, "Techniques of Safety Management", Second edition, McGraw Hill
Book Co., New York.
8
Appendix 1
Chapter 59I, Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations
Safety of places of work
Part VA Scaffolds, Working Platforms and Ladders, etc.
 Inspection of scaffolds [Reg. 38F]
1. The contractor responsible for a scaffold on a construction site shall ensure that the
scaffold is not used unless
a) the scaffold
i. has been inspected by a competent person before being taken into use for the first
time.
ii. has been inspected by a competent person after any substantial addition, partial
dismantling or other alteration;
iii. has been inspected by a competent person after any exposure to weather conditions
likely to have affected its strength or stability or to have displaced any part of it;
iv. has been inspected by a competent person at regular interval not exceeding 14 days
immediately proceeding each use of the scaffold; and
b) a report has been made and signed by the person carrying out the inspection in an
approved form containing the prescribed particulars which include a statement to the
effect that the scaffold is safe working order.
2. Paragraph (1) shall not apply in relation to a scaffold from no part of which a person is
liable to fall from a height of 2 metres or more.
3. A report under paragraph (1) b of an inspection of a scaffold shall be delivered
forthwith by at the competent person to the contractor responsible for the scaffold.
4. The contractor to whom a report is delivered under paragraph (3) shall
a) at all time keep the report, or a copy thereof, on the construction site on which the
scaffold to which the report relates is located;
b) at all reasonable times make that report or copy available for inspection by
i. any occupational safety officer who requests to see it;
ii. any other person who is lawfully on the site (including any person using or proposing
to use the scaffold).
9
 Boatswain's chairs (not power operated) [Reg. 38G]
The contractor responsible for a construction site shall ensure that no boatswain's chairs or
similar plant or equipment (not being a boatswain's chair or similar plant or equipment
which is raised or lowered by a power-driven lifting appliance) is used on the site.
Appendix 2
Chapter 59I, Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations
Schedule 3 Requirements with which certain safety equipment must comply
Refer to regulation 38B(4)
1. Width of working platforms, gangways and runs
1. The width of any working platform, gangway or run shall be not less than 400 mm
2. The width of any working platform, gangway or run used for the movement of materials
shall be not less than 650 mm.
3. Where it is impracticable by reason of limitations of space to provide a working platform,
gangway or run of the width required by subsection (1) or (2), the, in lieu of complying
with that subsection, the working platform, gangway or run shall be as wide as is
reasonably practicable.
2. Working platforms, etc. to be closely boarded, etc.
1. Subject to subsection (2), every working platform, gangway and run shall be closely
boarded or planked
2. Subsection (1) shall not apply to a working platform, gangway or run
a) consisting of open metal work having interstices none of which exceeds 4,000 mm2 in
area; or
b) the boards or planks of which are so secured as to prevent their moving and so placed
that the space between adjacent boards or planks does not exceed 25 mm.
If there is no risk of persons below the platform, gangway or run being struck by materials
or articles falling through the platform, gangway or run.
3. Boards and planks in working platforms, gangways and runs
Every board or plank forming part of a working platform, gangway or run shall
a) be of sound construction, adequate strength and free from patent defect;
b) be of a thickness capable of affording adequate security having regard to the distance
between the supports and be not less than 200 mm in width and not less than 25 mm
in thickness or not less than 150 mm in width when the board or plank exceeds 50 mm
in thickness;
10
c) not protruding beyond its end support to a distance exceeding 150 mm unless it is
sufficiently secured to prevent tipping;
d) rest securely and evenly on its supports; and
e) rest on at least 3 supports unless, taking into account the distance between the
supports and the thickness of the board or plank the conditions are such as to prevent
undue or unequal sagging.
4. Coverings for opening
Every covering provided for an opening shall be
a) so constructed as to prevent the fall of persons, materials and articles; and
b) clearly and boldly market as to show its purpose or securely fixed in position.
5. Height of toe-boards
The height of a toe-board or other similar barrier shall be not less than 200 mm.
6. Height of guard-rails
Subject to section 7, the height of a guardrail above any place of work on a working
platform, gangway, run or stairway shall be
a) in the case of a top guard-rail : not less than 900 mm and not more than 1,150 mm
b) in the case of an intermediate guardrail: not less than 450 mm and not more than 600
mm.
7.
Exception to section 6
Section 6 shall not apply to a working platform on a bamboo scaffold if the platform is
protected by not less than 2 horizontal bamboo members of the scaffold spaced at
intervals between 750 mm to 900 mm.
8.
Temporary removal, etc of guardrails etc.
(1) Guard-rails, toe-boards and barriers may be removed or remain unerected for the time
and the extent necessary for the access of persons or the movement of materials or
other purposes of the work concerned, but shall be replaced or erected as soon as
practicable after the expiration of that time.
(2) Toe-boards shall not be required for stairs.
11