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The Labour Department (LD) today (June 27) issued a revised version of the Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety (CoP).
A spokesperson for the LD said, "A notice has been published in the Gazette today on the issue of the revised CoP, which provides construction contractors with practical guidance on how to fulfill their safety responsibilities of providing suitable working platforms on bamboo scaffolds, so as to ensure the safety of the workers concerned."
"The revised CoP should be read in conjunction with the Guidelines on Planking Arrangement for Providing Working Platforms on Bamboo Scaffolds recently issued by the Construction Industry Council, which set out the delineation of responsibilities between principal contractors and subcontractors on planking arrangement for working platforms on bamboo scaffolds."
"Improper planking arrangement due to lack of communication and co-ordination between the principal contractors and subcontractors from time to time results in unsafe work-at-height conditions endangering workers' safety. To effectively manage the risk of falling from height and ensure safety at work on bamboo scaffolds, principal contractors and subcontractors should follow the safety management principles and detailed delineation of safety responsibilities and roles in respect of provision of safe working platforms through proper planking arrangement on bamboo scaffolds as stipulated in the CoP and the Guidelines respectively."
The spokesperson added, "This CoP 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."
The revised CoP can be obtained free of charge from the offices of the Occupational Safety and Health Branch of LD. It can also be downloaded from the department's website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8b.htm). Enquiries about the CoP can be made at 2559 2297.
Ends/Friday, June 27, 2014
Issued at HKT 10:25
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