Hong Kong Regulations

CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 38F

Inspection of scaffolds

Caution: This is a past version. See the current version here.

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), 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;

        (iv)   has been inspected by a competent person at regular intervals
               not exceeding 14 days immediately preceding 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 in 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 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 times 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). (Part VA
               replaced L.N. 76 of 1999)