Hong Kong Regulations

CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 38F

Inspection of scaffolds

(Past version on 01/10/1999).
(Past version on 30/06/1997).

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the contractor responsible for a scaffold on a
construction site and any contractor who has direct control over any
construction work which involves the use of the scaffold shall ensure that the
scaffold is not used unless- (L.N. 258 of 2003)

   (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 and the contractor who employs him to carry out the inspection.
(L.N. 257 of 2003; L.N. 258 of 2003)

(4) The contractors to whom a report is delivered under paragraph

(3) shall- (L.N. 258 of 2003)

   (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)