Hong Kong Regulations

CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 38I

Boatswain's chairs (not power operated)

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

(1) The contractor responsible for a construction site shall ensure that no
boatswain's chair 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 unless-

(a) it is of good construction, sound material, adequate strength and free
from patent defect;

   (b)  the outriggers or other supports are of adequate strength and properly
        installed and supported;

   (c)  the chains, ropes, lifting gear or other means of suspension used
        therewith (in addition to satisfying the requirements in the
        Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Lifting Appliances and Lifting 
        Gear) Regulations ( Cap 59 sub. leg.) are securely attached to the
        outriggers or other supports and to the chair or similar plant or
        equipment or to any lifting appliance or other device attached
        thereto, as the case may be; (L.N. 285 of 1993)

   (d)  suitable means are provided to prevent any occupant falling out;

   (e)  it is free of materials or articles liable to interfere with the
        occupant's handhold or foothold or otherwise endanger him;

   (f)  suitable measures are taken to prevent spinning or tipping in a manner
        dangerous to any occupant;

   (g)  safety belts attached to independent life lines are provided to the
        occupants and each life line is securely suspended;

   (h)  its installation has been, and its use is, supervised by a
        competent person; and

   (i)  it is properly maintained.

(2) The contractor responsible shall ensure that no boatswain's chair or
similar plant or equipment is used as a working place in circumstances in
which a suspended scaffold could be used unless the work is of such short
duration as to make the use of a suspended scaffold unreasonable or the use of
a suspended scaffold is not reasonably practicable.