PART II | Only approved scaffold contractor to construct, erect, install, re-position, alter, maintain, repair or dismantle certain scaffolds |
4.—(1) No person shall construct, erect, install, re-position, alter, maintain, repair or dismantle any scaffold, not being an excluded scaffold, in any workplace unless he is an approved scaffold contractor.(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), “excluded scaffold” means —| (a) | a tower scaffold; | | (b) | a trestle scaffold; or | | (c) | a scaffold (other than a suspended scaffold, hanging scaffold or a scaffold erected on cantilever or jib supports) which, when completed and excluding the handrails and their supports at the uppermost lift of the scaffold, is less than 4 metres in height. |
|
|
| 5. It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that no person is involved in the construction, erection, installation, re‑positioning, alteration, maintenance, repair or dismantling of a scaffold in a workplace unless he has successfully completed a training course acceptable to the Commissioner, to equip him to perform the work of a scaffold erector. |
6.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to appoint a scaffold supervisor before any construction, erection, installation, re-positioning, alteration, maintenance, repair or dismantling of a scaffold in a workplace.(2) The responsible person shall not appoint any person as a scaffold supervisor unless the person is one —| (a) | who has successfully completed a training course acceptable to the Commissioner, to equip him to be a scaffold supervisor; and | | (b) | whom the responsible person reasonably believes is competent to perform the functions and duties of a scaffold supervisor. |
|
|
| Personal protective equipment for scaffold erectors |
7.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to provide to every scaffold erector involved in the construction, erection, installation, re-positioning, alteration, maintenance, repair or dismantling of any scaffold in a workplace —| (a) | a safety harness attached with a shock absorbing device; and | | (b) | sufficient and secured anchorage by means of an independent life line or other equally effective means. |
| (2) It shall be the duty of the scaffold erector who is involved in any work referred to in paragraph (1) to use the safety harness attached with a shock absorbing device provided to him. |
| (3) [Deleted by S 434/2024 wef 01/06/2024] |
|
| Supervision of construction, erection, installation, re‑positioning, alteration, maintenance, repair or dismantling of scaffolds |
| 8. It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that no scaffold is constructed, erected, installed, re-positioned, altered, maintained, repaired or dismantled in a workplace except under the immediate supervision of a scaffold supervisor. |
| Construction and materials |
9.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that every scaffold, and every member or component thereof, in a workplace shall be —| (a) | of sound material, good construction and adequate strength; | | (b) | free from patent defects; and | | (c) | suitable and safe for the purpose for which it is intended. |
| (2) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that every scaffold erected at a building under construction, so far as is reasonably practicable, be erected such that it precedes the construction of the uppermost permanent floor of the building by not less than one metre above that floor. |
| (3) Where the height of the scaffold referred to in paragraph (2) extends beyond the uppermost permanent floor by 2 metres or more, it shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that the scaffold shall be adequately supported to prevent its collapse. |
|
10.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that the requirements of paragraphs (2) to (5) are complied with.| (2) Every scaffold in a workplace shall be constructed, erected or installed on structures or foundations of adequate strength. |
| (3) Where a scaffold in a workplace is to be founded on soil, the soil shall be adequately consolidated. |
(4) In the case of a scaffold in a workplace exceeding 15 metres in height or being erected on poorly drained soil, base plates shall bear upon sole plates that are —| (a) | of strength not less than 670 kgf per square metre; and | | (b) | of a length suitable to distribute the load. |
|
| (5) There shall be no cavity under the sole plate immediately below any standard of a scaffold in a workplace. |
|
| Scaffolds supported by buildings, ships or other structures |
11.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3) are complied with.| (2) No part of a building, ship or other structure shall be used as support for any part of a scaffold in a workplace unless it is sufficiently stable, and of sound material and adequate strength to afford safe support. |
| (3) Overhanging eaves gutters shall not be used as supports for any part of a scaffold in a workplace unless they have been specially designed as walkways and are of adequate strength. |
|
| Designated access point for scaffolds |
12.—(1) It shall be the duty of the occupier of a workplace where a scaffold is constructed, erected or installed to ensure that every scaffold shall have at least one designated access point from which a person may gain access onto the scaffold.(2) It shall be the duty of the occupier of a workplace where a scaffold is constructed, erected or installed to ensure that every designated access point is —| (a) | clearly marked with a sign or label; and | | (b) | made safe for use by any person. |
|
|
13. It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that stairs or ladders —| (a) | are provided to enable persons to gain access from one level of any scaffold in a workplace to another level; and | | (b) | so far as is reasonably practicable, are installed within the scaffold. |
|
14.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that the requirements of paragraphs (2) to (8) are complied with.(2) The standards of a scaffold in a workplace shall be —| (a) | plumb where practicable; | | (b) | fixed sufficiently close together to secure the stability of the scaffold, having regard to all the circumstances; | | (c) | in the case of a timber scaffold, spaced not more than 1.5 metres apart; and | | (d) | in the case of a metal scaffold, subject to paragraph (3), spaced not more than 2.5 metres apart. |
|
| (3) No metal scaffold with standards spaced more than 2.5 metres apart shall be constructed or erected in a workplace unless it has been approved in writing by the Commissioner. |
| (4) Subject to paragraph (5), a standard of a scaffold in a workplace shall be placed on an adequate and secured sole plate in order that the foot of the standard does not rest directly on the ground or supporting surface, so as to prevent any vertical displacement of the foot. |
| (5) Where the floor or supporting structure is of sufficient rigidity to evenly distribute the load imposed upon it by the standard without causing any vertical displacement of the standard, the provision of a sole plate under the standard shall not be necessary. |
| (6) The foot of a standard of any frame or modular scaffold in a workplace shall be secured to a base plate so that it does not rest directly on the ground or supporting surface. |
| (7) The ledgers of a metal scaffold in a workplace shall be spaced at vertical intervals of not more than 2 metres. |
(8) The ledgers of a timber scaffold in a workplace shall —| (a) | as far as possible, be horizontal; | | (b) | be spaced at vertical intervals of not more than 1.8 metres; and | | (c) | be securely fastened to the standards. |
|
|
| 15. It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that transoms are located at or near the intersections of standards and ledgers of a scaffold in a workplace. |
16.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that the requirements of paragraphs (2) to (8) are complied with.| (2) Every scaffold in a workplace shall be effectively braced by means of longitudinal and transverse bracing systems which shall extend from the base to the top of the scaffold. |
| (3) The joints in bracing members shall be lapped or spliced. |
| (4) Longitudinal bracing members shall be continuous and fixed at approximately 45° to the horizontal. |
| (5) Each lift shall be crossed by at least one longitudinal bracing member in every 10 metres length of the scaffold. |
| (6) Subject to paragraph (7), a transverse bracing system shall be provided at each end of the scaffold and at intervals of not more than 10 bays. |
(7) A transverse bracing system need not be provided where —| (a) | vertical transverse frames are provided for the full height of the scaffold and at each pair of standards; and | | (b) | the frames are type-tested by a recognised testing body in accordance with a standard or specification acceptable to the Commissioner. |
|
| (8) Every frame scaffold in a workplace shall be provided with horizontal bracings or lacings at intervals of not more than every 5 lifts. |
|
| Gear for suspension of scaffolds |
17.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that the requirements of paragraphs (2) to (4) are complied with.| (2) Every chain, rope and lifting gear used for the suspension of a scaffold in a workplace shall be of sound material, adequate strength and suitable quality, and in good condition. |
(3) Any chain, rope and metal tube used for the suspension of a scaffold in a workplace, other than a suspended scaffold, shall be —| (a) | properly and securely fastened to safe anchorage points and to the scaffold ledgers or other main supporting members; | | (b) | positioned so as to ensure stability of the scaffold; | | (c) | approximately vertical; and | | (d) | kept taut. |
|
| (4) Every scaffold in a workplace that is suspended by means of chains or ropes shall be secured to prevent undue horizontal movement while it is used as a work platform. |
|
18.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that the requirements of paragraphs (2) to (6) are complied with.(2) Work platforms in a workplace shall be provided —| (a) | at any place of work which does not afford a proper and secure foothold; and | | (b) | in the case of a building under construction, around the edge of the building at every uppermost permanent floor which is under construction. |
|
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) —| (a) | work platforms shall be provided at intervals of not less than every alternate lift of any scaffold, except a tower scaffold or a trestle scaffold, used in any premises where building operations are being carried on; and | | (b) | unless approval is given in writing by the Commissioner, the vertical distance between any 2 work platforms shall not exceed 4 metres. |
|
| (4) Every work platform provided under paragraph (3) shall cover the lift of a scaffold throughout its entire length. |
(5) Every work platform provided under this regulation shall —| (a) | be closely boarded, planked or decked; | | (b) | be at least 500 millimeters wide; and | | (c) | not have any opening except to allow access to that work platform. |
|
| (6) The distance between a work platform and any building, ship or other structure shall be as narrow as is reasonably practicable and shall not exceed 300 millimetres. |
|
| Loading requirements for scaffolds |
19.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that signboards stating the maximum permissible weight of tools and materials and the maximum number of persons permissible on each bay are prominently displayed at suitable locations on the scaffold in a workplace.| (2) It shall be the duty of the occupier of the workplace to ensure that the signboards referred to in paragraph (1) are displayed at all times until the scaffold is dismantled. |
| (3) It shall be the duty of the occupier of a workplace in which a scaffold is constructed, erected or installed to ensure that the requirements of paragraphs (4) to (8) are complied with. |
| (4) Subject to regulation 45, a scaffold in a workplace shall not be overloaded and, so far as is reasonably practicable, the load thereon shall be evenly distributed. |
| (5) When any material is transferred to or from a scaffold in a workplace, the material shall be moved or deposited without imposing any violent shock. |
(6) The maximum loading for persons and materials allowed on any work platform in any bay of a scaffold in a workplace shall be —| (a) | in the case of a timber scaffold, 75 kgf per square metre; or | | (b) | in any other case, 220 kgf per square metre. |
|
(7) The maximum number of persons allowed on any work platform in any bay of a timber or metal scaffold in a workplace shall be —| (a) | in the case of a timber scaffold, not more than 2 persons; and | | (b) | in the case of a metal scaffold, not more than 4 persons. |
|
(8) The maximum number of persons allowed in any bay of a timber or metal scaffold in a workplace shall be —| (a) | in the case of a timber scaffold, not more than 4 persons; and | | (b) | in the case of a metal scaffold, not more than 8 persons. |
|
|
| Design by professional engineer |
20.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3) are complied with.(2) Subject to regulation 19(6) and (7), a work platform and any support thereof in a workplace shall be constructed in accordance with the design and drawings of a professional engineer where the work platform is used —| (a) | to provide footing for more than 2 persons in each bay; or | | (b) | to support tools or materials exceeding 25 kgf in each bay. |
|
| (3) Subject to regulation 19(8)(b), where a metal scaffold is used in a workplace to support more than 4 persons in any bay, the scaffold shall be constructed in accordance with the design and drawings of a professional engineer. |
(4) It shall be the duty of a professional engineer who designs any work platform or support referred to in paragraph (2) or any metal scaffold referred to in paragraph (3) to —| (a) | take, so far as is reasonably practicable, such measures to ensure that his design can be executed safely by any person who constructs or uses the work platform, support or metal scaffold according to his design; and | | (b) | provide to any person who constructs or is to construct the work platform, support or metal scaffold, all design documentation (including all relevant calculations, drawings and construction procedures) as is necessary to facilitate the proper construction of the work platform, support or metal scaffold according to his design. |
|
| (5) It shall be the duty of the occupier of the workplace in which a scaffold is erected or installed to ensure that no work platform or support referred to in paragraph (2) or metal scaffold referred to in paragraph (3) is used unless the design and drawings certified by the professional engineer are kept available at the workplace for inspection by an inspector. |
| (6) [Deleted by S 434/2024 wef 01/06/2024] |
|
| Boards, planks and decking |
21.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that the requirements of paragraphs (2) to (4) are complied with.(2) All boards, planks or decking used in the construction of work platforms in a workplace shall —| (a) | be of uniform thickness; | | (b) | be capable of supporting a load of 670 kgf per square metre with due regard to the spacing of the supports; and | | (c) | be flushed along their lengths and effectively secured to prevent tipping or uplift. |
|
| (3) Any metal decking which forms part of a work platform in a workplace shall be provided with non-skid surfaces. |
| (4) Any board or plank which forms part of a work platform in a workplace shall project beyond its end support to a distance of not less than 50 millimetres and not more than 4 times the thickness of the board or plank. |
|
| Toe-boards and guard-rails |
22.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that the requirements of paragraphs (2) to (6) are complied with.| (2) Every side of a work platform or workplace from which a person is liable to fall more than 2 metres shall be provided with toe-boards and 2 or more guard-rails. |
(3) The toe-boards and guard-rails provided under paragraph (2) shall —| (a) | be of sound material, good construction and adequate strength to withstand the impact during the course of work; | | (b) | be placed on the inside of the uprights and secured so as to prevent any accidental displacement; and | | (c) | be placed so as to prevent the fall of any person or material. |
|
| (4) The uppermost guard-rail provided under paragraph (2) shall be at least one metre above the work platform or workplace for which the guard-rail is provided. |
| (5) The height of the toe-boards provided under paragraph (2) shall not be less than 90 millimetres. |
(6) The vertical distance —| (a) | between any 2 adjacent guard-rails provided under paragraph (2); and | | (b) | between any work platform or workplace and the guard-rail immediately above it, |
| shall not exceed 600 millimetres. |
|
|
| Overlay and screening nets |
23.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), it shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that overlay or screening nets shall be used to envelope any timber or metal scaffold in a workplace which is erected on the outside of a building.| (2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a tower scaffold. |
|
| Scaffolds to be free of material which endanger safety |
| 24. It shall be the duty of the occupier of a workplace in which a scaffold is constructed, erected or installed to remove any material, including waste material or debris, from the scaffold which may endanger the safety of any person. |
| Measures against electrical hazards |
25. It shall be the duty of —| (a) | the employer of any person who uses or is to use any scaffold in a workplace; or | | (b) | the principal under whose direction any person uses or is to use any scaffold in the workplace, |
| to ensure that all practicable measures shall be taken to protect the person from electric shock by electrical wires or equipment when using the scaffold. |
|
26.—(1) Subject to paragraph (4), it shall be the duty of the occupier of a workplace in which a scaffold is constructed, erected or installed to ensure that no scaffold is used unless it has been inspected by a scaffold supervisor —| (a) | upon completion of its construction, erection or installation, as the case may be; | | (b) | thereafter, at intervals of not more than 7 days immediately following the date of the last inspection by the scaffold supervisor; and | | (c) | after exposure to weather conditions likely to have affected its strength or stability or to have displaced any part. |
(2) It shall be the duty of the scaffold supervisor to —| (a) | enter the results of every inspection referred to in paragraph (1) into a register containing such details as may be required by the Commissioner; and | | (b) | provide the register to the occupier of the workplace. |
|
(3) Subject to paragraph (4), it shall be the duty of the occupier of the workplace in which a scaffold is constructed, erected or installed to —| (a) | keep the register referred to in paragraph (2) at the workplace; and | | (b) | produce the register for inspection upon request by an inspector. |
|
(4) This regulation shall not apply to —| (a) | a trestle scaffold; or | | (b) | a scaffold, from no part of which a person is liable to fall more than 2 metres. |
|
| (5) [Deleted by S 434/2024 wef 01/06/2024] |
|
| Labelling of scaffolds after inspection |
27.—(1) It shall be the duty of the scaffold supervisor who carries out the inspection of a scaffold under regulation 26 to, immediately after such inspection, display a notice or label indicating whether the scaffold is safe for use or otherwise.(2) The notice or label referred to in paragraph (1) shall —| (a) | be in a form readily understood by the persons employed in the workplace; and | | (b) | be displayed at every designated access point. |
|
(3) Subject to paragraph (4), it shall be the duty of —| (a) | the employer of any person who uses or is to use any scaffold in a workplace to which regulation 26 applies; or | | (b) | the principal under whose direction any person uses or is to use any scaffold in a workplace to which regulation 26 applies, |
| to ensure that the person does not use the scaffold unless a notice or label is displayed at the designated access point indicating that the scaffold is safe for use. |
|
(4) Paragraph (3) shall not apply in relation to a person who is —| (a) | a scaffold supervisor carrying out any inspection of a scaffold under regulation 26; or | | (b) | a scaffold erector carrying out the repair of a scaffold under regulation 28. |
|
|
| Construction, erection, maintenance, repair and dismantling of scaffolds |
28.—(1) It shall be the duty of the occupier of a workplace in which a scaffold is, or is being, constructed, erected or installed to ensure that the requirements of paragraphs (2) to (8) are complied with.| (2) No scaffold or part thereof which is partially constructed, erected, installed or dismantled shall be allowed to be used unless it is made safe. |
| (3) Where any scaffold referred to in paragraph (2) is unsafe for use, a prominent warning notice or signs in a form readily understood by all persons indicating that the scaffold or part thereof is not to be used shall be affixed near any point at which the scaffold or part, as the case may be, is liable to be approached for the purpose of use. |
| (4) Every scaffold shall be properly maintained and every part thereof shall be fixed, secured or placed in position so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, any accidental displacement. |
| (5) Any scaffold, and any member or component thereof, that has been damaged or weakened shall be repaired as soon as is reasonably practicable. |
| (6) No person shall be permitted on a scaffold that is damaged or weakened except a scaffold erector who is carrying out the repair of the scaffold. |
| (7) All reasonably practicable measures shall be taken to ensure the safety of the persons carrying out the repairs referred to in paragraph (6). |
| (8) Where ties of a scaffold to a permanent structure have to be removed, the portion of the scaffold from which the ties are removed shall be dismantled unless adequate measures are taken to ensure the stability of the scaffold. |
|
|
