Hong Kong’s revised Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety takes effect on 19 October 2024

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If any violations of the occupational safety and health legislation are detected, the Labour Department will issue suspension notices and improvement notices and initiate prosecutions without prior warning.

The revised Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety (CoP) officially came into effect on 19 October 2024 (Saturday).

The major revisions of the CoP include:

• enhancing technical requirements for the bracings, putlogs and access and egress of bamboo scaffolds;
• prohibiting unauthorised alteration of bamboo scaffolding including putlogs;
• further specifying the requirements of supervising work of competent persons to the bamboo scaffolders who perform erection, addition, alteration or dismantling of bamboo scaffolds and inspection prior to inclement weather; and
• requiring all workers who perform erection, addition, alteration, or dismantling of truss-out bamboo scaffolds to hold a valid certificate of "Advanced Level Truss-out Scaffolder Safety Training" or "Intermediate Level Truss-out Scaffolder Safety Training" issued by the Construction Industry Council before performing specified work.

A spokesperson for the Labour Department (LD) said after the commencement of the revised CoP, the LD will continue to strengthen area patrols in the coming period to combat violations of scaffolding operations in renovation, maintenance, alteration and addition works.

If any violations of the occupational safety and health legislation are detected, stringent enforcement actions will be taken immediately, including issuing suspension notices and improvement notices and initiating prosecutions without prior warning.

The revised CoP was gazetted on 19 April 2024, and a grace period of six months was provided. During this grace period, the LD has strengthened its publicity and promotion, as well as education and training through various channels to allow the industry to have sufficient time to understand and prepare for the revised requirements.

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