New Bamboo Scaffolding Safety Code Takes Effect Tomorrow, Enhancing Industry Regulations and Training.

Revised Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety to take effect tomorrow

​The revised Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety (CoP) will officially take effect tomorrow (October 19). The CoP was gazetted on April 19 this year, and a grace period of six months was provided to allow the industry to have sufficient time to understand and prepare for the revised requirements.

During this grace period, the Labour Department (LD) has strengthened its publicity and promotion, as well as education and training through various channels to facilitate the industry's better understanding of the content of the CoP. These include disseminating relevant information through the LD website, the "OSH 2.0" mobile application and various mass media. In addition, a new "Work Safety Alert" animation specifically targeting truss-out bamboo scaffolds (TOS) has been produced. Relevant content has also been incorporated into the Mandatory Basic Safety Training Course (Construction Work) (commonly known as the "Green Card") and occupational safety and health (OSH) training courses organised by the LD. The LD has also co-organised with relevant organisations to conduct a series of talks and seminars and launch new television promotional videos to further explain the major revisions of the CoP.

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 TOS 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 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. The inspection focuses include whether the erection, addition, alteration or dismantling of TOS is conducted under the immediate supervision of a competent person; whether the bamboo scaffolders of TOS hold valid certificates; whether suitable fall protection equipment and systems are provided and properly used by bamboo scaffolders; and the stability of the scaffolding. If any violations of the OSH legislation are detected, stringent enforcement actions will be taken immediately, including issuing suspension notices and improvement notices and initiating prosecutions without prior warning."

Under the general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, employers are obligated to provide safe working environments, plant and system of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions with serious circumstances are subject to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.

The revised CoP can be downloaded from the LD website www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8b.htm. Enquiries about the CoP can be made at 2559 2297.

Waste Disposal (Amendment) Bill 2024 gazetted today

The Waste Disposal (Amendment) Bill 2024 (Amendment Bill) was published in the Gazette today (October 18), for implementing the relevant amendments to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (Basel Convention) on the control of transboundary movements of electrical and electronic waste (EEW) and their proper management in Hong Kong.

A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau indicated that the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention adopted the amendments to the Basel Convention in June 2022. The amendments, which will take effect from January 1, 2025, expand the control scope of the Basel Convention from hazardous EEW to all EEW. From then, the export of all EEW may only be allowed if the state of import and state(s) of transit, if any, have given their prior consent. The objective is to ensure EEW undergoing transboundary movement is properly managed in the state of import, thereby protecting the local environment and public health.

The spokesman said, "The amendments to the Basel Convention will enter into force in our country on January 1, 2025, and apply to Hong Kong. Therefore, we shall amend the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap. 354) (WDO) to expand the scope of import and export control to cover all EEW under the permit control system, with a view to aligning with national policy and complying with the requirements under the Basel Convention alongside with our country."

To facilitate the trade to adapt to the new control, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has been actively explaining the implementation details and providing suitable assistance to the trade. Subject to the passage of the Amendment Bill by the Legislative Council (LegCo), a six-month phasing-in period will be put in place once the amendments to the WDO become effective. During the phasing-in period, the EPD will exercise discretion when it handles non-compliance matters. At the same time, the EPD will continue to facilitate trade compliance through further publicity and educational efforts.

The Amendment Bill will be introduced into the LegCo for first and second readings on October 30. The Government will fully complement the work of the LegCo in scrutinising the bill, and hope that the LegCo will support and approve the Amendment Bill. Subject to its passage, the relevant legislative amendments will take effect on January 1, 2025, to align with the effective date of the amendments to the Basel Convention which will be the same date when the country implements the requirement.