Chain reaction
R 64 Savings and transitional provision
Notwithstanding the revocation of the Factories (Scaffolds) Regulations 2004, every person who,
immediately before 10th September 2011, is registered as an approved scaffold contractor shall be deemed to be an approved scaffold contractor under these Regulations; and cease to be an approved scaffold contractor on the expiry of its registration as an approved scaffold contractor as if these Regulations had not been made
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R 3 Application
Apply to any factoryworkplace in which any scaffold is erected, installed, used, re-positioned, altered, maintained, repaired or dismantled.
R 4 Obligation under Regulations
The occupier shall ensure that the scaffold is erected, installed, re-positioned, altered or dismantled by an approved scaffold contractor and in accordance with these Regulations. The approved scaffold contractor and every person who engages an approved scaffold contractor shall ensure that the requirements of these Regulations relating to the erection, installation, re- positioning, alteration or dismantling of the scaffold are complied with. The employer, whose employee uses any scaffold or part of a scaffold to perform work, to shall ensure that the scaffold is used by the employee in accordance with these Regulations.
Every person employed or engaged in connection with the erection, installation, use, re- positioning, alteration or dismantling of any scaffold shall —
ensure that every provision of these Regulations relating to his role is complied with; and co-operate with the occupier and the person who employs or engages him in ensuring that the requirements of these Regulations are complied with.
uppermost lift of the scaffold, is less than 4 metres in height. An approved scaffold contractor shall employ or engage only qualified scaffold supervisors, scaffold erectors and suspended scaffold riggers.
R 6 Scaffold supervisor
The scaffold supervisor shall be a qualified person and ensure that the scaffold is erected, installed, re-positioned, altered or dismantled in accordance with these Regulations.
R 7 Scaffold erectors and suspended scaffold riggers
Every suspended scaffold shall be erected, installed, re-positioned, altered or dismantled by a qualified suspended scaffold rigger. Every scaffold erector and suspended scaffold rigger shall be provided with a safety harness attached to a shock absorbing device and use the safety harness provided.
R 8 Construction and materials
Every scaffold and every member or component thereof shall be of sound material, good construction and adequate strength; free from patent defects; and
suitable and safe for the purpose for which it is intended.
No scaffold exceeding 4 metres or suspended scaffold shall be erected, installed, re-positioned, altered or dismantled except under the immediate supervision of a scaffold supervisor. Every scaffold exceeding 4 metres shall be erected, installed, re-positioned, altered or dismantled by a qualified scaffold erector. Every scaffold shall be properly maintained and every part thereof shall be fixed, secured or placed in position so as to prevent, as far as practicable, any accidental displacement.
R 9 Scaffold to precede permanent floor
Every scaffold erected at a building under construction shall, as far as practicable, be erected such that it precedes the construction of the uppermost permanent floor of the building by not less than 1 metre above that floor. Where the height of the scaffold extends beyond the uppermost permanent floor by 2 metres or more, the scaffold shall be adequately supported to prevent collapse.
R 10 Work platforms
Work platforms shall be provided at any place of work which does not afford a proper and secure foothold and in the case of a building under construction, around the edge of the building at every uppermost permanent floor which is under construction. 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. The vertical distance between any 2 work platforms shall not exceed 4 metres. Every work platform provided shall cover the lift of a scaffold throughout its entire length. Every work platform shall be closely boarded, planked or decked and if it is used to provide footing for not more than 3 persons and support tools and materials not exceeding 25 kgf per bay of a scaffold, at least 500 millimetres wide.
A work platform and any support thereof shall be constructed in accordance with the design and drawings of a professional engineer where the work platform is used to provide footing for more than 2 persons in each bay or to support tools or materials exceeding 25 kgf in each bay. The maximum loading for persons and materials on any work platform in any bay of a scaffold shall be
Signboards stating the maximum permissible weight of tools and materials and the maximum number of persons permissible on each bay shall be prominently displayed at suitable locations on the work platforms. The distance between a work platform and any building or other structure shall be as narrow as practicable and shall not exceed 300 millimetres.
R 11 Boards, planks and decking
All boards, planks or decking used in the construction of work platforms shall — be of uniform thickness;
be capable of supporting a load of 670 kgf per square metre with due regard to the spacing of the supports; and
be flushed along their lengths and secured.
Any metal decking which forms part of a work platform shall be provided with non-skid surfaces. Any board or plank which forms part of a work platform 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 unless it is effectively secured to prevent tipping or uplift.
R 12 Number of persons allowed in each bay
In the case of a timber scaffold, not more than 4 persons shall be allowed in any bay. In the case of a metal scaffold, not more than 8 persons shall be allowed in any bay. Where a metal scaffold is used 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.
R 13 Scaffold to be free of substances which endanger safety
Any material, including concrete waste or other debris, which may endanger the safety of any person shall be removed from the scaffold.
R 14 Work at end of wall or work area
Where work has to be done at the end of a wall or work area, the work platform at such wall or work area shall, where practicable, extend at least 600 millimetres beyond the end of the wall or work area.
R 15 Repair of damaged scaffold
Any scaffold and any member or component thereof that has been damaged or weakened shall be immediately repaired. No person shall be permitted on a scaffold that is damaged or
weakened except for a scaffold erector who is carrying out repairs thereto. Adequate safety measures shall be taken to ensure the safety of the scaffold erector carrying out the repairs.
R 16 Opening only for access
There shall be no opening in any work platform except to allow access to that work platform.
R 17 Stairs and ladders
Stairs or ladders shall be provided to enable persons to gain access from one level of any scaffold to another. Stairs or ladders provided shall, as far as practicable, be installed within the scaffold.
R 18 Toe-boards and guard-rails
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. The toe-boards and guard- rails provided shall be —
of good construction, sound material and adequate strength to withstand the impact during the course of work;
which the guard-rail is provided. The height of toe-boards shall not be less than 90 millimetres. The vertical distance between any 2 adjacent guard-rails or any work platform or workplace and the guard-rail immediately above it shall not exceed 600 millimetres.
R 19 Standards and ledgers
The standards of a scaffold shall be — plumb where practicable;
fixed sufficiently close together to secure the stability of the scaffold, having regard to all the circumstances;
spaced not more than 1.5 metres apart in the case of a timber scaffold; and spaced not more than 2.5 metres apart in the case of a metal scaffold.
No metal scaffold with standards spaced more than 2.5 metres apart shall be used unless its use has been approved by the MOM in writing.
A standard 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. 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. The foot of a standard of any frame or modular scaffold shall be secured to a base plate so that it does not rest directly on the ground or supporting surface.
The ledgers of a metal scaffold shall be spaced at vertical intervals of not more than 2 metres. The ledgers of a timber scaffold shall be —
as far as possible, horizontal;
spaced at vertical intervals of not more than 1.8 metres; and securely fastened to the standards.
R 20 Bracing
Every scaffold shall be effectively braced by means of longitudinal and transverse bracing systems which shall extend from the base to the top of the scaffold. The joints in bracing
members shall be lapped or spliced. Longitudinal bracing members shall be continuous and fixed at approximately 45° to the horizontal. Every lift shall be crossed by at least one longitudinal bracing member in every 10 metres length of the scaffold.
A transverse bracing system shall be provided at each end of the scaffold and at intervals of not more than 10 bays. Transverse bracing system may be omitted where vertical transverse frames are provided for the full height of the scaffold and at each pair of standards and the frames are of a type approved by MOM. Every frame scaffold shall be provided with horizontal bracings or lacings at intervals of not more than every 5 lifts.
R 21 Transoms
Transoms shall be located at or near the intersections of standards and ledgers.
R 22 Foundation of scaffold
A scaffold shall be constructed on structures or foundations of adequate strength. Where a scaffold is to be founded on soil, the soil shall be well-consolidated. In the case of a scaffold exceeding 15 metres in height or being erected on poorly drained soil, base plates shall bear upon sole plates of strength not less than 670 kgf per square metre and of a length suitable to distribute the load. There shall be no cavity under the sole plate immediately below any standard.
Where a scaffold or part thereof is to be used by or on behalf of an employer other than the employer for whose employee it was first erected, the first-mentioned employer shall, before such use, and without prejudice to any such obligations imposed upon him by these Regulations, take immediate steps to satisfy himself that the provisions of these Regulations have been complied with. When any defect on a scaffold is discovered by the first-mentioned employer, he shall notify the occupier of the factoryworkplace in which the scaffold is installed and the occupier shall take immediate steps to rectify the defect.
R 25 Designated access point for scaffold
Every scaffold shall have at least one designated access point from which a person may gain access onto the scaffold. All designated access points shall be clearly marked with a sign or label and made safe for use by any person.
R 26 Measures against electrical hazards
All practicable measures shall be taken to protect any person working on a scaffold from electric shock by electrical wires or equipment.
R 27 Inspection of scaffold
Except for trestle scaffold, scaffold shall be inspected by a scaffold supervisor — within the 7 days immediately preceding the use of the scaffold; and
since exposure to weather conditions likely to have affected its strength or stability or to have displaced any part.
The scaffold supervisor shall enter the results of any inspection into a register.
R 28 Labelling and marking of scaffold
The scaffold supervisor who carries out the inspection of a scaffold shall, immediately after such inspection, display a notice or label indicating whether the scaffold is safe for use or otherwise. The notice or label shall be in languages or signs easily understood by the persons and displayed at every designated access point. No person shall use any scaffold unless a notice or label is displayed at the designated access point indicating that the scaffold is safe for use with the exception of scaffold erector who is carrying out any repair on a scaffold or a scaffold supervisor who is carrying out any inspection of a scaffold.
R 29 Overlay and screening nets
Overlay or screening nets shall be used to envelope any timber or metal scaffold which is erected on the outside of a building. This shall not apply to a tower scaffold.
R 30 Erection and dismantling
No scaffold or part thereof which is partly erected or dismantled shall be allowed to remain in such a condition that it is capable of being used unless —
the scaffold complies with these Regulations; or
a prominent warning notice in languages or signs understood by all persons indicating that the scaffold or part thereof is not to be used is 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.
Where ties of a scaffold to a permanent structure have to be removed, the portion from which the ties are removed shall be dismantled unless adequate measures are taken to ensure the stability of the scaffold.
been obtained from the professional engineer;
a copy of the design and drawings certified by the professional engineer and the certificate are kept available at the factoryworkplace; and
the scaffold or support, as the case may be, has been inspected by a professional engineer at least once every 3 months to ensure that it is safe for use.
When the professional engineer discovers any defect in a scaffold or support, he shall immediately inform the occupier of the factoryworkplace in which the scaffold or support is
installed. The occupier shall take action to rectify the defect before the scaffold or support is used.
Metal Scaffolds
R 32 Approved metal scaffold
No metal scaffold shall be used unless it is of a type approved by MOM.
R 33 Metal scaffold to be constructed in accordance with design and drawings of professional engineer
Every metal scaffold exceeding 30 metres in height in any factoryworkplace other than in a shipyard shall be constructed in accordance with the design and drawings of a professional engineer.
R 34 Ties for metal scaffold
Every alternate lift and every uppermost lift of an independent tied metal scaffold shall be effectively tied to the building or structure by means of ties. Ties shall be located no further than one bay from the ends of the scaffold and thereafter, at intermediate spacing of not more than 3 bays or 7.5 metres apart, whichever is the lesser. Ties other than tie tubes and couplers shall not be used.
Every tie tube shall be perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the scaffold and where this is not practicable, the deviation from the perpendicular shall not exceed 15°. Every tie shall be capable of withstanding a force of 1,000 kgf applied in either direction along the length of the tie.
R 35 Transoms for modular or tube-and-coupler scaffolds
A modular scaffold or tube-and-coupler scaffold shall be provided with transverse horizontal members or transoms for each lift.
R 36 Spigots, jointpins or sleeves
Spigots, jointpins or sleeves shall be used to connect one standard to another. Where spigots, jointpins or sleeves are used to locate and connect one standard to another, such spigots, jointpins or sleeves shall permit full bearing over the whole bearing area at the ends of the standards and have such external or internal dimensions that the maximum difference of mating diameters in any part between the spigot, jointpin or sleeve and the other standard does not exceed 1.6 millimetres.
Spigots and jointpins shall engage in the ends of the standards by at least 70 millimetres. Sleeves shall cover the end of the standard by at least 70 millimetres. The standards shall be securely held if they are connected by the spigots, jointpins or sleeves.
R 37 Adjustable base plates
Frame or modular scaffolds shall be erected such that lifts are horizontal and in one plane.
R 39 Cross brace not to be used as means of access or egress
No cross brace on a frame scaffold shall be used as a means of access or egress.
Timber Scaffolds R 41 Timber scaffold
Timber used for any scaffold — shall be of a suitable quality; shall be in good condition;
shall have the bark completely stripped off; and
shall not be painted or treated in any way so that defects in the wood cannot be seen easily. Timber used for any scaffold shall comprise Bintangor rollers or other species of timber rollers which are of similar strength, durability and resilience as Bintangor rollers. Every standard shall be at least 50 millimetres diameter throughout its length. Every timber roller used as a ledger or horizontal bracing, transom or putlog shall be at least 38 millimetres diameter at the tip. The members or components of a timber scaffold shall be lashed using rattan strips or other material not less than 1.8 metres in length with a minimum of 6 turns per strip.
R 42 Construction of timber scaffold
Every timber scaffold shall not exceed 15 metres in height. No timber scaffold with a single row of standards shall be erected or used. Every timber scaffold shall be securely tied and braced at the corners and rigidly anchored to the building at regular close intervals. Transverse and longitudinal braces of timber scaffold shall be securely placed and lashed to the standards.
R 43 Ties for timber scaffold
A timber scaffold shall be tied to a building by horizontal ties. Each tie shall pass through an opening or hole in the wall in the building and be secured at a right angle to another pole which shall be fixed firmly inside the building. Where it is impracticable to install any tie, the timber scaffold shall be tied to a building using ties which are constructed and installed in accordance with the design and drawings of a professional engineer. Ties made up of wires shall not be used.
R 44 Dismantling of timber scaffold
A timber scaffold shall be dismantled within a period of 9 months after erection. Suspended scaffold
R 45 Suspended scaffold
The outriggers or other supports are — of adequate length and strength; properly installed and supported;
securely fixed to a building, ship or other structure by anchor bolts or other similar means, or