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The Labour Department (LD) today (March 22) issued a revised version of the Code of Practice for Metal Scaffolding Safety (COP).
A spokesperson for the LD said, "A notice has been published in the Gazette on the issue of the revised COP, which provides practical guidance on compliance with the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations with respect to metal scaffolding safety. The amendments cover mainly the definition of 'trained workman' for metal scaffolding work."
The spokesperson added, "The COP has been revised following extensive consultation with major stakeholders of the construction industry with a view to aligning the COP with provisions under the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance (CWRO)."
The revised COP now recognises scaffolders who have satisfactorily passed the intermediate trade test for metal scaffolders of the Construction Industry Council Training Academy and possess at least one year of experience in metal scaffolding works as "trained workmen".
It also recognises scaffolders who are registered skilled, semi-skilled, skilled (provisional) or semi-skilled (provisional) workers under the CWRO for the trade of metal scaffolders as "trained workmen".
The revised COP can be obtained free of charge from the LD's Occupational Safety and Health Branch Offices and downloaded from the department's website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8b.htm). Enquiries about the COP can be made at 2559 2297.
Ends/Friday, March 22, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:08
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