Health and Safety Authority

Public Consultation Notice

Draft Code of Practice for Access and Working Scaffolding

1 Background to and Purpose of draft Code of Practice
The Health and Safety Authority, in accordance with section 60 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, following consultation with the statutory Construction Safety Advisory Committee, the Construction Industry Federation and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, has developed a draft Code of Practice entitled “Code of Practice for Access and Working Scaffolds” which it intends to publish early in 2008.

The aim of the draft Code of Practice is to provide practical guidance to scaffold erectors, contractors, and users of scaffolding on the requirements and prohibitions set out in the relevant statutory provisions. In particular, but not exclusively, the draft Code of Practice is designed to provide practical guidance as to the observance of the provisions of –

(i) Chapter 1 of Part 2 (sections 8 to 12 in relation to the general duties of employers) and Chapter 2 of Part 2 (sections 13 to 12 in relation to the general duties of employees etc.) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (No. 10 of 2005),

(ii) Part 2 (Regulations 6 to 23 in relation to design and management), Part 3 (Regulations 24 to 29 in relation to the general duties of contractors and others) and Part 4 (Regulation 30 in relation to site safety and access to construction sites, Regulation 35 in relation to protection from falling material and protective safety helmets, Regulation 40 in relation to lighting of work places, Regulation 42 in relation to projecting nails and loose material, Regulation 43 in relation to construction of temporary structures and Regulation 44 in relation to avoidance of danger from collapse of structure) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 504 of 2006), and

(iii) Chapter 2 of Part 2 (Regulations 27 to 59 in relation to the use of work equipment), Chapter 3 of Part 2 (Regulations 62 to 67 in relation to personal protective equipment), Part 3 (Regulations 74 to 93 in relation to electricity) and Part 4 (Regulations 94 to 119 in relation to work at height) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 299 of 2007) as amended by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application)(Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 732 of 2007).

The draft will replace the Code of Practice entitled “Code of Practice for Access and Working Scaffolds” which was issued by the Authority in 1999 in accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989

2  Comments and Observations Invited
The text of the draft “Code of Practice for Access and Working Scaffolds” may be accessed here.

The Health and Safety Authority requests comments and observations (by 5.00 p.m. on Thursday 31 January 2008) on the draft Code of Practice, prior to submission of the draft Code to the Minister for Labour Affairs, for his consent to its publication, in accordance with section 60 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (No. 10 of 2005).

To make a Submission please click here