Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare / From April 2024, the use of this scaffolding is compulsory in principle, and the Safety and Health Regulations are revised and stipulated
From April 2024, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will mandate the use of scaffolding at construction sites. All sites with the space required for installation (1 meter or more in width) are eligible. The use of one-sided scaffolding is permitted exceptionally at sites where it is difficult to use the main scaffolding due to narrow sites or obstacles. The use of suspended scaffolding is also exempted. As part of the necessary system development, we have compiled a draft revision of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations (Safety and Health Regulations).
Aiming for promulgation in March and enforcement on April 1, 2024. Promote the use of safer scaffolding and prevent falls.
On the 13th, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Katsunobu Kato consulted Chairman Atsushi Seike of the Labor Policy Council (Labor Policy Council, an advisory body to the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare) on a ministerial ordinance to revise the Safety and Health Regulations. On the same day, he discussed the proposal at the Safety and Health Subcommittee of the Labor Policy Council held in Tokyo. One committee member requested that scaffolding with a width of less than 1 meter be available in circulation, so as to avoid going backwards. The subcommittee ultimately judged the draft ordinance to be "appropriate."
At workplaces where accidents involving falls from scaffolding, including suspended scaffolding, have occurred, there have been cases where scaffolding inspections required by the Safety and Health Regulations have not been properly carried out. The revised draft also stipulates rules for thorough inspections to ensure the safety of scaffolding. Ensuring effectiveness by making it mandatory for business operators and ordering parties to appoint inspectors in advance. It is also obligatory to record the name of the inspector and keep it until the work using the scaffold is completed. Regulations on inspection rules are scheduled to come into force on October 1.
Although the number of work-related accidents in the construction industry has decreased significantly, about 300 people still die each year. Fall accidents from scaffolding account for a large proportion of the fatalities in the construction industry, about 40%.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has set up a working-level meeting (chaired by Hirotake Kanisawa, professor of the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Shibaura Institute of Technology) to enhance and strengthen measures to prevent falls in the construction industry. After five years of discussions, a report was drawn up last year aimed at strengthening preventive measures. Based on this, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has compiled a draft revision of the Safety and Health Regulations. Securing expenses is also an important issue for the implementation of countermeasures. The working-level review committee set up by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is discussing measures for appropriate payment of safety and health expenses.
