[Chapter 3] Section 3

Compliance, etc. with industrial safety and health laws and regulations

1. The Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health states that “At places with a height of 2 m or more where there is a risk of falling, methods shall be employed such as assembling scaffolding, or handrails, etc. shall be installed (e.g., at openings, ends of scaffolding).”

   When this is difficult, “Measures must be taken to protect workers from danger due to a fall, such as setting a protective net and having workers use fall arrest equipment with the required performance.”

   (Articles 518 and 519 of the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health)

2. Construction of scaffolding (including shoring with a scaffolding function) shall be based on the Outline for Promotion of Comprehensive Measures to Prevent Falls and Tumbling from Scaffolding (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, May 2015), and Guidelines for the Prior Handrail Construction Method (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, April 2009).

3. Efforts shall be made to raise safety awareness of all workers involved in construction, through repeated education to help ensure safety in work at high places. This education shall cover topics such as the use of fall arrest equipment and prohibition of shortcut behavior.

4. Inspection of temporary structures such as scaffolding shall be strengthened, and management and supervision activities, such as confirmation of the use of fall arrest equipment, etc., shall be consistently implemented.

5. Even a fall from a low place often results in a serious accident. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure safe handling methods for ladders and stepladders, etc., and conduct proper inspections before starting work.