Scaffolding workers advocate for bamboo over metal despite safety concerns

The group representing scaffolding workers has responded to recent claims that bamboo scaffolding poses high risks, advocating for its continued use over metal alternatives. They argue that the recent incidents were due to improper construction procedures and external damage, rather than inherent flaws in the bamboo scaffolding itself.

Ho Ping-tak, Chairman of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Bamboo Scaffolding Workers Union stated today that the push for metal scaffolding is based on a misunderstanding of scaffolding structures and described the shift as merely theoretical.

Ho asserts that strict adherence to the Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety ensures its safety. He emphasized that similar accidents could also afflict metal scaffolding if it were tampered with, specifically through damage to wall connectors, also known as putlogs.

He also highlighted the impracticality of using metal scaffolding in many of Hong Kong's new and repaired single buildings due to space limitations. Ho noted that metal scaffolding costs approximately three times more than bamboo, with the increased expense likely to be borne by building owners.

The group also pointed out that the exclusion of bamboo scaffolding in many government public works contracts in favor of metal scaffolding has severely impacted the industry, potentially jeopardizing the jobs of around 4,000 workers.

In response, the group has been actively engaging with various industries to enhance safety training for frontline workers and advocating for the establishment of a registration system. These efforts aim to secure a sustainable future for the bamboo scaffolding industry and ensure its practices can be handed down to future generations.