Part 2
Qualifications, powers and duties of the chief
Part 2 Qualifications, powers and duties of the chief inspector and inspectors 11 5
Page contents 2 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 13 5 14 6
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Australian Capital Territory regulation
**What this regulation does (mechanics)
Sets technical and operational safety rules for: lifts and escalators (Part 4); scaffolding and staging (Part 6); cranes, hoists and other plant (Part 11 and Part 12); excavation, tunnelling and compressed‑air work (Part 7 & Part 8); demolition, painting, window‑cleaning and other building‑site activities (Part 5); plus ancillary matters (first‑aid, shelters, toilets — Part 10). It also prescribes safety requirements for explosive‑powered tools (Part 9A).
Requires permits, plans and approvals for building lift installations (see s 17), periodic testing and inspection (e.g. test loads at s 129; testing/certificates for chain at s 143; rope tests at s 144), and records to be kept and produced to inspectors (s 14, s 119(3), s 144(48)–(51)).
Gives the chief inspector and inspectors broad powers to inspect, require corrective action, require certificates, grant exemptions in narrowly‑defined circumstances, and enforce the requirements (see s 5, s 6, s 13–14).
Provides detailed prescriptive technical standards (many numeric limits and tables) for materials, dimensions, sheave and drum sizes, load factors, wind/ horizontal/dynamic load calculations, permissible stresses and deflection limits for timber and metals (Part 11, esp. ss 122–131; many tables and schedules). It cross‑references Standards Australia and British Standards where useful (see e.g. s 16(2), s 39(2), s 130(46)).
Imposes worker‑safety processes: e.g. medical examination and badge systems for compressed‑air workers and divers (s 99–101 and Schedule 8–9), responsibilities for employers/owners to provide safety equipment and facilities (s 73, s 119–121), and mandatory safety equipment (e.g. safety belts for window cleaners s 82, car interlocks and safety gear for lifts s 29, s 35).
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Direct links to the current provisions in Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950.
Part 2 Qualifications, powers and duties of the chief inspector and inspectors 11 5
Page contents 2 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 13 5 14 6
Division 4.1 Interpretation 16 7 Permit to erect or alter lifts 17 7 Safe working load of a lift 18 8 19 9 20 9 21 9 Car loading automatic passenger lifts 22 10 Supporting structures and machine rooms 23 10 Overruns 24 11 Stops and buffers 25 12 Permanent stops 26 13 Pits 27 13 28 14 Enclosure doors 29 14 Clearance in wells 30 15
Page contents 3 Ropes and sheaves 31 16 Lift cars 32 17 Car gates 33 18 Lighting and ventilation of cars 34 19 Safety gear 35 19 Machines 36 20 Counterweight 37 21 Guides 38 21 Electrical equipment 39 21 Car switch 40 22 Limit gear 41 22 Slack cable device 42 23 Safety gear switch 43 23 Stop button 44 23 Signal call system 45 24 Hydraulic equipment 46 24
Page contents 4 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Escalators 47 25 Trusses or girders 48 25 Track arrangement 49 25 Angle of inclination 50 26 Balustrading 51 26 Treads and landings 52 26 Power unit 53 26 Chains 54 27 Automatic brakes 55 27 Starting switch and stop button 56 27 Safety devices 57 27 Reverse phase relay 58 28 Machine room 59 28 Construction of conveyors 60 28 Electrical installation 61 29 Control 62 29
Page contents 5 63 29 Provision for maintenance 64 30 No persons permitted to travel 65 30 Load notice 66 30 67 30 68 32 Change of ownership 69 32 70 33 71 33 72 33
Part 5 Safeguards and measures to be taken for engaged in building work 73 34 74 38 Fencing of floors, landings, stairways and the like 75 38
Division 5.2 Constructing, erecting, adding to, altering, repairing, finishing, painting and cleaning buildings and structures Stability of walls 77 40 Protection in liftwells and stairwells 78 40
Page contents 6 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Temporary ramps 79 40 Provision and use of ladders and stepladders 80 41 Cleaning and maintenance of roof monitors, gutters, windows, louvres and ventilators 81 45 Window cleaning 82 46 Spray painting 83 59 84 64
Part 6 The proper design, construction, erection and use of scaffolding
85 Definitions for pt 6 67 86 68 Construction of single and independent pole scaffolding 87 72 Cantilever scaffolding 88 87 Bracket scaffolding 89 89 Suspended scaffolding 90 93 Light swinging stages 91 100 Boatswain’s chairs 92 105 Scaffolding for use on ships in dock or on slips 93 107
Page contents 7 Runs and ramps 94 111
Part 7 Safeguards and measures to be taken for engaged in excavation work 95 113 96 116 97 117 98 119
Part 8 Safeguards and measures to be taken for engaged in compressed air work 99 121 100 137 101 150 Application and interpretation 118A 163 Operators of explosive-powered tools 118B 164 General requirements for explosive-powered tools and projectiles 118C 164 Inspection and repair of explosive-powered tools 118D 165
Page contents 8 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Use of explosive-powered tools 118E 167 Care and storage of explosive-powered tools and cartridges 118F 171 Protective devices 118G 172 Warning notices 118H 172
Part 10 Measures to be taken for securing the health of persons in building work, excavation work and compressed air work by provision of first-aid equipment, shelter, change and dining accommodation, sanitary 119 174 120 180
Division 10.3 Sanitary conveniences and washing facilities 121 183
Part 11 Basic requirements about design and construction, erection, use, maintenance, inspection and testing with particular reference to cranes, lifts, hoists, scaffolding and plant 122 186 Wind loads 123 197 Horizontal forces (other than those due to wind) 124 201 Dynamic and repealed loadings 125 202
Page contents 9 Maximum permissible stresses 126 203 127 226 Stability 128 259 Test loads 129 263 Mechanical 130 264 131 283 Fencing—general 132 287 Jointers 132A 289 133 289 Stiff-leg derrick cranes 134 296 Caterpillar cranes and mobile cranes 135 299 Gravity operated overwinding limit devices 136 301 Fork-lift trucks 137 303 Commercial type hoists 138 305 Tower hoists for constructional, building, demolition, or excavation works 139 307
Page contents 10 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Whip or sheerleg hoists for constructional, building, demolition, or excavation works 140 315 141 318 142 318 Chain for use in connection with cranes, lifts, hoists, scaffolding, plant, gear, or building work, excavation work, or 143 338 Steel wire ropes for use in connection with cranes, lifts, hoists, scaffolding, plant, gear, or building work, excavation work, or 144 351 Fibre rope for use in connection with cranes, lifts, hoists, scaffolding, plant, gear, or building work, excavation work, or 145 389 Airlocks 146 393 Bordeaux connections 147 393 Sockets for wire ropes 148 393 Thimbles for wire and fibre rope 149 393 Steel eye bolts 150 394 Mild steel rigging screws, and stretching screws and turnbuckles 151 394
Page contents 11 Mild steel shackles 152 394 Rings, links alternative to rings, egg links and Intermediate links 153 395 154 395 Rope clips 155 396 Gin blocks used with fibre rope 156 396 Lift boxes 157 397
Part 13 Precautions and measures to be taken for securing the safety of persons in connection with roofs sheathed with asbestos cement or other brittle material 158 399
Part 16 Miscellaneous and penalties General penalty 164 407
Page contents 12 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950
Schedule 3 Method of treatment of silica paint for the purpose of ascertaining the percentage of free silica present 408
Schedule 4 Processes to which s 73 (1) (o) applies 409
Schedule 5 Method of treatment of a lead compound for the purpose of determining the percentage of dry compound of lead 410 Schedule 7 411 Schedule 8 Medical standards and examination report for compressed air workers 441 Schedule 9 Symptoms and treatment of compressed air illness 444 Dictionary 446 1 About the endnotes 452 2 Abbreviation key 452 3 Legislation history 453 4 Amendment history 457 5 Earlier republications 468
1 Name of regulation This regulation is the Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950. 2 Dictionary The dictionary at the end of this regulation is part of this regulation. Note 1 The dictionary at the end of this regulation defines certain terms used in this regulation, and includes references (signpost definitions) to other terms defined elsewhere in this regulation. For example, the signpost definition ‘cantilever scaffolding—see section 85.’ means that the term ‘cantilever scaffolding’ is defined in that section. Note 2 A definition in the dictionary (including a signpost definition) applies to the entire regulation unless the definition, or another provision of the regulation, provides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise appears (see Legislation Act, s 155 and s 156 (1)).
3 Notes A note included in this regulation is explanatory and is not part of this Note See the Legislation Act, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of notes.
4 Plates, figures and sketches Any plates, figures or sketches shown in this regulation and to which reference is made in the text should not be construed as specifications but should be considered as types for information or guidance only in construction. If the chief inspector is satisfied that for any particular class or description of crane, lift, hoist, scaffolding, plant or gear, or roof sheathed or intended to be sheathed with asbestos cement or other brittle material or of any special description or method of building
Preliminary Part 1 work, excavation work, or compressed air work, the application of any requirement of this regulation relating to safety or health is, in any class or description of circumstances, not necessary in the interests of safety or health or is not reasonably practicable, the chief inspector may by written certificate (which the chief inspector may at the chief inspector’s discretion revoke at any time) grant an exemption from that requirement for that class of description of crane, lift, hoist, scaffolding, plant or gear, or roof sheathed with asbestos cement or other brittle material or of that special description or method of building work, excavation work or compressed air work in the circumstances and subject to the conditions that may be specified in the certificate. (1) If the obligation to observe any of the provisions of this regulation is not by this regulation specifically imposed on any person it is the obligation of every person who directly or by his or her servants or agents— (a) carries out any building work, excavation work or compressed air work; or (b) designs, constructs, erects, sets up or builds, or sets or places in position, works, uses, tests or maintains any crane, lift, hoist, scaffolding, plant or gear, or roof sheathed or intended to be sheathed with asbestos cement or other brittle material; to comply with the provisions of this regulation. (2) A person must not directly or by his or her servants or agents use any crane, lift, hoist, scaffolding, plant or gear, unless it has been classified, designed, constructed, erected, set up, built or set or placed in position, and installed, and unless the person uses and maintains it, in accordance with the provisions of this regulation.
Every person must use the safeguards given and provided in accordance with this regulation and a person must not interfere detrimentally in any way with the use of the safeguards by any other person, nor with the use of any safeguard method or process.
Qualifications, powers and duties of the chief inspector and inspectors Part 2 Part 2 Qualifications, powers and duties of the chief inspector and inspectors A person must not falsely pretend to be an inspector. An inspector has the power to— (a) conduct prosecutions whether the information is laid in the inspector’s name or not; and (b) attend and examine witnesses at any inquest into the cause of the death of any person following on an accident arising from the construction, erection, setting up or building or setting or placing in position, installation, alteration, working or use of any crane, gear, hoist, lift, plant, scaffolding or part of it, or occurring in relation to any building work, excavation work or compressed air work or any roof sheathed with asbestos cement or other brittle material; and (c) direct the owner of, or person in charge or apparently in charge of any crane, lift, hoist, scaffolding, plant or gear, or the contractor or person in charge or apparently in charge of any building work, excavation work or compressed air work, to take the measures and provide the equipment and assistance that the inspector may require to facilitate any inspection, and the person must forthwith carry out the directions.
Part 2 Qualifications, powers and duties of the chief inspector and inspectors An inspector may require the production of any certificate or permit that by the Act or this regulation is required to be held by any person or require the production of any notice, record or document that is by the Act or by this regulation required to be kept or exhibited and to inspect, examine and copy it.
Interpretation Division 4.1 Division 4.1 Interpretation (1) In this part: conveyor means a lift so arranged that goods are raised or lowered by means of an endless belt or chain or by fittings attached to the lift, in an inclined or vertical direction. safety gear means a mechanical device or mechanism attached to the underside of a lift car that on operation will stop and sustain the car independently of the lifting ropes. service lift means a lift the car of which has a floor area of not more than 9 square feet and a height of not more than 4 feet, used to carry goods only, and controlled from without the lift-well, and also includes any lift certified by the chief inspector to be a service lift. S.A.A. Lift Code (2) The provisions of Code No C.A. 3—1947 published by Standards Australia entitled ‘Australian Standard Rules for the Design, Installation, Testing and Operation of Lifts and Escalators’ apply to any matter or thing not provided for in this regulation. Division 4.2 Design, construction and erection of lifts Permit to erect or alter lifts (1) No person shall erect or alter a lift without first obtaining a permit from the chief inspector.
(2) The applicant for a permit to erect a lift shall lodge with the chief inspector a description and plans of the lift that includes particulars of the machine, control, operating and safety devices, size and construction of car, and a general layout showing the size of the motor room and means of access to it, supports for the machine and guides, the overruns, the pit and the lift-well enclosures, and shall specify the maximum load that the lift is designed to carry and the rated speed of the lift. (3) The applicant for a permit to alter a lift shall lodge a description and particulars of the proposed alterations. (4) The description and plans shall be filed in the office of the chief (5) Before granting a permit the chief inspector may require any alterations in the design to be made that appear to the chief inspector to be necessary for the safe working of the lift or to ensure compliance with this regulation. (6) Every lift shall be erected in accordance with the description and plans submitted to and approved by the chief inspector and in accordance with any direction endorsed on the permit and in conformity with this regulation. Safe working load of a lift (1) The safe working load specified in the permit to erect or alter a lift shall be the safe working load of the lift. (2) The chief inspector may by written notice served on the owner vary the safe working load of any lift and the safe working load as varied shall then be the safe working load of the lift until revoked or further varied by the chief inspector.
(3) The notice stating the safe working load required to be exhibited under section 70 may state a safe working load less than the safe working load as determined under this section. (4) The notice stating the safe working load required to be exhibited in the car of a passenger lift shall state the maximum number of people to be carried, which number shall not be greater than the safe working load in pounds divided by 150. (5) The notice stating the safe working load required to be exhibited in relation to lifts other than passenger lifts must state the load in pounds. Every lift and every part of it shall be of sound material, good All work performed and all machines, equipment and material used in connection with any lift shall be subject to the approval of the chief inspector, who shall, as often as it appears to the chief inspector necessary, cause them to be inspected and tested. No person other than a person engaged on the erection, or alteration of a lift, shall work, use or interfere with the lift until the lift has been approved by an inspector for general use.
Car loading automatic passenger lifts (1) Every passenger lift being an automatic lift shall be designed and constructed on the basis of a load of not less than 75 pounds per square foot of net car or platform floor area. (2) The chief inspector may exempt from the operation of this section any lift designed to carry beds, stretchers or invalid chairs in a hospital or similar institution, or any lift with a car floor area not exceeding 9 square feet. Supporting structures and machine rooms (1) The supporting structure of every lift shall be designed and constructed in accordance with part 11. (2) The machine, control mechanism and all parts of the equipment of every lift, other than those parts that must necessarily be placed elsewhere to effectively perform their functions shall be housed in a machine room. (3) The area and height of the machine room shall be adequate to permit of free and safe access for purposes of inspection and maintenance of all parts of the machine and lift equipment located in it, and the machine room shall be adequately illuminated and ventilated and shall be provided with safe and convenient means of access. (4) Every entrance to the machine room shall be provided with a door. (5) Every door to the machine room shall be provided with a lock that can be opened from outside the room only by the use of a key. (6) If the door locks on closing, it shall be of a type that does not require a key to unlock it from within the machine room.
(7) If lift machine room equipment is situatedd on more than 1 floor, effective means of switching off the power shall be provided at each floor. Overruns (1) The overrun provided for a car and for a counterweight of any lift other than for a service lift, shall be not less than that specified in table 24: Table 24 Car Counterweight top overrun bottom overrun top overrun (with car landed) rated speed in feet per/min drum drum drum ft. in. ft. in. ft. in. ft. in. ft. in. ft. in. 0 to 100 3 0 4 0 1 6 1 6 1 6 3 0 101 to 200 3 0 4 0 2 0 2 0 1 6 3 0 201 to 300 4 0 5 4 2 6 2 6 2 0 4 0 301 to 400 5 0 . . 3 0 . . 2 6 . . 401 to 500 6 0 . . 3 6 . . 3 0 . . 501 to 600 7 0 . . 4 0 . . 3 6 . . (2) The top and bottom overrun for the car and the counterweight of any service lift shall be that specified in table 24 except that the bottom overrun of a car shall be 12 inches. (3) The bottom overrun for the counterweight of a traction-drive lift when the car floor is level with the top landing shall not be greater than 1/ 2 of the top overrun provided for the car. (4) The final limit gear of the lift shall operate before the counterweight lands.
(5) The bottom overrun for the counterweight of a drum-drive lift when the car floor is level with the top landing shall not be greater than 1/ 4 of the top overrun provided for the lift car. (6) The final limit gear of the lift shall operate before the counterweight lands. Stops and buffers (1) Approved stops or buffers of the type prescribed table 25 as appropriate to the running speed of the lift car or counterweight shall be provided for the car and counterweight of all lifts other than service lifts. Table 25 running speed of car or counterweight type of stop or buffer not exceeding 100 feet/min solid stops, spring buffers, oil buffers or impact-absorbing stops exceeding 100 feet/min, but not exceeding 200 feet/min spring buffers or oil buffers exceeding 200 feet/min oil buffers (2) Buffers so provided shall comply with the following requirements: (a) spring buffers—springs for buffers shall be so designed that they will not take a permanent set on absorbing the energy of the fully loaded car at governor-operating speed; and (b) oil buffers—the minimum total stroke of oil buffers shall be based on an average retardation of 32.2 feet per second per second, based on the governor-operating speed, and the maximum retardation based on the governor-operating speed shall not be in excess of 80.5 feet per second per second (21/ 2 times gravity retardation).
(3) Effective means shall be provided for readily ascertaining the adequacy of the oil supply. (4) Provision shall be made, by fitting a spring or by other suitable means, for taking the initial impact between the car or counterweight and the buffer. Permanent stops The final obstruction at the top and bottom of every lift-well shall ensure that in the event of an overwind the car and counterweight will remain in their guides with the car floor and the horizontal faces of the counterweight level. Pits (1) The wells of all lifts shall continue to solid earth except in the circumstances and subject to the conditions that the chief inspector may approve. (2) The pits of all lifts shall be constructed to remain dry and shall be provided with safe and convenient means of access. (3) Suitable means of access and lighting to permit of safe and efficient maintenance of safety gear shall be provided. (4) The pits of all lifts other than service lifts shall be of sufficient depth to provide the overrun specified in section 24 and in addition a clearance of not less than 24 inches between the underside of the car platform and the floor of the pit when the car is landed with the buffers fully compressed.
(1) All liftwells shall be completely enclosed from the bottom of the pit to the underside of the overhead supporting beams with approved material of adequate strength. (2) All windows in lift-well enclosures shall be closed and fixed. (3) All windows and openings accessible from fire-escapes, stairways, platforms, adjacent roofs and those on ground floors and basement levels as well as any window up to a height of 20 feet and opening on to a public place, cartway or yard or similar area shall be barred or otherwise permanently protected. Enclosure doors (1) Every enclosure door of every automatic lift other than a service lift shall be provided with 2 separate electromechanical interlocks each arranged to electrically and mechanically interlock the enclosure door with the control of the lift. (2) If latches are used they shall be of a design that will prevent fingers projecting through the latch hole and the latch shall be clear of the door surrounds when the door is fully open. (3) These electromechanical interlocks shall ensure that— (a) the car cannot move or continue in motion unless every enclosure door is closed and locked. (4) For subsection (3) (a), an enclosure door may be considered locked if complete locking occurs within the period that the car takes to move 9 inches from the landing on which the enclosure door is situated. (5) Each enclosure door may only be unlocked and opened when the car is stationary and its floor is level with the landing or within 9 inches
of it at which the enclosure door is situated or the car is within the control of the levelling device at that landing. (6) Every enclosure door of every lift other than an automatic lift shall be provided with an electromechanical interlock that shall ensure that the car cannot move or continue in motion unless every enclosure door is closed and locked and that the enclosure door can only be unlocked from the car. (7) Every enclosure door of every service lift shall be interlocked with the control so that the car cannot move or continue in motion unless every enclosure door is closed and locked and so that the enclosure doors can only be opened when the car floor is level with the landing or within 9 inches of the landing on which the enclosure door is situated. (8) For this section, an enclosure door may be considered locked if complete locking occurs within the period that the car takes to move 9 inches from the landing on which the enclosure door is situated. (9) Except for a lift fitted with both power-operated doors and a position- indicating device, every enclosure door of an automatic lift shall be provided with a panel, not less than 1 square foot in area, through which the car may be clearly seen from the landings. Clearance in wells (1) Adequate clearances shall be provided for the car and counterweight in every lift-well. (2) Piping, conduit, or other equipment not forming part of the lift installation shall not be installed in a lift-well, except with the approval of the chief inspector.
Ropes and sheaves (1) Flexible steel or iron wire ropes shall be used for the lifting, governor and compensating ropes of all lifts, and the ropes shall not be spliced for purposes of repair or extension. (2) Chains shall not be used for suspending cars or counterweights of lifts. (3) The minimum number of lifting ropes for cars and counterweights of lifts, other than service lifts, shall be 2 for drum-drive lifts and hydraulic lifts and 3 for all other types. (4) The factor of safety for lifting ropes shall not be less than 10. (5) The minimum diameter of suspension ropes for cars and counterweights shall be 3/ 8 of an inch except for service lifts where the minimum diameter shall be 1/ 4 of an inch. (6) The ratio of the diameter of any drum or sheave to the diameter of the rope used on it shall be not less than— (a) 45:1 for passenger or goods lifts; and (b) 40:1 for service lifts; and (c) 38:1 for compensating ropes; and (d) 25:1 for governor ropes. (7) All drums and sheaves shall be grooved to correctly embrace the ropes, and to prevent any overriding or jamming. (8) Lifting ropes shall be effectively anchored to drums and not less than 11/ 2 turns of each rope shall remain on a drum when the lift car or counterweight has landed. (9) If compensating ropes are used, provisions shall be made for automatically stopping the lift in the event of the compensating sheave rising or falling beyond predetermined limits.
(10) If 2:1 roping is used provision shall be made to prevent the ropes leaving their correct grooves, and the sheaves on the car shall be effectively guarded and a convenient handhold provided. Lift cars (1) Steel shall be used for the bow, side members, safety gear bearers and platform frames for the car of every lift, other than a service lift. (2) The bow of every service lift shall be strapped to the car floor with steel. (3) Every passenger lift car shall have a roof that covers the whole area of the car, and the cars of goods lifts shall have a roof when so directed by an inspector. (4) The roof of every lift car shall be constructed to provide a sound, flat surface of as large an area as practicable and affording a firm foothold, and shall be of adequate strength to support safely the weight of the workers that might go on it and any equipment required to be placed on it. (5) Glass shall not be used in car roofs. (6) The roof of every lift car other than a service lift shall be provided with a hinged panel, capable, if necessary, of being raised from inside or outside the car and when partly or fully opened shall not foul any enclosure or fitting in the lift-well. (7) The panel opening to be of such size as to permit the easy ingress or egress of a man. (8) The hinged panels on automatic lifts shall be electrically and mechanically interlocked with the control of the lift. (9) The roof of every service lift car shall be set back not less than 6 inches from the line of the car floor nosing, or for such distance the roof shall be in the form of a hinged flap capable of lifting.
(10) The sides of every lift car shall extend from the car floor to the car roof. (11) If a roof is not provided to the car of a goods lift, the sides shall be of the height that an inspector may direct but shall not be less than 6 feet in height, and adjacent to the counterweight shall not be less than the height of the car bow. (12) Plain glass shall not be used in lift cars other than for covering notices and indicators. (13) Lamps and lamp fittings shall be of adequate strength and security to withstand the operation of the safety gear without damage. Car gates (1) A gate or door affording adequate protection and electrically interlocked with the control shall be provided across every car entrance of— (a) every automatic lift other than a service lift; and (b) every passenger lift other than an automatic lift, except that a gate or door need not be provided at 1 entrance of the car of a passenger lift, if the control is adjacent to it so that the attendant can conveniently extend his or her arm across the entrance and the width of the entrance does not exceed 42 inches and the whole face of the well including the enclosures adjacent to the car entrance is flush and not more than 11/ 2 inches from the car floor nosing; and (c) every goods lift other than an automatic lift, except that a gate or door need not be provided at 1 entrance of the car of a goods lift, if the control is adjacent to it and the whole face of the well including the enclosures adjacent to that car entrance is within 31/ 4 inches of the car floor nosing.
(2) Any offsets in the face of an enclosure mentioned in subsection (1) (c) shall be bevelled on the underside at not less than 3 inches vertical to 1 inch horizontal. (3) All power driven car gates or doors shall be so constructed as to be capable of being opened manually. (4) The electric interlock of the car gates of every automatic lift shall be placed in a position inaccessible to a person standing on the car floor. (5) If levelling devices are used the car floor shall be provided with a substantial toe-guard flush with its outer edge extending a sufficient distance below the car floor so that there shall be no opening into the lift-well while the car is within the levelling zone. Lighting and ventilation of cars The car of every lift other than a service lift shall be provided with— (a) adequate ventilation; and (b) effective means for interior electrical illumination; and (c) facilities on the car roof for attaching an electric light if an inspector so directs; and (d) unless other provision is made for illuminating the pit of the lift, an electric light on the underside of the car. Safety gear (1) The car of every suspended lift other than a service lift shall be provided with effective safety gear. (2) A speed governor operating the safety gear shall be provided if the travel of the lift car exceeds 30 feet and on lifts erected after
Sourced from the ACT Legislation Register (legislation.act.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Australian Capital Territory Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 made under the Scaffolding and Lifts Act 1912 Republication No 5 Effective: 1 October 2009 Republication date: 1 October 2009 Last amendment made by A2009-28
Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au About this republication The republished law This is a republication of the Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950, made under the Scaffolding and Lifts Act 1912 (including any amendment made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 (Editorial changes)) as in force on 1 October 2009. It also includes any amendment, repeal or expiry affecting the republished law to 1 October 2009. The legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3 and 4. Kinds of republications The Parliamentary Counsel’s Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT legislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au): • authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies • unauthorised republications. The status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page. Editorial changes The Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial amendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication. Editorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by an Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117). The changes are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into line, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice. This republication does not include amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1). Uncommenced provisions and amendments If a provision of the republished law has not commenced or is affected by an uncommenced amendment, the symbol U appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the uncommenced provision or amendment appears only in the last endnote. Modifications If a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the symbol M appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying provision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see Legislation Act 2001, section 95. Penalties The value of a penalty unit for an offence against this republished law at the republication date is— (a) if the person charged is an individual—$100; or (b) if the person charged is a corporation—$500.
Who must act and who it affects
Employers, building contractors and plant owners pay the costs of compliance: designing, building, testing, maintaining and marking equipment; providing shelters, first‑aid, sanitary facilities; medical surveillance for compressed‑air workers (see s 73, s 64, s 119, s 99–101). Owners of lifts must obtain permits and display safe‑working loads and contact information (s 17, s 18, s 70).
Designers, manufacturers and suppliers of cranes, hoists, ropes, chains, hooks and parts are constrained by material, testing and marking rules (see Pt 11–12 and ss 143–145).
Operators and crew must be qualified for certain tools and tasks (explosive‑powered tool operators s 118B; divers, drivers, attendants s 99, s 127). Inspectors and the chief inspector decide approvals, exemptions and enforcement (s 5–6, s 13–14).
Why it matters (effects and trade‑offs)
Safety mechanism: the regulation is a largely prescriptive safety code. It reduces technical uncertainty by giving concrete dimensions, load factors and procedural steps (e.g. tables for overrun distances s 24, rope/drum ratios s 144). Where Standards Australia or British Standards are invoked the regulation incorporates recognised consensus technical practice (s 16(2), s 130(46)).
Compliance costs and incentives: the requirement to design to the stated factors, submit plans for certain works (s 17), perform periodic tests and keep certificates (s 129, s 143, s 144), and to appoint medical officers and maintain registers (s 99(4)–(16), s 83(19)) creates ongoing costs for businesses and owners. Those costs fall on owners/contractors and are most material for small operators (extra lifting gear, testing, administrative record‑keeping). The regulation concentrates benefits (improved safety) and spreads costs (many workplaces and contractors), which is a standard safety policy trade‑off.
Discretion and approval risk: the chief inspector has discretion to grant exemptions, approve new materials, or vary technical treatments (see s 5 and many places where chief inspector approval is required). That creates an administrative gatekeeping role that affects how quickly novel materials or new equipment can be deployed — a potential bottleneck and a locus of regulatory discretion (and therefore compliance uncertainty).
Market effects: prescriptive material and testing standards favour suppliers that can certify to those standards (e.g. approved rope, chain, bearings). That raises entry costs for alternative suppliers unless they secure approvals (s 143–145). On the other hand, uniform technical rules reduce buyer search costs and make compliance auditable.
Practical operation and enforcement risks: the regulation is highly technical and detailed. Implementing it requires technical expertise—inspectors must interpret tables and design rules, employers must maintain records and test data and ensure qualified operators (s 118B, s 118D). Under‑resourced enforcement or ambiguous approvals may yield uneven compliance.
Effects on private choice: the law narrows certain choices (you must use specified materials, rope/chain standards, and safety devices), increases administrative steps before operation (permits and designs for lifts s 17), and constrains informal or ad‑hoc practices (e.g. temporary lashings, second‑hand parts require approval — see s 127 and s 131). That reduces some operational flexibility but standardises safety.
Concrete mechanisms to note (select citations)
Who pays, who decides, and what behaviour changes
Bottom line (practical utility)
This is a comprehensive, technical safety code for building‑site vertical access, lifting and associated plant and hazardous processes. It trades operational flexibility for prescriptive technical certainty and enforceable safety rules. Compliance focuses costs on owners and contractors but creates an auditable standard that inspectors can enforce; the chief inspector’s approval powers create a single regulatory interface for deviations or innovations (see s 5, s 17, s 127).
R5 01/10/09 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Effective: 01/10/09 contents 1 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Australian Capital Territory Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 made under the Scaffolding and Lifts Act 1912 Contents Page Part 1 Preliminary 1 Name of regulation 2 2 Dictionary 2 3 Notes 2 4 Plates, figures and sketches 2 5 2 6 3 7 4 Part 2 Qualifications, powers and duties of the chief inspector and inspectors 11 5
Contents Page contents 2 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Effective: 01/10/09 R5 01/10/09 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 13 5 14 6 Part 4 Lifts Division 4.1 Interpretation 16 7 Division 4.2 Design, construction and erection of lifts Permit to erect or alter lifts 17 7 Safe working load of a lift 18 8 Construction 19 9 20 9 21 9 Car loading automatic passenger lifts 22 10 Supporting structures and machine rooms 23 10 Overruns 24 11 Stops and buffers 25 12 Permanent stops 26 13 Pits 27 13 Enclosures 28 14 Enclosure doors 29 14 Clearance in wells 30 15
Contents Page R5 01/10/09 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Effective: 01/10/09 contents 3 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Ropes and sheaves 31 16 Lift cars 32 17 Car gates 33 18 Lighting and ventilation of cars 34 19 Safety gear 35 19 Machines 36 20 Counterweight 37 21 Guides 38 21 Electrical equipment 39 21 Car switch 40 22 Limit gear 41 22 Slack cable device 42 23 Safety gear switch 43 23 Stop button 44 23 Signal call system 45 24 Hydraulic equipment 46 24
Contents Page contents 4 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Effective: 01/10/09 R5 01/10/09 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Escalators 47 25 Trusses or girders 48 25 Track arrangement 49 25 Angle of inclination 50 26 Balustrading 51 26 Treads and landings 52 26 Power unit 53 26 Chains 54 27 Automatic brakes 55 27 Starting switch and stop button 56 27 Safety devices 57 27 Reverse phase relay 58 28 Machine room 59 28 Construction of conveyors 60 28 Electrical installation 61 29 Control 62 29
Contents Page R5 01/10/09 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Effective: 01/10/09 contents 5 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Enclosures 63 29 Provision for maintenance 64 30 No persons permitted to travel 65 30 Load notice 66 30 Division 4.3 Maintenance of lifts 67 30 Division 4.4 Use of lifts 68 32 Change of ownership 69 32 70 33 71 33 72 33 Part 5 Safeguards and measures to be taken for securing the safety and health of persons engaged in building work Division 5.1 General 73 34 74 38 Fencing of floors, landings, stairways and the like 75 38 Division 5.2 Constructing, erecting, adding to, altering, repairing, finishing, painting and cleaning buildings and structures Stability of walls 77 40 Protection in liftwells and stairwells 78 40
Contents Page contents 6 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Effective: 01/10/09 R5 01/10/09 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Temporary ramps 79 40 Provision and use of ladders and stepladders 80 41 Cleaning and maintenance of roof monitors, gutters, windows, louvres and ventilators 81 45 Window cleaning 82 46 Spray painting 83 59 Division 5.3 Demolition of buildings and structures 84 64 Part 6 The proper design, construction, erection and use of scaffolding 85 Definitions for pt 6 67 General 86 68 Construction of single and independent pole scaffolding 87 72 Cantilever scaffolding 88 87 Bracket scaffolding 89 89 Suspended scaffolding 90 93 Light swinging stages 91 100 Boatswain’s chairs 92 105 Scaffolding for use on ships in dock or on slips 93 107
Contents Page R5 01/10/09 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Effective: 01/10/09 contents 7 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Runs and ramps 94 111 Part 7 Safeguards and measures to be taken for securing the safety and health of persons engaged in excavation work Division 7.1 General 95 113 Division 7.2 Cofferdams and caissons 96 116 Division 7.3 Trenches 97 117 Division 7.4 Shafts, wells and tunnels 98 119 Part 8 Safeguards and measures to be taken for securing the safety and health of persons engaged in compressed air work Division 8.1 Diving 99 121 Division 8.2 Tunnelling 100 137 Division 8.3 Caissons 101 150 Part 9A Explosive-powered tools—safety measures Application and interpretation 118A 163 Operators of explosive-powered tools 118B 164 General requirements for explosive-powered tools and projectiles 118C 164 Inspection and repair of explosive-powered tools 118D 165
Contents Page contents 8 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Effective: 01/10/09 R5 01/10/09 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Use of explosive-powered tools 118E 167 Care and storage of explosive-powered tools and cartridges 118F 171 Protective devices 118G 172 Warning notices 118H 172 Part 10 Measures to be taken for securing the health of persons in building work, excavation work and compressed air work by provision of first-aid equipment, shelter, change and dining accommodation, sanitary conveniences and washing facilities Division 10.1 First-aid equipment 119 174 Division 10.2 Shelter, change and dining accommodation 120 180 Division 10.3 Sanitary conveniences and washing facilities 121 183 Part 11 Basic requirements about design and construction, erection, use, maintenance, inspection and testing with particular reference to cranes, lifts, hoists, scaffolding and plant 122 186 Wind loads 123 197 Horizontal forces (other than those due to wind) 124 201 Dynamic and repealed loadings 125 202
Contents Page R5 01/10/09 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Effective: 01/10/09 contents 9 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Maximum permissible stresses 126 203 General 127 226 Stability 128 259 Test loads 129 263 Mechanical 130 264 Materials 131 283 Fencing—general 132 287 Jointers 132A 289 Electrical 133 289 Stiff-leg derrick cranes 134 296 Caterpillar cranes and mobile cranes 135 299 Gravity operated overwinding limit devices Electrical 136 301 Fork-lift trucks 137 303 Commercial type hoists 138 305 Tower hoists for constructional, building, demolition, or excavation works 139 307
Contents Page contents 10 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Effective: 01/10/09 R5 01/10/09 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Whip or sheerleg hoists for constructional, building, demolition, or excavation works 140 315 Part 12 Plant and gear General 141 318 Ladders Definitions 142 318 Chain for use in connection with cranes, lifts, hoists, scaffolding, plant, gear, or building work, excavation work, or compressed air work 143 338 Steel wire ropes for use in connection with cranes, lifts, hoists, scaffolding, plant, gear, or building work, excavation work, or compressed air work 144 351 Fibre rope for use in connection with cranes, lifts, hoists, scaffolding, plant, gear, or building work, excavation work, or compressed air work 145 389 Airlocks 146 393 Bordeaux connections 147 393 Sockets for wire ropes 148 393 Thimbles for wire and fibre rope 149 393 Steel eye bolts 150 394 Mild steel rigging screws, and stretching screws and turnbuckles 151 394
Contents Page R5 01/10/09 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Effective: 01/10/09 contents 11 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Mild steel shackles 152 394 Rings, links alternative to rings, egg links and Intermediate links 153 395 Handrails 154 395 Rope clips 155 396 Gin blocks used with fibre rope 156 396 Lift boxes 157 397 Part 13 Precautions and measures to be taken for securing the safety of persons in connection with roofs sheathed with asbestos cement or other brittle material 158 399 Part 16 Miscellaneous and penalties General penalty 164 407
Contents Page contents 12 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Effective: 01/10/09 R5 01/10/09 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Schedule 3 Method of treatment of silica paint for the purpose of ascertaining the percentage of free silica present 408 Schedule 4 Processes to which s 73 (1) (o) applies 409 Schedule 5 Method of treatment of a lead compound for the purpose of determining the percentage of dry compound of lead 410 Schedule 7 411 Schedule 8 Medical standards and examination report for compressed air workers 441 Schedule 9 Symptoms and treatment of compressed air illness 444 Dictionary 446 Endnotes 1 About the endnotes 452 2 Abbreviation key 452 3 Legislation history 453 4 Amendment history 457 5 Earlier republications 468
R5 01/10/09 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Effective: 01/10/09 page 1 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Australian Capital Territory Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 made under the Scaffolding and Lifts Act 1912
Part 1 Preliminary Section 1 page 2 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Effective: 01/10/09 R5 01/10/09 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Part 1 Preliminary 1 Name of regulation This regulation is the Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950. 2 Dictionary The dictionary at the end of this regulation is part of this regulation. Note 1 The dictionary at the end of this regulation defines certain terms used in this regulation, and includes references (signpost definitions) to other terms defined elsewhere in this regulation. For example, the signpost definition ‘cantilever scaffolding—see section 85.’ means that the term ‘cantilever scaffolding’ is defined in that section. Note 2 A definition in the dictionary (including a signpost definition) applies to the entire regulation unless the definition, or another provision of the regulation, provides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise appears (see Legislation Act, s 155 and s 156 (1)). 3 Notes A note included in this regulation is explanatory and is not part of this regulation. Note See the Legislation Act, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of notes. 4 Plates, figures and sketches Any plates, figures or sketches shown in this regulation and to which reference is made in the text should not be construed as specifications but should be considered as types for information or guidance only in construction. 5 If the chief inspector is satisfied that for any particular class or description of crane, lift, hoist, scaffolding, plant or gear, or roof sheathed or intended to be sheathed with asbestos cement or other brittle material or of any special description or method of building
Preliminary Part 1 Section 6 R5 01/10/09 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Effective: 01/10/09 page 3 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au work, excavation work, or compressed air work, the application of any requirement of this regulation relating to safety or health is, in any class or description of circumstances, not necessary in the interests of safety or health or is not reasonably practicable, the chief inspector may by written certificate (which the chief inspector may at the chief inspector’s discretion revoke at any time) grant an exemption from that requirement for that class of description of crane, lift, hoist, scaffolding, plant or gear, or roof sheathed with asbestos cement or other brittle material or of that special description or method of building work, excavation work or compressed air work in the circumstances and subject to the conditions that may be specified in the certificate. 6 (1) If the obligation to observe any of the provisions of this regulation is not by this regulation specifically imposed on any person it is the obligation of every person who directly or by his or her servants or agents— (a) carries out any building work, excavation work or compressed air work; or (b) designs, constructs, erects, sets up or builds, or sets or places in position, works, uses, tests or maintains any crane, lift, hoist, scaffolding, plant or gear, or roof sheathed or intended to be sheathed with asbestos cement or other brittle material; to comply with the provisions of this regulation. (2) A person must not directly or by his or her servants or agents use any crane, lift, hoist, scaffolding, plant or gear, unless it has been classified, designed, constructed, erected, set up, built or set or placed in position, and installed, and unless the person uses and maintains it, in accordance with the provisions of this regulation.
Part 1 Preliminary Section 7 page 4 Scaffolding and Lifts Regulation 1950 Effective: 01/10/09 R5 01/10/09 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 7 Every person must use the safeguards given and provided in accordance with this regulation and a person must not interfere detrimentally in any way with the use of the safeguards by any other person, nor with the use of any safeguard method or process.
Qualific
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.