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HK Truss-out Scaffolder (CIC) study materials
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HK Truss-out Scaffolder (CIC) practice questions

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Question 1Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

Under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, which party bears the primary duty to ensure the safety and health of persons employed at a construction site?

  1. The site canteen operator
  2. The scaffold material supplier
  3. The worker performing the task
  4. The contractor undertaking the construction work Correct answer.

Explanation

The Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance places the general duty on the proprietor or contractor of the undertaking to ensure the safety and health of all persons employed in the industrial undertaking. That duty cannot be transferred to workers, suppliers or ancillary service providers.

Question 2Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

Which set of regulations principally governs scaffolding safety on construction sites in Hong Kong?

  1. The Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations Correct answer.
  2. The Electricity Supply Regulations
  3. The Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Confined Spaces) Regulation
  4. The Shipping and Port Control Regulations

Explanation

The Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations contain specific provisions on scaffolds, including their construction, maintenance, inspection and use. They are made under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and apply to construction sites.

Question 3Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

A truss-out scaffold is erected on a building facade. Which document should be available on site to demonstrate that the scaffold has been inspected by a competent person?

  1. The building's occupation permit
  2. The prescribed inspection certificate or report form Correct answer.
  3. The scaffold material delivery note
  4. The worker's safety training card

Explanation

Scaffolds must be inspected by a competent person and the results recorded in the prescribed form, which must be kept available on site. This record shows the scaffold was examined before use and at required intervals.

Question 4Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

Who is permitted to erect, alter or dismantle a truss-out scaffold on a construction site?

  1. A trained and competent scaffolder Correct answer.
  2. Any general labourer available on site
  3. A visitor holding a site entry permit
  4. The building's management office staff

Explanation

Scaffolds must be erected, altered and dismantled only by trained, competent and, where required, registered workers. General labourers, management staff and visitors are not competent to perform scaffold work.

Question 5Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

Under the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, a scaffold from which a person may fall more than two metres must be provided with what?

  1. Suitable guardrails and toe boards Correct answer.
  2. A daily toolbox talk
  3. A warning sign only
  4. A safety harness stored nearby

Explanation

Where a person is liable to fall more than two metres, the regulations require suitable guardrails and toe boards to prevent falls and falling objects. Signs, stored harnesses or talks do not substitute for physical edge protection.

Question 6Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

Which body issues the Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety in Hong Kong?

  1. The Labour Department, together with relevant authorities Correct answer.
  2. A private scaffolding contractor association
  3. The Hong Kong Housing Society
  4. An overseas standards institute

Explanation

The Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety is issued by the Labour Department with relevant authorities to give practical guidance on compliance. It supports the statutory requirements but does not replace them.

Question 7Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

What is the legal status of an approved code of practice issued under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance?

  1. It provides practical guidance, and failure to follow it may be used as evidence in proceedings Correct answer.
  2. It automatically overrides the subsidiary regulations
  3. It applies only to government construction projects
  4. It is advisory only and has no evidential use

Explanation

A code of practice gives practical guidance on how to comply with the law. Breach of the code is not itself an offence, but a court may consider non-compliance as evidence of failure to meet the statutory duty.

Question 8Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

A truss-out scaffold is to be used by workers. Before first use, who must examine it and confirm it is safe?

  1. The site security guard
  2. The scaffold material supplier's driver
  3. The building occupant
  4. A competent person appointed for the purpose Correct answer.

Explanation

Before a scaffold is first used, and after alteration or exposure to adverse conditions, a competent person must examine it and confirm it is safe. The examination must be recorded in the prescribed form.

Question 9Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

How often must a scaffold in use be inspected by a competent person under the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations?

  1. Once every 6 months
  2. At intervals not exceeding 3 months
  3. Only after a reported accident
  4. At intervals not exceeding 14 days Correct answer.

Explanation

Scaffolds in use must be inspected at intervals not exceeding 14 days, in addition to inspection before first use and after alteration or adverse weather. The results must be recorded.

Question 10Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

A truss-out scaffold has been exposed to strong winds overnight. What should happen before work resumes on it?

  1. A competent person should re-examine it and confirm it is safe Correct answer.
  2. Workers should resume work if it looks unchanged
  3. Only the guardrails need a visual check by a worker
  4. The site office should be informed after work starts

Explanation

After exposure to weather conditions likely to affect its stability, a scaffold must be re-examined by a competent person before use. Strong wind can loosen ties and fixings that are not obvious to a casual glance.

Question 11Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

What does the term 'truss-out scaffold' describe in Hong Kong practice?

  1. A scaffold projecting from a building facade and supported by a truss or brackets Correct answer.
  2. A free-standing scaffold tower inside a lift shaft
  3. A suspended platform hung from roof beams
  4. A mobile scaffold on castors used on a slab

Explanation

A truss-out scaffold projects outward from a building facade and is supported by a truss, brackets or similar members anchored to the structure. It is commonly used where ground support is unavailable.

Question 12Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

Which regulation primarily requires that scaffold components be of good construction, sound material and adequate strength?

  1. The Noise Control Ordinance
  2. The Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations Correct answer.
  3. The Employees' Compensation Ordinance
  4. The Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Safety Management) Regulation

Explanation

The Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations require scaffolds and their components to be of good construction, sound material and adequate strength. This underpins the duty to use suitable materials and reject defective components.

Question 13Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

A worker is asked to work on a truss-out scaffold that has no guardrails at the outer edge. What is the most appropriate legal and safety response?

  1. Work carefully while holding onto the building wall
  2. Work only for short periods to limit exposure
  3. Refuse to work on it until suitable edge protection is provided Correct answer.
  4. Tie a rope around the waist and proceed

Explanation

Where fall protection required by the regulations is missing, the worker should not use the scaffold. The contractor must provide suitable guardrails and toe boards before work proceeds, and workers have a duty to cooperate with safety requirements.

Question 14Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

Which person is responsible for ensuring that a truss-out scaffold is designed and constructed to withstand the loads imposed on it?

  1. The contractor erecting the scaffold Correct answer.
  2. The material delivery driver
  3. The worker using the scaffold
  4. The building's tenants

Explanation

The contractor undertaking the scaffold work is responsible for ensuring the scaffold is properly designed, erected and maintained to withstand imposed loads. Users must not overload it, but design responsibility rests with the contractor.

Question 15Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

What is the primary purpose of a permit-to-work system for truss-out scaffold work on a facade?

  1. To replace the need for scaffold inspection
  2. To record the number of workers on site for payroll
  3. To satisfy the building's insurance company only
  4. To formally confirm that specified precautions are in place before high-risk work starts Correct answer.

Explanation

A permit-to-work system is a formal control that confirms specified precautions, such as inspection and edge protection, are in place before high-risk work begins. It supplements, but never replaces, statutory inspection and other legal duties.

Question 16Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

Under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, what duty does an employee have regarding safety on a construction site?

  1. To supervise other workers' tasks
  2. To take reasonable care for their own and others' safety and to cooperate with safety measures Correct answer.
  3. To personally purchase all personal protective equipment
  4. To inspect the scaffold before each shift

Explanation

Employees must take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others and cooperate with measures taken to comply with safety legislation. The duty to provide a safe system of work remains with the contractor.

Question 17Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

A truss-out scaffold has been substantially altered to extend its working platform. What must occur before it is used again?

  1. It may be used once the alteration is finished
  2. Only the extended section needs a visual check by the erector
  3. It must be examined by a competent person and the result recorded Correct answer.
  4. It may be used if the original inspection certificate is still valid

Explanation

After any substantial alteration, a scaffold must be re-examined by a competent person before further use, and the examination recorded. A prior certificate does not cover the altered structure.

Question 18Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

Why does the regulatory framework require a truss-out scaffold to be adequately tied or anchored to the building structure?

  1. To keep the scaffold tidy for the building's appearance
  2. To allow the scaffold to be moved easily between floors
  3. To resist wind and other lateral loads and prevent collapse or displacement Correct answer.
  4. To reduce the amount of bamboo required

Explanation

Adequate ties and anchors transfer wind and lateral loads into the building structure, preventing the projecting scaffold from displacement or collapse. Appearance, mobility and material savings are not the purpose of the anchoring requirement.

Question 19Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

A site supervisor wants to use a truss-out scaffold beyond the load it was designed for by storing heavy materials on the platform. What is the correct position under the regulatory framework?

  1. The scaffold must not be loaded beyond its design capacity, and the competent person's assessment should govern Correct answer.
  2. The supervisor may permit it if workers agree
  3. The supervisor may permit it if the weather is fine
  4. The scaffold may be overloaded if a warning sign is displayed

Explanation

Scaffolds must not be subjected to loads beyond those for which they were designed. Overloading a projecting truss-out scaffold can cause structural failure, and the competent person's assessment of capacity should govern use.

Question 20Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

Which statement best describes the relationship between the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and its subsidiary regulations such as the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations?

  1. The regulations are voluntary guidance with no legal force
  2. The ordinance applies only to factories, and the regulations apply only to offices
  3. The ordinance provides the enabling framework, and the subsidiary regulations set out detailed requirements Correct answer.
  4. The regulations override the ordinance in all cases

Explanation

The ordinance is the principal enabling legislation, and subsidiary regulations made under it set out detailed legal requirements for specific hazards and activities. Both are binding law, with the regulations operating within the ordinance's framework.

Question 21Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

A competent person examines a truss-out scaffold and finds a defective fixing. What is the correct course of action under the statutory framework?

  1. Workers should be told verbally to be careful near the defective fixing
  2. The defect should be noted and work continued until the next scheduled inspection
  3. The scaffold should be put out of use until the defect is rectified and the scaffold re-examined Correct answer.
  4. The fixing should be painted to highlight it for workers

Explanation

A scaffold found to be defective must be taken out of use until the defect is rectified and the scaffold is re-examined and confirmed safe. Continuing work with a known defect breaches the duty to maintain scaffolds in a safe condition.

Question 22Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

In the context of Hong Kong construction safety law, what does 'proprietor' generally refer to for an industrial undertaking?

  1. The person who carries on the undertaking and has control over its management Correct answer.
  2. The owner of the land on which the building stands
  3. The supplier of the scaffold materials
  4. The worker elected as safety representative

Explanation

The proprietor is the person carrying on the industrial undertaking and having control of its management, which is why general duties attach to contractors running construction work. Land ownership, worker representation and supply roles do not define the proprietor.

Question 23Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

What is the main function of a statutory code of practice in relation to the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations?

  1. To create new criminal offences independent of the regulations
  2. To exempt small contractors from the regulations
  3. To replace the need for competent persons on site
  4. To give practical guidance on achieving compliance with the regulations Correct answer.

Explanation

Codes of practice provide practical guidance on how to comply with the statutory requirements. They do not create independent offences, grant exemptions or remove the need for competent persons.

Question 24Statutory and regulatory framework: Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and subsidiary regulations, and related codes of practice

Which of the following best reflects the statutory duty regarding the provision of personal protective equipment for workers on a truss-out scaffold?

  1. The contractor must provide suitable PPE where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means Correct answer.
  2. PPE is required only when the site manager is present
  3. PPE may be shared among all workers regardless of fit
  4. Workers must supply their own PPE without reimbursement

Explanation

The contractor must provide suitable personal protective equipment where risks remain after other control measures, and ensure it is used properly. PPE must be suitable for the user and the task, not shared indiscriminately.

Question 25Safety responsibilities and duty holders: contractors, subcontractors, competent persons, and the scaffolder's own duties and scope of work

Under Hong Kong's Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Safety Management) framework and CIC guidance, who bears the primary legal duty for ensuring a truss-out scaffold on a building facade is safe before work starts?

  1. The client's architect, because the design appears on the drawing
  2. The building's management office, because the scaffold hangs on their facade
  3. The contractor undertaking the construction work, who must provide a safe system of work Correct answer.
  4. The individual scaffolder, because he physically erects the frame

Explanation

The contractor carrying out the work holds the primary duty to provide a safe system of work, safe plant and adequate supervision, and this duty cannot be delegated away by hiring a subcontractor. The management office, the individual worker and the designer each carry separate, narrower obligations. Blaming the scaffolder alone for a system the contractor controls is a common but incorrect assumption.

Question 26Safety responsibilities and duty holders: contractors, subcontractors, competent persons, and the scaffolder's own duties and scope of work

A truss-out scaffold is to be erected over a busy pavement. Which arrangement best reflects the scaffolder's own duty within his scope of work?

  1. Erect only as instructed by the competent person and report any unsafe condition before loading the platform Correct answer.
  2. Extend the working platform beyond the plan so materials can be stacked
  3. Redesign the truss arrangement on site whenever the anchorage points look inconvenient
  4. Refuse to work until the client personally signs the scaffold tag

Explanation

A scaffolder must follow the agreed design and instructions from the competent person, and must stop and report when site conditions differ from the plan or appear unsafe. He has no authority to redesign structural arrangements on his own initiative. Personal duties focus on compliance, competence and reporting, not on changing the design.

Question 27Safety responsibilities and duty holders: contractors, subcontractors, competent persons, and the scaffolder's own duties and scope of work

What does the term 'competent person' mean when applied to truss-out scaffold work in Hong Kong?

  1. A person with the relevant training, experience and knowledge to perform the specific task safely Correct answer.
  2. Any registered worker who has held a construction card for over one year
  3. A safety officer employed by the developer rather than the contractor
  4. The site agent, because he signs the daily site diary

Explanation

Competence is task-specific: it combines training, practical experience and the knowledge needed for the particular job, such as designing or inspecting a truss-out scaffold. Length of time on site alone does not establish competence. A site agent or safety officer may hold other responsibilities without being the competent person for scaffold design or inspection.

Question 28Safety responsibilities and duty holders: contractors, subcontractors, competent persons, and the scaffolder's own duties and scope of work

A subcontractor is engaged to erect truss-out scaffolds for a main contractor. Which statement correctly describes the subcontractor's safety responsibility?

  1. It may rely entirely on the main contractor's safety officer to supervise its crews
  2. It has no safety duty once the main contractor has approved the method statement
  3. It must manage its own workers and work methods safely while still coordinating with the main contractor's site arrangements Correct answer.
  4. It is responsible only for the price and programme of the scaffold works

Explanation

A subcontractor is an employer in its own right and must ensure the safety of its workers and the adequacy of its work methods, including supervision and training. Approval of a method statement by the main contractor does not extinguish that duty. Both parties must coordinate so that interfaces such as access, loading and exclusion zones are managed.

Question 29Safety responsibilities and duty holders: contractors, subcontractors, competent persons, and the scaffolder's own duties and scope of work

Who is responsible for ensuring that a truss-out scaffold is inspected by a competent person before first use and at the required intervals?

  1. The supplier of the scaffold tubes and couplers
  2. The tenant of the flat whose window the scaffold serves
  3. The contractor in control of the site, through its appointed competent person Correct answer.
  4. The scaffolder's union representative

Explanation

The duty to arrange statutory inspections, keep the reports and act on defects rests with the contractor in control of the site, acting through a competent person. The erector contributes by making the scaffold available and reporting defects, but does not own the inspection regime. Tenants and suppliers have no such duty.

Question 30Safety responsibilities and duty holders: contractors, subcontractors, competent persons, and the scaffolder's own duties and scope of work

During erection of a truss-out scaffold, the scaffolder finds that a proposed anchor point sits in loose render with no sound backing. What is the correct action within his scope of work?

  1. Drill deeper and tighten the anchor until it feels firm, then continue
  2. Shift the anchor 100 mm sideways and carry on without telling anyone
  3. Stop work at that point and refer the anchorage problem to the competent person for a revised fixing method Correct answer.
  4. Complete the scaffold and note the concern on the handover tag afterwards

Explanation

Anchorage into unsound material compromises the stability of the whole truss-out frame, so the erector must stop and escalate the deviation to the competent person. Improvising a deeper or relocated fixing changes the design and its load assumptions. Recording the concern only after completion leaves an unsafe scaffold in use.

Question 31Safety responsibilities and duty holders: contractors, subcontractors, competent persons, and the scaffolder's own duties and scope of work

A main contractor proposes to save cost by having truss-out scaffolds erected by general labourers under the verbal direction of a chargehand with no scaffold qualification. How should this be assessed?

  1. It is acceptable provided the labourers wear harnesses while working
  2. It is acceptable if the work is completed within one working day
  3. It is acceptable if the chargehand has more than ten years of site experience
  4. It is unacceptable because truss-out erection must be carried out by trained and competent scaffolders under proper supervision Correct answer.

Explanation

Truss-out scaffolds are high-risk structures that must be erected, altered and dismantled by trained, competent scaffolders working under competent supervision. General experience or personal protective equipment does not substitute for the required trade competence. The duration of the task is irrelevant to the competence requirement.

Question 32Safety responsibilities and duty holders: contractors, subcontractors, competent persons, and the scaffolder's own duties and scope of work

What is the main purpose of a handover or 'scaffold tag' record for a completed truss-out scaffold?

  1. To confirm that the scaffold has been checked and is fit for the intended use before workers load it Correct answer.
  2. To record the commercial cost of the scaffold for the final account
  3. To satisfy the building's insurance policy rather than any safety requirement
  4. To transfer legal liability for the scaffold from the contractor to the user

Explanation

A handover record communicates that the scaffold has been completed and checked against the design and is safe for its intended use, including any load limits. It supports the contractor's safety management but does not shift legal duties to the user. Cost and insurance matters are separate from this safety function.

Question 33Safety responsibilities and duty holders: contractors, subcontractors, competent persons, and the scaffolder's own duties and scope of work

A scaffolder is asked to work on a truss-out scaffold that he did not erect and that carries no handover record. What is the appropriate response?

  1. Do not load the scaffold until it has been checked and confirmed fit for use by a competent person Correct answer.
  2. Inspect it himself and start work if it looks level
  3. Ask a colleague who erected it to confirm it verbally and proceed
  4. Use it carefully for light work while a check is arranged

Explanation

A worker should not use a scaffold whose condition and suitability have not been confirmed, because defects may be hidden and the load capacity unknown. A personal visual check or a verbal assurance from a colleague is not an adequate substitute for a competent person's confirmation. The safe response is to withhold use until the check is complete.

Question 34Safety responsibilities and duty holders: contractors, subcontractors, competent persons, and the scaffolder's own duties and scope of work

Which party is normally responsible for preparing the design and method statement for a truss-out scaffold before erection begins?

  1. The contractor, through a competent person with the necessary scaffold design knowledge Correct answer.
  2. The labour supplier that provides the erecting crew
  3. The individual erector, working from experience on the day
  4. The building's incorporated owners, as the facade belongs to them

Explanation

Design and planning for a truss-out scaffold are the contractor's responsibility and must be produced by a competent person with the relevant knowledge before work starts. The erector builds to the plan rather than inventing it on site. Owners and labour suppliers do not carry this technical planning duty.

Question 35Safety responsibilities and duty holders: contractors, subcontractors, competent persons, and the scaffolder's own duties and scope of work

A site supervisor tells a scaffolder to remove a guardrail temporarily so that a window frame can be hoisted past, and to replace it 'when there is time'. How should the scaffolder respond?

  1. Explain that the edge protection must not be left open, and arrange for the work to be done with the opening controlled and restored immediately Correct answer.
  2. Remove the rail and tie a warning tape across the gap instead
  3. Refuse to do the hoisting at all and leave the site
  4. Remove the rail as instructed because the supervisor is senior

Explanation

Edge protection on a truss-out scaffold must be maintained, and any temporary opening needs to be controlled and closed immediately after the operation. A supervisor's instruction does not override the scaffolder's duty to protect himself and others. Warning tape alone is not an adequate substitute for a guardrail, and walking off site does not resolve the hazard.

Question 36Safety responsibilities and duty holders: contractors, subcontractors, competent persons, and the scaffolder's own duties and scope of work

Which of the following best describes the boundary of a scaffolder's scope of work on a truss-out scaffold?

  1. Designing the anchorages and signing the inspection certificate
  2. Approving the scaffold for use by other trades after erection
  3. Erecting, altering and dismantling to the agreed design, and reporting defects, but not certifying the design or approving the scaffold for use Correct answer.
  4. Setting the load limit for the platform based on his judgement

Explanation

The scaffolder's scope covers skilled erection, alteration and dismantling in accordance with the design, together with reporting defects and unsafe conditions. Design responsibility, certification and approval for use sit with the competent person and the contractor. Setting load limits by personal judgement falls outside the erector's role.

Question 37Safety responsibilities and duty holders: contractors, subcontractors, competent persons, and the scaffolder's own duties and scope of work

A truss-out scaffold has been in place for several weeks and a coupler has visibly slipped. Who must act, and on what basis?

  1. No action is needed if the platform still feels stable underfoot
  2. The contractor's competent person must arrange re-inspection and repair before the scaffold continues in use Correct answer.
  3. The user trade must tighten the coupler and continue working
  4. The scaffolder who first erected it must repair it without any record

Explanation

Any visible movement or defect indicates the scaffold may no longer be safe, so the contractor must have it re-inspected and repaired by competent persons, with the outcome recorded. Repairs by users or informal adjustments undermine the inspection regime. Perceived stability underfoot is not evidence of structural adequacy.

Question 38Safety responsibilities and duty holders: contractors, subcontractors, competent persons, and the scaffolder's own duties and scope of work

Two parties each claim the other is responsible for the safe condition of a truss-out scaffold: the main contractor says the specialist subcontractor owns it, while the subcontractor says the main contractor approved the design. What is the correct legal position?

  1. Both retain their own duties, and responsibility is not extinguished by the other party's approval or involvement Correct answer.
  2. Only the main contractor is liable because it controls the whole site
  3. Liability passes to whoever last signed the scaffold tag
  4. Only the subcontractor is liable because it physically built the scaffold

Explanation

Safety duties under Hong Kong construction law are not exclusive: each employer and contractor must discharge its own obligations, and approval or involvement by another party does not cancel them. The main contractor and the specialist subcontractor therefore share overlapping responsibilities for planning, supervision and inspection. A signature on a tag does not transfer liability.

Question 39Safety responsibilities and duty holders: contractors, subcontractors, competent persons, and the scaffolder's own duties and scope of work

A scaffolder holds a valid construction industry safety card but has never erected a truss-out scaffold. He is asked to lead a truss-out crew. What is the correct assessment?

  1. He can lead the crew provided he reads the method statement on the morning of the job
  2. He can lead the crew if the scaffold is under ten metres high
  3. The safety card alone qualifies him to lead any scaffold type
  4. He is not yet competent for truss-out work and needs specific training and supervised experience before leading a crew Correct answer.

Explanation

A general safety card shows basic safety training, not trade competence for a specialised structure such as a truss-out scaffold. Competence requires specific training plus supervised practical experience on that type of work. Height or a quick read of the method statement does not replace that competence.

Question 40Safety responsibilities and duty holders: contractors, subcontractors, competent persons, and the scaffolder's own duties and scope of work

Which record best demonstrates that a contractor has discharged its duty to have a truss-out scaffold inspected before use?

  1. A photograph of the finished scaffold taken by the erector
  2. A delivery note for the scaffold tubes and couplers
  3. A verbal confirmation from the chargehand at the morning briefing
  4. A dated inspection report signed by the competent person identifying the scaffold and any defects found Correct answer.

Explanation

The contractor should be able to produce a dated report by the competent person that identifies the scaffold, records the findings and shows defects were rectified. Photographs, delivery notes and verbal briefings may support the record but do not evidence a competent inspection. Written reports are the recognised means of demonstrating compliance.

Question 41Truss-out scaffold design principles: loads, anchorage to the building facade, tie-back and raking members, and structural stability

In truss-out scaffold design, what is the primary function of a tie-back?

  1. To level the scaffold legs on sloping ground
  2. To increase the working platform width for material storage
  3. To support the full weight of the working platform vertically
  4. To resist outward pull and hold the frame against the facade Correct answer.

Explanation

A tie-back anchors the truss-out frame to the building structure so the frame cannot pull away from the facade under eccentric platform loads. It resists tension (and sometimes compression) rather than carrying platform weight vertically.

Question 42Truss-out scaffold design principles: loads, anchorage to the building facade, tie-back and raking members, and structural stability

What does a raking member (raker) in a truss-out scaffold primarily do?

  1. Increase the number of working platforms
  2. Replace the need for anchorage bolts
  3. Provide a diagonal load path transferring platform loads back to the building Correct answer.
  4. Serve as the guardrail for the outer edge

Explanation

A raker is a diagonal strut that carries loads from the outer truss members back to a stronger point on the structure, forming a triangulated load path. It stabilises the frame and reduces bending in the horizontal members.

Question 43Truss-out scaffold design principles: loads, anchorage to the building facade, tie-back and raking members, and structural stability

Why must the anchorage of a truss-out scaffold be checked against pull-out rather than only shear?

  1. Because shear capacity is always higher than the concrete strength
  2. Because eccentric platform loads create overturning moments that induce tension in the anchorage Correct answer.
  3. Because bolts only ever fail in shear in practice
  4. Because pull-out testing is cheaper than visual inspection

Explanation

Loads applied outboard of the facade create a moment about the anchorage line, producing tension (pull-out) forces on the upper or inner anchors. Design must therefore verify both tension and shear, not shear alone.

Question 44Truss-out scaffold design principles: loads, anchorage to the building facade, tie-back and raking members, and structural stability

A truss-out frame projects 1.5 m from the facade and carries a light duty platform. Which load combination should govern the design of the anchorage?

  1. Dead load plus the worst credible imposed load, including a realistic eccentricity Correct answer.
  2. The self-weight of the scaffold tubes only
  3. Dead load only, since imposed loads are transient
  4. Wind uplift only, since the platform is open

Explanation

Anchorage design must use the governing combination of dead plus imposed (working) load applied at its eccentric position, because the moment arm drives the anchor tension. Wind and other effects are checked as additional cases where relevant.

Question 45Truss-out scaffold design principles: loads, anchorage to the building facade, tie-back and raking members, and structural stability

Which statement best describes the role of a needling beam in a truss-out scaffold?

  1. It replaces the guardrail on the inner face
  2. It spans through or against the structure to carry the scaffold legs where direct support is unavailable Correct answer.
  3. It acts purely as a toe board along the platform edge
  4. It is a temporary handrail used during erection only

Explanation

A needle is a beam that transfers scaffold leg loads into the building structure where the frame cannot be founded on the ground. It works with the truss-out frame and anchorage to complete the load path.

Question 46Truss-out scaffold design principles: loads, anchorage to the building facade, tie-back and raking members, and structural stability

What is the main purpose of triangulating a truss-out frame with diagonals?

  1. To increase the platform's load capacity by widening the deck
  2. To provide stiffness and prevent the frame from racking under eccentric loads Correct answer.
  3. To allow the frame to be erected without any anchorage
  4. To reduce the number of standards required

Explanation

Triangulation creates a stiff, stable geometry that resists racking and distributes loads through axial forces rather than bending. This is a core stability principle for cantilevered truss-out frames.

Question 47Truss-out scaffold design principles: loads, anchorage to the building facade, tie-back and raking members, and structural stability

Why is it important that tie-backs are fixed to structural elements of the building rather than to cladding?

  1. Cladding is always thicker than structural concrete
  2. Cladding is not designed to resist concentrated scaffold tie forces Correct answer.
  3. Cladding prevents the use of bolts entirely
  4. Cladding has a higher pull-out capacity than structural concrete

Explanation

Cladding and finishes are non-structural and cannot reliably resist concentrated tie or anchor forces; ties must reach the structural frame or a verified load-bearing element. Fixing to cladding risks pull-out and collapse.

Question 48Truss-out scaffold design principles: loads, anchorage to the building facade, tie-back and raking members, and structural stability

A truss-out scaffold is to be erected above a public footway. Which measure is a design-level requirement rather than an erection detail?

  1. Deciding the order in which tubes are passed up by hand
  2. Designing the frame and anchorage to resist wind and imposed loads for the exposed condition Correct answer.
  3. Choosing the colour of the protective netting
  4. Arranging the tea-break schedule for the erection gang

Explanation

Structural design must account for wind and imposed loads appropriate to the exposure and use of the scaffold. The other items are site management or aesthetic choices, not structural design requirements.

Question 49Truss-out scaffold design principles: loads, anchorage to the building facade, tie-back and raking members, and structural stability

What does the term 'factor of safety' mean when applied to the anchorage of a truss-out scaffold?

  1. The number of bolts used at each anchor point
  2. The length of the tie-back measured in metres
  3. The ratio of the anchorage's capacity to the design load it is expected to carry Correct answer.
  4. The time interval between anchor inspections

Explanation

The factor of safety expresses how much reserve capacity exists beyond the design load, i.e. capacity divided by demand. It is a structural ratio, not a count, dimension, or inspection interval.

Question 50Truss-out scaffold design principles: loads, anchorage to the building facade, tie-back and raking members, and structural stability

Why should the design of a truss-out scaffold consider the effect of wind uplift on the platform?

  1. Uplift can reverse the direction of forces and load the anchorage in tension Correct answer.
  2. Wind has no effect on open platforms
  3. Wind only affects the scaffolding during erection
  4. Uplift reduces the imposed load permanently

Explanation

Wind uplift on an open platform can produce net upward forces, reversing the load direction and putting the anchorage into tension. The design must check this reversal case in addition to gravity loads.