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Regulation & Guidelines for Construction

The following sections of the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation have been identified as being most relevant to your industry. Included are the general requirements that apply to all industrial workplaces as well as any specific requirements for your industry. However, other sections of the WCA or OHS Regulation may also apply to your workplace because hazards and tasks vary from workplace to workplace within the same industry. This compilation of relevant industry sections does not exempt you from other sections that apply to your workplace.

Construction Industry | Frame Scaffolding

Construction Industry

Workers Compensation Act

Part 3 Division 1 - Interpretation and Purposes
Part 3 Division 2 - Board Mandate
Part 3 Division 3 - General Duties of Employers, Workers, and Others
Part 3 Division 4 - Joint Committees and Worker Representatives
Part 3 Division 6 - Prohibition Against Discriminatory Action
Part 3 Division 7 - Information and Confidentiality
Part 3 Division 8 - Miscellaneous Authority
Part 3 Division 9 - Variance Orders
Part 3 Division 10 - Accident Reporting and Investigation
Part 3 Division 11 - Inspections, Investigations and Inquiries
Part 3 Division 12 - Enforcement
Part 3 Division 15 - Offences
Part 3 Division 16 - General
Part 3 Division 17 - Regulations

Occupational Health and Safety Regulation

Part 1 Definitions

Part 2 Application

Part 3 Rights and Responsibilities

Part 4 General Conditions Guidelines Part 4 General Conditions

Part 5 Chemical Agents and Biological Agents

Part 6 Substance Specific Requirements
6.1 - 6.32 Asbestos
6.33 - 6.40 Biological Agents
6.59 - 6.69 Lead
6.110 - 6.115 Rock Dust

Part 7 Noise, Vibration, Radiation and Temperature
7.1 - 7.9 Division 1 - Noise Exposure
7.10 - 7.16 Division 2 - Vibration Exposure
7.26 - 7.38 Division 4 - Thermal Exposure

Part 8 Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment

Part 9 Confined Spaces

Part 10 De-energization and Lockout

Part 11 Fall Protection

Part 12 Tools, Machinery and Equipment
12.2 - 12.15 General Requirements
12.16 - 12.21 Guarding Mechanical Power Transmission Parts
12.44 - 12.49 Abrasive Equipment
12.51 - 12.57 Powder Actuated Tools
12.58 - 12.67 Woodworking Tools and Equipment
12.68 - 12.71 Mobile Chippers
12.72 - 12.73 Chain Saws
12.81 - 12.83 Miscellaneous Equipment
12.84 - 12.92 Drilling Rock or Similar Materials
12.97 - 12.111 Abrasive Blasting and High Pressure Washing
12.112 - 12.126 Welding, Cutting and Allied Processes
12.127 - 12.141 Painting, Coating and Work with Plastics and Resins

Part 13 Ladders, Scaffolds and Temporary Work Platforms

Part 14 Cranes and Hoists

Part 15 Rigging

Part 16 Mobile Equipment

Part 17 Transportation of Workers

Part 18 Traffic Control

Part 19 Electrical Safety
19.1 Definitions
19.3 - 19.9 General Electrical Requirements
19.10 - 19.15 Working on Low Voltage Electrical Equipment
19.16 - 19.17 Working on High Voltage Electrical Equipment
19.18 - 19.23 Working on De-energized High Voltage Power Systems
19.24 - 19.29 Working Close to Energized High Voltage Equipment and Conductors
19.30 - 19.35 Tree Pruning and Falling near Energized Conductors

Part 20 Construction, Excavation and Demolition

Part 21 Blasting Operations

Part 24 Diving, Fishing and Marine Operations
24.7 - 24.34 General Requirements

Part 27 Wood Products Manufacturing
27.14 - 27.31 Saws and Knives

Part 32 Evacuation and Rescue

Parts of OHS Regulation That Apply to Frame Scaffolding

Part 8: Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment
  8.2 Responsibility to provide
  8.3 Selection, use and maintenance
  8.4 Workplace evaluation
  8.5 Program
  8.6 Annual review
  8.7 Instruction
  8.8 Supervisor's responsibilities
  8.9 Worker's responsibilities
  8.10 Personal clothing and accessories
  8.11 Safety headgear: General requirement

Part 11: Fall Protection
  11.1 Definitions
  11.2 Obligation to use fall protection
  11.3 Fall protection plan
  11.4 Selection of harness or belt
  11.5 Equipment standards
  11.6 Anchors
  11.7 Temporary horizontal lifelines
  11.8 Certification by engineer
  11.9 Inspection and maintenance
  11.10 Removal from service

Part 13: Ladders, Scaffolds and Temporary Work Platforms

Division 1 General
  13.1 Definitions
  13.2 Standards
  13.3 Inspections

Division 4 Scaffolds
  13.13 Responsibilities
  13.14 Scaffold platforms
  13.15 Manufactured components
  13.16 Lumber for structural components
  13.17 Scaffold stability
  13.18 Connections
  13.19 Electrical hazards

8.2 Responsibility to provide

(1) A worker is responsible for providing

(a) clothing needed for protection against the natural elements,

(b) general purpose work gloves and appropriate footwear including safety footwear, and

(c) safety headgear.

(2) An employer is responsible for providing, at no cost to the worker, all other items of personal protective equipment required by this Regulation.

(3) If the personal protective equipment provided by the employer causes allergenic or other adverse health effects, the employer must provide appropriate alternate equipment or safe measures.

(4) Nothing in this section precludes or alters an existing or future agreement between a worker or workers and an employer to the effect that the employer will be responsible for the provision either at no cost or some cost to the worker, of any or all of the items described in subsection (1).

Note: Part 8 provides requirements for most types of protective clothing and equipment. See Part 7 on Noise for hearing protection requirements.

8.3 Selection, use and maintenance

(1) Personal protective equipment must

(a) be selected and used in accordance with recognized standards, and provide effective protection,

(b) not in itself create a hazard to the wearer,

(c) be compatible, so that one item of personal protective equipment does not make another item ineffective, and

(d) be maintained in good working order and in a sanitary condition.

(2) If the use of personal protective equipment creates hazards equal to or greater than those its use is intended to prevent, alternative personal protective equipment must be used or other appropriate measures must be taken.

       [Amended by B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

* See also section 4.3 of the OHS Regulation.
8.4 Workplace Evaluation

If an evaluation of workplace conditions is required to determine appropriate personal protective equipment, the evaluation, where practicable, must be done in consultation with the joint committee or the worker health and safety representative, as applicable, and with the worker who will use the equipment.

8.5 Program

If personal protective equipment is required to protect against a chemical exposure or an oxygen deficient atmosphere the employer must implement an effective protective equipment program at the workplace which includes

(a) a statement of purpose and responsibilities,

(b) written procedures for selection, use, inspection, cleaning, maintenance and storage of protective equipment, when required,

(c) instruction and training in the correct use and maintenance of the equipment,

(d) for respiratory equipment, medical assessment of respirator wearers, when required,

(e) documentation when required, and

(f) program review.

8.6 Annual review

(1) The personal protective equipment program must be reviewed annually by the employer in consultation with the joint committee or the worker health and safety representative, as applicable.

(2) The annual review must

(a) assess exposure control measures to ensure their continued effectiveness,

(b) determine the need for further control,

(c) ensure the adequacy of instruction, and

(d) for respiratory protection, assess the adequacy of exposure monitoring data and assess the need for further monitoring, and ensure the adequacy of the fit test program.

8.7 Instruction

The employer must ensure that a worker who wears personal protective equipment is adequately instructed in the correct use, limitations and assigned maintenance duties for the equipment to be used.

8.8 Supervisor's responsibilities

The supervisor must ensure that appropriate personal protective equipment is

(a) available to workers,

(b) properly worn when required, and

(c) properly cleaned, inspected, maintained and stored.

8.9 Worker's responsibilities

(1) A worker who is required to use personal protective equipment must

(a) use the equipment in accordance with training and instruction,

(b) inspect the equipment before use,

(c) refrain from wearing protective equipment outside of the work area where it is required if to do so would constitute a hazard, and

(d) report any equipment malfunction to the supervisor or employer.

(2) A worker who is assigned responsibility for cleaning, maintaining or storing personal protective equipment must do so in accordance with training and instruction provided.

8.10 Personal clothing and accessories

(1) The personal clothing of a worker must be of a type and in a condition which will not expose the worker to any unnecessary or avoidable hazards.

(2) If there is a danger of contact with moving parts of machinery or with electrically energized equipment, or if the work process presents similar hazards

(a) the clothing of the worker must fit closely about the body,

(b) dangling neckwear, bracelets, wristwatches, rings or similar articles must not be worn, except for medical alert bracelets which may be worn with transparent bands that hold the bracelets snugly to the skin, and

(c) cranial and facial hair must be confined, or worn at a length which will prevent it from being snagged or caught in the work process.

8.11 General requirement

(1) Safety headgear must be worn by a worker in any work area where there is a danger of head injury from falling, flying or thrown objects, or other harmful contacts.

(2) Safety headgear must meet the requirements of

(a) CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z94.1-92, Industrial Protective Headwear,

(b) ANSI Standard Z89.1-1986, American National Standard for Personnel Protection - Protective Headwear for Industrial Workers Requirements, or

(c) Japanese Industrial Standard JIS T8131-1990, Industrial Safety Helmets, for Class AB or ABE headgear.

(d) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

* See also section 4.4 of the OHS Regulation.

(3) If a worker may be exposed to an electrical hazard the safety headgear must have an appropriate non-conductive rating.

(4) Chin straps or other effective means of retention must be used on safety headgear when workers are climbing or working from a height exceeding 3 m (10 ft), or are exposed to high winds or other conditions that may cause loss of the headgear.

(5) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 381/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

(6) Damaged headgear or headgear with missing, mismatched, or modified components must be removed from service.

       [Amended by B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

Part 11: Fall Protection
11.1 Definitions

In this Part

"anchor" means a secure point of attachment for a lifeline or lanyard;

"fall arrest system" means a system that will stop a worker's fall before the worker hits the surface below;

"fall protection system" means

(a) a fall restraint system,

(b) a fall arrest system, or

(c) work procedures that are acceptable to the Board and minimize the risk of injury to a worker from a fall;

       [Amended by B.C. Reg. 420/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

"fall restraint system" means a system to prevent a worker from falling from a work position, or from travelling to an unguarded edge from which the worker could fall;

       [Amended by B.C. Reg. 420/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

"full body harness" means a body support device consisting of connected straps designed to distribute the force resulting from a fall over at least the thigh, shoulders and pelvis, with provision for attaching a lanyard, lifeline or other components;

       [Amended by B.C. Reg. 420/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

"horizontal lifeline system" means a system composed of a synthetic or wire rope, installed horizontally between 2 anchors, to which a worker attaches a personal fall protection system;

"lanyard" means a flexible line of webbing, or synthetic or wire rope, that is used to secure a safety belt or full body harness to a lifeline or anchor;

"lifeline" means a synthetic or wire rope, rigged from one or more anchors, to which a worker's lanyard or other part of a personal fall protection system is attached;

"personal fall protection system" means a worker’s fall restraint system or fall arrest system composed of

(a) a safety belt or full body harness, and

(b) a lanyard, lifeline and any other connecting equipment individual to the worker

that is used to secure the worker to an individual point of anchorage or to a horizontal lifeline system;

       [Amended by B.C. Reg. 420/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

"safety belt" means a body support device consisting of a strap with a means for securing it about the waist and attaching it to other components;

       [Amended by B.C. Reg. 420/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

11.2 Obligation to use fall protection

(1) Unless elsewhere provided for in this Regulation, an employer must ensure that a fall protection system is used when work is being done at a place

(a) from which a fall of 3 m (10 ft) or more may occur, or

(b) where a fall from a height of less than 3 m involves a risk of injury greater than the risk of injury from the impact on a flat surface.

(2) The employer must ensure that guardrails meeting the requirements of Part 4 (General Conditions) or other similar means of fall restraint are used when practicable.

(3) If subsection (2) is not practicable, the employer must ensure that another fall restraint system is used.

(4) If subsection (3) is not practicable, the employer must ensure that a fall arrest system is used.

(5) If the use of a fall arrest system is not practicable, or will result in a hazard greater than if the system was not used, the employer must ensure that work procedures are followed that are acceptable to the Board and minimize the risk of injury to a worker from a fall.

(6) Before a worker is allowed into an area where a risk of falling exists, the employer must ensure that the worker is instructed in the fall protection system for the area and the procedures to be followed.

(7) A worker must use the fall protection system provided by the employer.

       [Amended by B.C. Reg. 420/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

11.3 Fall protection plan

(1) The employer must have a written fall protection plan for a workplace if

(a) work is being done at a location where workers are not protected by permanent guardrails, and from which a fall of 7.5 m (25 ft) or more may occur, or

(b) section 11.2(5) applies.

(c) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 420/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

(2) The fall protection plan must be available at the workplace before work with a risk of falling begins.

(3) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 420/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

       [Amended by B.C. Reg. 420/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

11.4 Selection of harness or belt

(1) A worker must wear a full body harness or other harness acceptable to the Board when using a personal fall protection system for fall arrest.

(2) A worker must wear a safety belt, a full body harness or other harness acceptable to the Board when using a personal fall protection system for fall restraint.

       [Enacted by B.C. Reg. 420/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

11.5 Equipment standards

Equipment used for a fall protection system must

(a) consist of compatible and suitable components,

(b) be sufficient to support the fall restraint or arrest forces, and

(c) meet, and be used in accordance with, an applicable CSA or ANSI standard in effect when the equipment was manufactured, subject to any modification or upgrading considered necessary by the Board.

       [Enacted by B.C. Reg. 420/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

11.6 Anchors

(1) In a temporary fall restraint system, an anchor for a personal fall protection system must have an ultimate load capacity in any direction in which a load may be applied of at least

(a) 3.5 kN (800 lbs), or

(b) four times the weight of the worker to be connected to the system.

(2) Each personal fall protection system that is connected to an anchor must be secured to an independent point of anchorage.

(3) In a temporary fall arrest system, an anchor for a personal fall protection system must have an ultimate load capacity in any direction required to resist a fall of at least

(a) 22 kN (5 000 lbs), or

(b) two times the maximum arrest force.

(4) A permanent anchor for a personal fall protection system must have an ultimate load capacity in any direction required to resist a fall of at least 22 kN (5 000 lbs).

       [Enacted by B.C. Reg. 420/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

       [Amended by B.C. Reg. 19/2006, effective May 17, 2006.]

11.7 Temporary horizontal lifelines

A temporary horizontal lifeline system may be used if the system is

(a) manufactured for commercial distribution and installed and used in accordance with the written instructions from the manufacturer or authorized agent, and the instructions are readily available in the workplace,

(b) installed and used in accordance with written instructions certified by a professional engineer, and the instructions are readily available in the workplace, or

(c) designed, installed and used in a manner acceptable to the Board.

       [Enacted by B.C. Reg. 420/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

       [Amended by B.C. Reg. 19/2006, effective May 17, 2006.]

11.8 Certification by engineer

The following types of equipment and systems, and their installation, must be certified by a professional engineer:

(a) permanent anchors,

(b) anchors with multiple attachment points,

(c) permanent horizontal lifeline systems, and

(d) support structures for safety nets.

       [Enacted by B.C. Reg. 420/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

11.9 Inspection and maintenance

Equipment used in a fall protection system must be

(a) inspected by a qualified person before use on each workshift,

(b) kept free from substances and conditions that could contribute to its deterioration, and

(c) maintained in good working order.

       [Enacted by B.C. Reg. 420/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

11.10 Removal from service

(1) After a fall protection system has arrested the fall of a worker, it must

(a) be removed from service, and

(b) not be returned to service until it has been inspected and recertified as safe for use by the manufacturer or its authorized agent, or by a professional engineer.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), subsection (1) (b) does not apply to a personal fall protection system designed and intended for reuse by a performer in the entertainment industry for conducting a planned fall sequence.

(3) The following conditions must be met before a personal fall protection system described in subsection (2) will be exempt from subsection (1) (b):

(a) the system must be designed and used in accordance with a standard acceptable to the Board;

(b) each use of the system must be carried out in accordance with the plan for the conduct of the fall;

(c) the peak arrest forces generated in the system during each use must be at or below both the planned limits and the maximum forces allowed for the system;

(d) after each use of the system no part of the system, including the anchorage, may be reused until a qualified person has inspected it and determined it is in serviceable condition and safe for reuse.

        [Enacted by B.C. Reg. 420/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

        [Amended by B.C. Reg. 320/2007, effective February 1, 2008.]

Part 13: Ladders, Scaffolds and Temporary Work Platforms
Division 1 - General
13.1 Definitions

In this Part:

"boom-supported" means supported by an elevating device that telescopes, articulates, rotates or extends relative to the machine base or vehicle, so that the platform can be positioned completely beyond the base;

"boatswain's chair", also known as a bosun's chair, means a seat attached to a suspended rope designed to accommodate one person in a sitting position;

"elevating work platform" means a movable work platform that self-elevates to overhead work locations;

"movable work platform" means a work platform that can be re-positioned during the course of the work;

"permanent powered platform" means a movable work platform that

(a) is raised or lowered by other than manual means, and

(b) is permanently installed on or attached to a building or structure;

"portable powered platform" means a movable work platform that

(a) is raised or lowered by other than manual means, and

(b) is not permanently installed on or attached to a building or structure;

"scaffold" means any temporary elevated work platform and its supporting structure used for supporting workers, materials or equipment;

"self-propelled" means the capability of an elevating work platform to travel under power with the primary controls on the work platform;

"swing stage" means a work platform that is raised and lowered by manual or powered hoisting equipment, supported by 2 or more suspension lines;

"work platform" means an elevated or suspended temporary work surface used for supporting workers and includes a scaffold and boatswain's chair.

       [Enacted by B.C. Reg. 422/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

13.2 Standards

(1) A ladder, window cleaner's belt or work platform must meet and be used in accordance with

(a) the applicable CSA or ANSI standard in effect when the equipment or structure was manufactured, except as otherwise determined by the Board,

(b) another standard acceptable to the Board, or

(c) if there is no applicable standard under paragraphs (a) or (b), the requirements of a professional engineer.

(2) In designing and installing a work platform, appropriate safety factors and minimum rated loads must be used in the materials and method of installation, in accordance with

(a) WCB Standard WPL 1, Design, Construction and Use of Wood Frame Scaffolds, 2004,

(b) WCB Standard WPL 2, Design, Construction and Use of Crane Supported Work Platforms, 2004,

(c) WCB Standard WPL 3, Safety Factor and Minimum Breaking Strength for Suspended Work Platforms and Associated Components, 2004, and

(d) WCB Standard LDR 1, Job Built Ladders, 2004.

       [Enacted by B.C. Reg. 422/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

13.3 Inspections

A ladder, window cleaner's belt, work platform and associated components must be inspected before use on each shift, and after any modification, and any condition that might endanger workers must be remedied before the equipment is used.

       [Enacted by B.C. Reg. 422/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

13.13 Responsibilities

The employer must ensure that scaffolds used by workers are in a safe condition and are able to withstand the load, regardless of who erected the scaffold.

       [Enacted by B.C. Reg. 422/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

13.14 Scaffold platforms

(1) The platform of each scaffold must

(a) be a minimum nominal width of 50 cm (20 in), except that a nominal 30 cm (12 in) wide work platform may be used with ladder jacks, pump jack or similar systems,

(b) not leave more than one opening in the work platform, which must be no greater than 25 cm (10 in) in width, and

(c) if not level, be designed to ensure adequate footing for workers using the platform.

(2) Guardrails may be omitted from the edge of a work platform if

(a) the platform is adjacent to a structure that provides protection equivalent to guardrails, and

(b) the open space between the platform and the structure is equal to or less than 30 cm (12 in).

       [Enacted by B.C. Reg. 422/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

13.15 Manufactured components

Major components of scaffolds must be used in accordance with technical data provided by the manufacturer, or in writing by a professional engineer, that

(a) shows the rated load, erection procedures and compliance with an applicable standard under section 13.2, and

(b) is available at the workplace for reference.

       [Enacted by B.C. Reg. 422/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

13.16 Lumber for structural components

All lumber used to construct a scaffold must be graded and marked to the National Lumber Grades Authority Standard Grading Rules for Canadian Lumber.

       [Enacted by B.C. Reg. 422/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

13.17 Scaffold stability

(1) A scaffold must be erected with the vertical members plumb, and with the ledgers and bearers level.

(2) The base of a scaffold must have bearing plates or sills that rest on a solid surface and are sufficient to support the weight of the scaffold.

(3) The poles, legs and uprights of a scaffold must be securely and rigidly braced to prevent movement.

(4) A scaffold must be effectively guyed or secured to a building or structure

(a) if the height of the scaffold exceeds 3 times its minimum base dimension, or

(b) in any other circumstances if required for stability.

(5) Unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer, height adjustment devices must not extend more than 2/3 of their total length or 60 cm (24 in), whichever is less.

       [Enacted by B.C. Reg. 422/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

13.18 Connections

All connections between the parts of a scaffold must be secure.

       [Enacted by B.C. Reg. 422/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]

13.19 Electrical hazards

A scaffold must be effectively grounded if

(a) it is a metal scaffold and is located close to a high voltage energized electrical conductor or equipment, and

(b) a hazardous level of electrical charge is likely to be induced in the scaffold.

       [Enacted by B.C. Reg. 422/2004, effective January 1, 2005.]



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