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Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health
Ministry of Labour Ordinance No. 32 of September 30, 1972

Latest Amendments:
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Ordinance No. 47 of March 30, 2007
In Japanese

Update : 2008.03.28

Part II Safety Standards

Chapter XI Working Platform

Article 575-2 (Materials, etc.)
  • (1) The employer shall, as regards materials used for the facilities composed of makeshift supports, working floors, etc., for the purpose of piling up materials or temporary equipment, or of installing or moving construction machines, etc, and having a height of 2 m or more (hereinafter referred to as “working platform”), not use those with marked damage, deformation or corrosion.
  • (2) The employer shall, as regards the lumbers for working platforms, not use unless they are free from cracks, worm-eaten spots, gnarls, slant fibres that are marked defects for their strength.
  • (3) The employer shall, as regards steel materials for main parts of supports, working floors, girders, sleepers, etc. to be used for working platforms, not use unless they conform to the Japanese Industrial Standard G 3101 (Rolled Steel for General Structure), Japanese Industrial Standard G 3106 (Rolled Steel for Welded Structure) Japanese Industrial Standard G 3191 (Hot Rolled Steel Bar), Japanese Industrial Standard G 3192 (Hot Rolled Steel Sections), Japanese Industrial Standard G 3444 (Carbon Steel Tubes for General Structural Purposes) or Japanese Industrial Standard G 3466 (Carbon Steel Square Pipes for General Structural Purposes), or have the strength and elongation equal to or superior to that prescribed in the said Standards.
Article 575-3 (Structure)
  • (1) The employer shall, as regards the working platforms, not use unless they are of sound structure not causing marked twist, strain, etc.
Article 575-4 (Maximum Loading Capacity)
  • (1) The employer shall determine the maximum loading capacity of working floor corresponding to the structure and material of a working platform, and not load exceeding the maximum loading capacity.
  • (2) The employer shall make the maximum loading capacity set forth in the preceding paragraph known to workers.
Article 575-5 (Erection Diagram)
  • (1) The employer shall, when erecting working platform, prepare an erecting diagram and build working platform by the said erection diagram.
  • (2) The erection diagram set forth in the preceding paragraph shall describe the arrangement and size of supports, working floors, girders, sleepers, etc.
Article 575-6 (Measures to Be Taken for Working platforms)
  • (1) The employer shall conform working platforms to following provisions:
    • (i) For the supports of the working platforms, to take measures such as embedding corresponding to the condition of the nature of the soil, etc., of the place where the said working platform is to be installed, providing of bridge battens of foot posts at the fixing part of the legs, using plankings, square timbers, etc., in order to prevent the said working platform from sliding or settling.
    • (ii) To fasten securely fastening, connecting and mounting portions of supports, girders, diagonal bracings, etc., with clamps, etc., in order to prevent their displacement, coming off, etc.
    • (iii) The clearance between floor materials of working floors having the height of 2 m or more to be of 3 cm or less.
    • (iv) To provide the ends of working floors having a height of 2 m or more, and where is liable to cause dangers to workers due to a fall with handrails, etc., prescribed as follows. However, this shall not apply to the case that providing the handrails, etc., is extremely difficult due to the nature of the work, or the case that the said handrails, etc., are temporarily removed due to the necessity of work and when taking measures in order to prevent the danger to workers due to a fall such as setting a protective net and having workers use safety belts .
      • (a) To be of sound structure;
      • (b) To be made of materials without marked damage, corrosion, etc.
      • (c) To have the height of 75 cm or higher.
Article 575-7 (Erecting, etc., of a Working platform)
  • (1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work of erecting, dismantling or altering of a working platform, take the following measures:
    • (i) To make the time, scope and procedures of erecting, dismantling or altering known to the worker engaging in the said work.
    • (ii) To prohibit workers other than those concerned from entering the area where the work of erecting, dismantling or altering is carried out;
    • (iii) To suspend the work when dangers regarding the implementation of the said work are forecast due to bad weather conditions such as strong wind, heavy rain or heavy snow;
    • (iv) When lifting or lowering materials, equipment, tools, etc., to have workers use lifting ropes, lifting bags, etc.
Article 575-8 (Checkup)
  • (1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work on a working platform after the bad weather conditions such as strong wind, heavy rain or heavy snow or an earthquake of medium shock or heavier, or erecting, partially dismantling or altering of a working platform, check the following matters before commencing the said work, and immediately repair when having found any abnormalities:
    • (i) Condition of sliding and settling of supports.
    • (ii) Damage of supports, girders, etc.
    • (iii) Condition of damage, mounting and placing of floor materials.
    • (iv) Condition of loosening at the fastening, connecting and mounting portions of supports, girders, diagonal bracings, etc.
    • (v) Condition of damage and corrosion of clamping materials and clamps.
    • (vi) Condition of mounting and removal of horizontal collar braces, diagonal bracings and other reinforcement materials.
    • (vii) Removal and coming off of handrails, etc.
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