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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 IX Prevention of Dangers Due to Falls, Flying Objects, Collapse, etc.

Section 1 Prevention of Dangers Due to Falls, etc.

Article 518 (Provisions of the Working Floor, etc.)
  • (1) The employer shall, in the case where carrying out an operation at a place having a height of 2 m or more (excluding the end of a working floor, an opening, etc.) and when it is liable to cause dangers to workers due to a fall, provide a working floor by installation of scaffolding or by other methods.
  • (2) The employer shall, when it is difficult to provide a working floor pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph, take the measures of setting a protective net, having workers use safety belts, etc., to prevent workers from dangers due to fall.
Article 519
  • (1) The employer shall provide enclosures, handrails, covers, etc., (hereinafter referred to as “enclosures, etc.” in this Article), to places having a height of 2 m or more and where it is liable to cause dangers to workers due to a fall, such as at an end of a working floor and an opening.
  • (2) The employer shall, when it is extremely difficult to provide enclosures, etc., pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph, or when removing enclosures, etc., temporarily for necessity for work, take the measures of setting a protective net, having workers use safety belts, etc., to prevent the workers from dangers due to fall.
Article 520
  • (1) A worker shall, when having been instructed to use a safety belt, etc., in the case set forth in paragraph (2) of Article 518 and paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, use it.
Article 521 (Facilities, etc., for Fixing Safety Belts, etc.)
  • (1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work at a place having a height of 2 m or more, and having workers use safety belts, etc., have the said workers provide facilities, etc., to fix safety belts, etc., safely.
  • (2) The employer shall, when having workers use safety belts, etc., inspect safety belts, etc., and facilities, etc., for their fixing, for any abnormalities as needed.
Article 522 (Prohibition of Work in Bad Weather)
  • (1) The employer shall, in the case where the work is carried out at a place having a height of 2 m or more, and when dangers regarding the implementation of the said work are forecast due to bad weather conditions such as strong wind, heavy rain, heavy snow, not have worker to engage in the said work.
Article 523 (Maintenance of Illumination)
  • (1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work at a place having a height of 2 m or more, maintain necessary illumination for carrying out the said work safely.
Article 524 (Prevention of Dangers on a Roof Made of Slate, etc.)
  • (1) The employer shall, in the case of carrying out a work on a roof made of such material as slate and excelsior, and when it is liable to cause dangers to workers due to collapsed roof, provide foot boards having a width of 30 cm or wider, set a protective net or take other measures to eliminate the danger to workers due to a collapsed roof.
Article 525 (Prevention of Dangers in Unused Vertical Shafts, etc.)
  • (1) The employer shall provide vertical shafts, wells, or inclined shafts with slope of 40 degrees or more that are not in use with a blockade of the entrance or other measures to prevent the danger to workers due to falls.
  • (2) The employer shall provide unused tunnels or remains of mining with a railing, an enclosure or other facilities to cut off passage.
Article 526 (Installation, etc., of Facilities for Ascending and Descending)
  • (1) The employer shall, when carrying out a work at a place having a height or a depth exceeding 1.5 m, provide facilities that enable the worker engaging in the said work to go up and down safely. However, this shall not apply to when providing facilities to ascend or descend safely is extremely difficult due to the nature of the work.
  • (2) The worker engaging in the work set forth in the preceding paragraph shall use the facilities for safe ascending and descending when such facilities have been provided pursuant to the provision of the text of same paragraph.
Article 527 (Movable Ladder)
  • (1) The employer shall not use a movable ladder unless otherwise prescribed as follows:
    • (i) To be of sound structure.
    • (ii) To be made of materials without marked damage, corrosion, etc.
    • (iii) To have the width of 30 cm or wider.
    • (iv) To set slip-proof device or to take other measures to prevent the foot displacement.
Article 528 (Stepladder)
  • (1) The employer shall not use a stepladder unless otherwise prescribed as follows:(i) To be of sound structure.
    • (ii) To be made of materials without marked damage, corrosion, etc.
    • (iii) To have the angle made by the foot and the floor of 75 degrees or less, and for folding stepladders, to be equipped with fittings, etc., to keep the angle made by the foot and the floor secure.
    • (iv) To be equipped with steps having an area sufficient for safe operation.
Article 529 (Work of Erection, Dismantling or Alteration of a Building, etc.)
  • (1) The employer shall, in the case where carrying out an work of erection, dismantling or alteration of buildings, bridges, scaffoldings, etc., (excluding work requiring the appointment of an operations chief) , and when it is liable to cause dangers to workers due to a fall, take the following measures:
    • (i) To appoint a person to supervise the work, and have the said person supervise the operation directly.
    • (ii) To make workers engaged in the said work know in advance the method and procedure of the work.
Article 530 (Prohibition of Entry)
  • (1) The employer shall not allow workers other than those concerned to enter the place where it is liable to cause dangers to workers due to a falling.
Article 531 (Prevention of Dangers in the Case of Transporting Workers by Vessel)
  • (1) The employer shall, when transporting workers to a work site by vessel, take necessary measures to prevent workers from dangers due to the capsize or submergence of the vessel or fall of the workers into the water, such as not boarding workers exceeding the maximum capacity of the vessel set pursuant to the Vessel Safety Act (Act No.11 of 1933) and the provisions of the order based on the same Act and providing the vessel with life preservers or other lifesaving equipment.
Article 532 (Life-Saving Equipment, etc.)
  • (1) The employer shall, in the case where carrying out the work on a log, a raft on water, or boats using oars or paddles, etc., when it is liable to cause danger of drawing to the worker engaging in the said work due to falling into the water, provide the place where carrying out the said work with life preservers or other life-saving equipment, arrange a vessel for life-saving near to the said place, or take other measures necessary to save workers' life.
Article 532-2 (Restriction on Work in a Hopper, etc.)
  • (1) The employer shall not have workers work in a hopper or a muck bin or other places where it is liable to cause dangers to workers due to workers' being buried in soil and sand. However, this shall not apply to when workers are provided with safety belts or other measures are taken to prevent such dangers.
Article 533 (Prevention of Dangers Due to Falls into Boiling Basins, etc.)
  • (1) The employer shall, when there exists a boiling basin, hopper, pit, etc., which is liable to cause dangers to workers due to a fall during work or passage, such as burns and suffocation, in order to prevent such dangers, provide a strong railing, etc., having a height of 75 cm or higher to necessary parts. However, this shall not apply to when having taken the measures to prevent workers from dangers such as having workers use safety belts, etc.

Section 2 Prevention of Dangers Due to Flying Objects or Collapse

Article 534 (Prevention of Dangers Due to Collapse of Natural Ground, etc.)
  • (1) The employer shall, when it is liable to cause dangers to workers due to collapse of natural ground or fallen earth and rocks, take the following measures:
    • (i) To make the gradient of the natural ground safe, remove earth and rocks that may fall, or provide a retaining wall, shoring, etc.
    • (ii) To remove rainwater, underground water, etc., that may cause collapse of ground or fall of earth and rocks.
Article 535 (Prevention of Dangers Due to Cave-ins, etc.)
  • (1) The employer shall, when it is liable to cause dangers due to cave-ins, fall of rocks or collapse of sidewalls in a tunnel, provide shoring, remove loose stones or take other measures to prevent such dangers.
Article 536 (Prevention of Dangers Due to Throwing an Object from a High Place)
  • (1) The employer shall, when throwing objects from a high place of 3 m or higher, provide an appropriate throwing facilities, station a watcher or take other measures to prevent the dangers to workers.
  • (2) A worker shall, when measures pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph have not been taken, not throw objects from a high place with height of 3 m or higher.
Article 537 (Prevention of Dangers Due to Falling Objects)
  • (1) The employer shall, when it is liable to cause dangers to workers due to falling objects, provide protective nets, establish a prohibited entry area or take other measures to prevent the said danger.
Article 538 (Prevention of Dangers Due to Flying Objects)
  • (1) The employer shall, when it is liable to cause dangers to workers due to flying objects, provide facilities for preventing flying objects, have workers wear personal protective equipment, or take other measures to prevent the said dangers.
Article 539 (Wearing of a Safety Helmet)
  • (1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work near a building berth, at high-rise structure construction site, etc., over which other workers are carrying out other works, have the worker engaging in the said work wear a safety helmet in order to prevent workers from dangers due to flying or falling objects.
  • (2) The worker engaging in the work set forth in the preceding paragraph shall wear the safety helmet set forth in the same paragraph.
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