A competent person for metal scaffolds shall be, by reason of substantial training and practical experience, competent to perform his/her duty. The "Code of Practice for Metal Scaffolding Safety" issued by the Commissioner for Labour provides a general guidance that 'substantial training and practical experience" of a competent person refers to a person:

1. who has satisfactorily completed a full-time formal training in metal scaffolding work organized by the Construction Industry Training Authority (CITA) or other similar metal scaffolding training courses/programmes and has possessed an experience of 4 years or more in scaffolding work (inclusive of experience under any formal training period); or
2. who has at least possessed a higher certificate in civil or structural engineering and has satisfactorily completed a metal scaffolding training course/programme organized by the CITA or other similar metal scaffolding training courses/programmes and has possessed an experience of 1 year or more in scaffolding work (inclusive of experience under any formal training period); or
3. who has satisfactorily passed the Trade Test on Metal Scaffolding of the CITA and has possessed an experience of 4 years or more in scaffolding work (inclusive of experience under any formal training period),

AND

has the ability to read and understand the scaffolding plan, design drawings, specifications and method statement of the scaffolding work in order to competently supervise the scaffolding work and certify that the scaffolding is in safe working order. He/She should also be capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions that are unsanitary or hazardous to employees.

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A competent person for bamboo scaffolds shall be, by reason of substantial training and practical experience, competent to perform his/her duty. The "Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety" issued by the Commissioner for Labour provides a general guidance that 'substantial training and practical experience" of a competent person refers to a person:

1. who has satisfactorily completed a formal training in bamboo scaffolding work such as the 3-year Bamboo Scaffolder Apprenticeship Scheme (under the Apprenticeship Ordinance, Chapter 47) operated by the Vocational Training Council or the 1-year full-time training course in Bamboo Scaffolding of the Construction Industry Training Authority (CITA), or other similar bamboo scaffolding training courses/programmes, or has satisfactorily passed the Trade Test on Bamboo Scaffolding of the CITA;
2. who has possessed an experience of 10 years or more in bamboo scaffolding work (inclusive of experience under the formal training period); and
3. who has the ability to read and understand the scaffolding plan, design drawings, specifications and method statement of the scaffolding work in order to competently supervise the scaffolding work and certify that the scaffolding is in safe working order. He/She should also be capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions that are unsanitary or hazardous to employees.