Industry leaders in Hong Kong have dismissed suggestions that switching to steel scaffolding would prevent construction accidents, warning that abandoning the city’s traditional bamboo scaffolding could jeopardise thousands of jobs.
The debate was reignited after the collapse of bamboo scaffolding at a construction site in Kai Tak on Monday, which left 11 workers injured, four critically.
The incident has prompted industrial accident advocacy groups to call for stricter regulations, including a transition to steel scaffolding.
Today, Ho Ping-tak, chairman of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Bamboo Scaffolding Workers Union, argued that the primary cause of such incidents was not the material but insufficient safety oversight.
“Most bamboo scaffolding accidents result from inappropriate arrangements during construction or risky alterations after the structure is built,” Ho explained.
“These are issues with safety protocols on construction sites, not structural flaws in bamboo scaffolding.”
Ho emphasised that bamboo structures are designed according to engineers’ specifications and undergo safety checks before use.
The real problem, he suggested, lies in unauthorised modifications during later stages of construction, often made to save time or effort.
Bamboo Versus Steel
Advocates for bamboo scaffolding highlighted its advantages over steel, including lower costs, lighter weight, and easier assembly and dismantling.
Around 80% of scaffolding in Hong Kong uses bamboo, supporting a workforce of 4,000 licensed scaffolders.
Timmy So Tin-ming, chief external affairs officer for the Bamboo Scaffolding Association, argued that steel scaffolding is not inherently safer.
“If someone deliberately removes or modifies structural components, it doesn’t matter whether the material is bamboo or steel,” So said. “Both systems require tools and expertise to alter.”
Despite these assurances, the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims has raised concerns about the variability in bamboo quality, which they say complicates accurate structural calculations and increases risks.
The group has called for authorities to phase out bamboo scaffolding in favour of steel alternatives.
Regulatory Changes and Safety Inspections
The Labour Department updated its Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety in October, strengthening technical requirements and banning unauthorised alterations.
Following the Kai Tak incident, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han pledged to gather feedback from industry stakeholders and conduct citywide inspections of scaffolding.
Industry leaders, including those from the Hong Kong Scaffolding SME Association, have called for improved risk assessments at every stage of scaffolding construction to bolster safety.
While the debate continues, bamboo scaffolders remain firm in defending their craft. “Bamboo has been part of Hong Kong’s construction culture for over a century,” said Ho.
“What we need is better enforcement of existing safety standards, not the abandonment of this tradition.”
