Letters | Bring in engineers to reinforce the safety of bamboo scaffolding

Readers discuss why the ancient technique must be taught at the tertiary level, weather forecasts, cryptocurrency investment, and video games

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Construction workers dismantle bamboo scaffolding around a building in Mong Kok on October 16. Photo: Elson Li

Published: 11:30am, 17 Jan 2025

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I refer to the article, “11 hurt in scaffolding collapse in Hong Kong, with 4 in critical condition” (January 13).

The centuries-old technique of erecting bamboo scaffolding by hand continues on most of Hong Kong’s construction sites. While this persistence is rare elsewhere and has wowed many overseas builders, the floatiness of this temporary structure might lend itself to frequent collapse, particularly after a typhoon or rainstorm.

Before the recent collapse, the year 2024 witnessed a sudden collapse of bamboo scaffolding, as well as four cases of workers falling from heights when dismantling or erecting bamboo scaffolds.

Guidelines, codes of practice and requirements for competent persons have been issued by the Labour Department. The dwindling number of skilled workers is a concern. The fact that few academic studies of the causes of failure of such structures have been pursued in Hong Kong poses a bigger concern.

Regrettably, scientific analysis of bamboo’s specific strength and unreliable durability and bamboo scaffolding design are not covered as core subjects in any local undergraduate programme. Due to its temporary nature, bamboo scaffolding is seldom given the same focus as permanent structures in tertiary education.