JSL Conducts First Marine Metal Scaffolding Test

The Ministry of Labour recently introduced a new under the factories Act (Shipbuilding and Shiprepair Regulations), requiring all scaffolders to have gone through a course in Marine Metal Scaffolding by March 1995. In addition, foreign workers who go through the course and are awarded a Certificate of Competency (CoC) in Marine Metal Scaffolding will be considered as skilled workers, on which employers are entitled to pay a lower levy under the two-tier levy system.

The shipyards then got together with the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to draw up a syllabus for the 5- day course. Some of the topics included in the course are: 
* requirements of erecting a scaffold according to safety regulations; 
* terms of structure of scaffold; 
* how to identify defective material; 
* maintenance of materials; 
* procedures of erecting and dismantling scaffolding.

The course consists of 2.5 hours of theory and 4 to 5 hours of practical everyday.

At Jurong Shipyard (JSL) the course is conducted by four trainers who on the average have more than 20 years of experience.

JSL and Sembawang Shipyard simultaneously conducted the first test on 12th December 1994. A Testing Officer from ITE and an Industrial Tester from Sembawang Shipyard conducted the test at JSL. At the same time, JSL sent an Industrial Tester to Sembawang for their test.

The test consisted of a 20-minute oral test, followed by a 5-hour practical test, during which participants erect and dismantle a scaffold.

JSL will continue conducting courses in Marine Metal Scaffolding through the first few months of 1995.