EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

SCAFFOLDING AND LIFTS ORDINANCE 1957.

No. 8 of 1957

	The Scaffolding and Lifts Ordinance 1941-1953 of the Territory follows closely the New South Wales Scaffolding and Lifts Act as amended prior to 1948, and adopts as a law of the Territory the New SouthWales Scaffolding and Lifts Regulations with the exception of certain specified Parts.  The State Act was amended in 1948 and the State Regulations were amended after that date to conform with certain changes made in the Act.  The Territory Ordinance was not amended along the lines of the amendments to the Act, but it was thought that the amended Regulations applied.  Doubts have now arisen how far the State Regulations do apply, and as the simplest means of clarifying the position, it has been decided to adopt the State law (both Act and Regulations) as a law of the Territory, with modifications of a machinery and administrative nature.

	Up to the present, it has been necessary for the driver in charge of a crane to hold a driver’s certificate but it has not been considered necessary to require riggers, scaffolders, dogmen, crane chasers and lift attendants to hold certificates and those Parts of the State Regulations dealing therewith were not adopted as a law of the Territory.  With increased building activity, it is desirable that there should be provision for such operatives in the A.C.T. to be required to hold certificates of competency and by this Ordinance, the whole of the State Regulations are adopted.  Similarly, up to the present, no fees have been charged before building work can be commenced, but, in line with State practice, it is proposed to make provision for charges which will compensate in part for the cost of inspection and administration.

	Those parts of the State law being introduced for the first time will not come into operation until a date to be fixed by the Minister to allow administrative arrangements to be made and due notice given to persons involved.