DOCK SAFETY REGULATIONS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 646.02

DOCK SAFETY REGULATIONS

7th September, 1953

GOVERNMENT NOTICE 497 of 1953, as amended by Act XLIV of 1965;

Legal Notices 64 of 1966, 122 of 1977; Act XXVII of 1991; Legal Notice

114 of 1999; and Acts XV of 2009 and XXXIII of 2024.

PART I

The title of these regulations is the Dock Safety

Regulations.

Amended by

XXVII. 1991.81;

Manner of Test and Examination before taking

XV. 2009.49.

Lifting Machinery and Gear into use

Regulations 19(1), 20(1) and 21(1)(b)

(a) Every winch with the whole of the gear accessory thereto (including

derricks, goose necks, eye-plates, eye-bolts or other attachments) shall be tested with

a proof load which shall exceed the safe working load as follows

Safe working load

Proof load

Up to 20 tons

25 per centum in excess

20 - 50 tons

5 tons in excess

Over 50 tons

10 per centum in excess

The proof load shall be applied either (a) by hoisting movable weights or (b) by

means of a spring or hydraulic balance or similar appliance, with the derrick at an

angle to the horizontal which shall be stated in the certificate of the test. In the

former case, after the movable weights have been hoisted, the derrick shall be swung

as far as possible in both directions. In the latter case, the proof load shall be applied

with the derrick swung as far as practicable first in one direction and then in the

other.

(b) Every crane and other hoisting machine with its accessory gear shall be

tested with a proof load which shell exceed the safe working load as follows

Safe working load

Proof load

Up to 20 tons

25 per centum in excess

20 - 50 tons

5 tons in excess

Over 50 tons

10 per centum in excess

The said proof load shall be hoisted and swung as far as possible in both

directions. In the case of a jib-crane, if the jib has a variable radius, it shall be tested

with a proof load as defined above at the maximum and minimum radii of the jib. In

the case of hydraulic cranes or hoists, where, owing to the limitation of pressure, it is

impossible to hoist a load 25 per centum in excess of the safe working load, it shall

be sufficient to hoist the greatest possible load.

(c) Every article of loose gear (whether it is accessory to a machine or not) shall

be tested with a proof load at least equal to that shown against the article in the

following table

Article of Gear

Proof load

}

Chain

Ring

Hook

Twice the safe working load

Shackle

Swivel

Pulley Blocks

Single sheave block

Four times the safe working load

DOCK SAFETY

Multiple sheave block with

Twice the safe working load

safe working load up to and

including 20 tons

Multiple sheave block with

20 tons in excess of the safe working

safe working load over 20 tons

load

up to and including 40 tons

Multiple sheave block with

One and a half times the safe working

safe working load over 40 tons

load

Provided that where the Authority for Transport in Malta is of opinion that, owing

to the size, design, construction, material or use of any such loose gear or class of

such gear, any of the above requirements are not necessary for the protection of

persons employed, it may by certificate in writing (which it may in its discretion

revoke) exempt such gear or class of gear from such requirement, subject to such

conditions as may be stated in the certificate.

(d) After being tested as aforesaid, all machines with the whole of the gear

accessory thereto and all loose gear shall be examined, the sheaves and the pins of

the pulley blocks removed for the purpose, to see that no part is injured or

permanently deformed by the test.

(e) In the case of wire ropes, a sample shall be tested to destruction and the safe

working load shall not exceed one-fifth of the breaking load of the sample tested.

In these regulations

"processes" means the processes of loading and unloading, of

moving and handling goods and of coaling on or in any dock,

wharf, quay or harbour in Malta and its Dependencies and on or in

any ship within the territorial waters of Malta and its

Dependencies, or any of those processes;

"person employed" means a person employed in the processes;

"hatch" means an opening in a deck used for the purpose of the

process or for trimming, or for ventilation;

"hatchway" means the whole space within the square of the

hatches, from the top deck to the bottom of the hold;

"lifting machinery" means cranes, winches, hoists, derrick

booms, derrick and mast bands, goose necks, eyebolts, and all other

permanent attachments to the derricks, masts and decks, used in

hoisting or lowering in connection with the processes;

"pulley block" means pulley, block, gin and similar gear, other

than a crane block specially constructed for use with a crane to

which it is permanently attached.

(1) It shall be the duty of the person having the general

management and control of a dock, wharf or quay, to comply with

Part II

Provided that if any other person has the exclusive right to

occupation of any part of the dock, wharf or quay, and has the

general management and control of such part, the duty in respect of

that part shall devolve upon that other person.

(2) It shall be the duty of the owner, master, or officer in charge

of a ship to comply with Part III.

(3) It shall be the duty of the owner of machinery or plant used

in the processes, and in the case of machinery or plant carried on

board a ship not being a ship registered in Malta it shall also be the

duty of the master of such ship, to comply with Part IV. In the case

of machinery and gear in use on a ship not registered in Malta, the

owner or master shall be deemed to have complied with Part IV in

so far as they concern such machinery or gear if he produces to the

satisfaction of the Authority for Transport in Malta a certificate of

the competent authority purporting to show that tests substantially

equivalent to those laid down in the Schedule have been carried out

within the periods fixed in the regulations

Provided that where such certificate is drawn up in a

foreign language not understood by the Authority for Transport in

Malta, the Authority for Transport in Malta may require the master

or other officer belonging to the ship to declare that such tests have

been ca rried out w it hi n th e peri od s afo res aid , an d t hat t he

competent authority of the place in which the tests have been

carried out has issued a certificate to that effect and provided

further that the Authority for Transport in Malta may require the

master to confirm such declaration on oath.

(4) It shall be the duty of every person who by himself, his

agents, or workmen carries on the processes, and of all agents

workmen, and persons employed by him in the processes, to

comply with Part V

Provided that, where the processes are carried on by a

stevedore or other person other than the owner of the ship, it shall

be the duty of the owner, master or officer in charge of the ship to

comply with regulation 38, so far as it concerns

(a) any hatch not taken over by the said stevedore or other

person for the purpose of the processes; and

(b) any hatch which, after having been taken over by the

said stevedore or other person for the purpose of the

processes -

(i)

has been reported by written notice to the owner,

master or officer in charge of the ship, by or on

behalf of the said stevedore or other person, as

being a hatch at which the processes have been

completed or completed for the time being, and

(ii) either has been left by the said stevedore or other

person fenced or covered as required by

regulation 38, or has been taken into use by or

on behalf of the owner of the ship, and in either

case has been so reported by such written notice

as aforesaid.

It shall be the duty of the owner, master or officer in charge

of the ship to give immediately a written acknowledgement of such

written notice as aforesaid.

(5) It shall be the duty of all persons, whether owners,

occupiers, or persons employed, to comply with Part VI.

(6) Part VII shall be complied with respectively by the persons

on whom the duty is placed in that Part.

PART II

(1) Every regular approach over a dock, wharf or quay

which persons employed have to use for going to or from a working

place at which the processes are carried on and every such working

place on shore shall be maintained with due regard to the safety of

the persons employed.

(2) Wharves and quays shall be kept sufficiently clear of goods

to maintain a clear passage to the means of access referred to in

regulation 10.

(3) Where any space is left along the edge of any wharf or

quay, it shall be at least one metre wide and clear of all obstructions

other than fixed structures, plants and appliances in use.

(4) The following parts shall as far as practicable, having

regard to the traffic and working, be securely fenced so that the

height of the fence shall be in no place less than seventy-six

centimetres, and the fencing shall be maintained in good condition

for use

(a) all breaks, dangerous corners, and other dangerous

parts or edges of a dock, wharf or quay;

(b) both sides of such footways over bridges, caissons,

and dock gates as are in general use by persons

employed, and each side of the entrance at each end of

such footway for a sufficient distance not exceeding

four point five metres.

Provision for the rescue from drowning of persons

employed shall be made and maintained, and shall include

(a) a supply of life-saving appliances kept in readiness on

the wharf or quay, which shall be reasonably adequate

having regard to all the circumstances;

(b) means at or near the surface of the water at reasonable

intervals, for enabling a person immersed to support

himself or escape from the water, which shall be

reasonably

adequate

having

regard

to

all

circumstances.

All places in which persons employed are employed, and

any dangerous parts of the regular road or way over a dock, wharf

or quay forming the approach to any such place from the nearest

highway, shall be sufficiently lighted.

(1) A sufficient number of first-aid boxes or cupboards

shall be provided at every working place and, if more than one is

provided, at reasonable distance from each other.

(2)

A first-aid box or cupboard shall be distinctively marked.

(3) Each first-aid box or cupboard shall contain the items

m e n t i o n e d i n r e g u l a t i o n 4 o f t h e Wo r k P l a c e ( F i r s t A i d )

Regulations, and shall be regulated by the provisions of regulation

5 thereof.

Nothing except appliances or requisites for first-aid shall

be kept in first-aid box or cupboard.

A first-aid box or cupboard shall be kept stocked and in

good order and shall be placed under the charge of a responsible

person who shall always be readily available during working hours.

Such person shall, except at docks, wharves or quays at which the

total number of persons employed at any time does not exceed fifty,

be a person trained in first aid.

PART III

If a ship is lying at a wharf or quay for the purpose of

loading or unloading or coaling, there shall be safe means of access

for the use of persons employed at such times as they have to pass

from the ship to the shore or from the shore to the ship, namely

(a) where

reasonably

practicable

the

ship’s

accommodation ladder or a gangway or a similar

construction not less than fifty-six centimetres wide,

properly secured, not inclined at too steep an angle,

constructed of materials of good quality and in good

condition, and fenced throughout on each side to a

clear height of eighty-four centimetres by means of

upper and lower rails, taut ropes or chains or by other

equally safe means, except that in the case of the ship’s

accommodation ladder such fencing shall be necessary

on one side only provided that the other side is

properly protected by the ship’s side;

(b) in other cases a ladder of sound material and adequate

length which shall be properly secured to prevent

slipping

Provided that nothing in this regulation shall be held to

apply to cargo stages or cargo gangways if other proper means of

access are provided in conformity with these regulations

Provided also that as regards any sailing vessel not

exceeding 250 tons net registered tonnage and any steam vessel not

exceeding 150 tons gross registered tonnage, this regulation shall

not apply if and while the conditions are such that it is possible

without undue risk to pass to and from the ship without the aid of

any special appliances.

If a ship is alongside any other ship, vessel or boat, and

persons employed have to pass from one to the other, safe means of

access shall be provided for their use, unless the conditions are

such that it is possible to pass from one to the other without undue

risk without the aid of any special appliance.

If one of such ships, vessels, or boats is a sailing barge, flat,

keel, lighter or other similar vessel of relatively low freeboard, the

means of access shall be provided by the ship which has the higher

freeboard.

(1) If the depth from the level of the deck to the bottom of

the hold exceeds one point five metres, there shall be maintained

safe means of access from the deck to the hold in which work is

being carried on.

(2) Save as hereinafter provided, such access shall be afforded

by a ladder, and by ladder cleats or cups on the coaming, and shall

not be deemed to be safe -

(a) unless the ladders between the lower decks are in the

same line as the ladder from the top deck, if the same

is practicable having regard to the position of the

lower hatch or hatches;

(b) unless the ladders provide a foothold of a depth,

including any space behind the ladder, of not less than

eleven point five centimetres for a width of twenty-

five centimetres and a firm handhold;

(c) unless the cleats or cups provided on coaming -

(i)

provide a foothold of a depth, including any

space behind the cleats or cups, of not less than

eleven point five centimetres for a width of

twenty-five centimetres and a firm handhold;

(ii) are so constructed as to prevent a man’s foot

slipping off the side;

(iii) are placed vertically one above the other and in

the same line as the ladders to which they give

access;

(d) unless the cargo is stowed sufficiently far from the

ladder to leave at each rung of the ladder foothold of a

depth, including any space behind the ladder, of not

less than eleven point five centimetres for a width of

twenty-five centimetres and a firm handhold;

(e) unless there is room to pass between a winch or other

obstruction and the coamings at the place where the

ladder leaves the decks;

(f)

if the ladder is recessed under the deck more than is

reasonably necessary to keep the ladder clear of the

hatchway

Provided that such access may be afforded -

(i)

where the provision of a ladder on a bulkhead or

in a trunk hatchway can be shown to be

reasonably impracticable, by cleats or cups

complying with the requirements of paragraph

(c);

(ii) by ladders or steps, separate from any hatchway

or sloping from deck to deck if such ladders or

steps comply with the requirements of

paragraphs (b), (d) and (e).

(3) Shaft tunnels shall be equipped with adequate handhold and

foothold on each side.

(4) When a ladder is to be used in the hold of a vessel which is

not decked, a ladder shall be provided, equipped at the top with

hooks or with other means for firmly securing it.

When the processes are being carried on -

(a) the places in the hold and on the decks where work is

being carried on,

(b) the means of access provided in pursuance of

regulations 10 and 11, and

(c) all parts of the ship to which the persons employed

may be required to proceed in the course of their

employment,

shall be sufficiently lighted, due regard being had to safety of the

ship and cargo, of all persons employed and of the navigation of

other vessels.

All fore and aft beams and thwartship beams for hatch

covering shall have suitable gear for lifting them on and off without

it being necessary for any person to go upon them to adjust such

gear.

All hatch coverings shall be kept plainly marked to

indicate the deck and hatch to which they belong, and their position

therein

Provided that this regulation shall not apply in cases where

all the hatch coverings of a ship are interchangeable or, in respect

of marking of position, where all hatch coverings of a hatch are

interchangeable.

This regulation shall apply to fore and aft beams and to

thwartship beams as it applies to hatch coverings.

All fore and aft beams and thwart strip beams used for

hatch covering and all hatch coverings shall be maintained in good

condition.

Adequate hand grips shall be provided on all hatch

coverings, having regard to their size and weight, unless the

construction of the hatch or the hatch coverings is of a character

rendering the provision of hand grips unnecessary.

Where the working space around a hatch is less than sixty-

one centimetres wide, such provision shell be made as will enable

persons employed to remove and replace in safety all fore and aft

beams and thwartship beams used for hatch covering and all hatch

coverings.

PART IV

(1) All lifting machinery shall have been tested and

examined by a competent person in the manner set out in the

Schedule before being taken into use.

(2)

(a) All derricks and permanent attachments, including

bridle chains, to the derrick, mast and deck, used in

hoisting or lowering shall be inspected once in every

t w e l ve m o n th s an d b e t ho r o ug h ly e x a m i ne d an d

retested at least once in every five years

Provided that the Authority for Transport in Malta

may, in the paramount interests of health and safety,

request additional certificates declaring the safety of

such ship cargo gear.

(b) All other lifting machinery shall be thoroughly

examined once at least every twelve months.

(c) For the purpose of

this regulation thorough

examination

means

a

visual

examination,

supplemented if necessary by other means such as a

hammer test, carried out as carefully as the conditions

permit, in order to arrive at a reliable conclusion as to

the safety of the parts examined and, if necessary for

the purpose, parts of the machinery end gear must be

dismantled.

(1) No chain, ring, hook, shackle, swivel or pulley block

shall be used in hoisting or lowering unless it has been tested and

examined by a competent person in the manner set out in the

Schedule.

(2) All chains, other than bridle chains attached to derricks or

masts, and all rings, hooks, shackles and swivels used in hoisting or

lowering shall, unless they have been subjected to such other

treatment as may be prescribed, be effectually annealed under the

supervision of a competent person and at the following intervals

(a) one point two centimetres and smaller chains, rings,

hooks, shackles and swivels in general use, once at

least in every six months;

(b) all other chains, rings, hooks, shackles and swivels in

general use, once at least in every twelve months

Provided that in the case of such gear used solely on cranes

and other hoisting appliances worked by hand, twelve months shall

be substituted for six months in paragraph (a) and two years for

twelve months in paragraph (b)

Provided also that where the Authority for Transport in

Malta is of opinion that, owing to the size, design, material or

infrequency of use of any such gear or class of such gear, the

requirement of this regulation as to annealing is not necessary for

the protection of persons employed, he may by certificate in

writing (which he may in his discretion revoke) exempt such gear

or class of gear from such requirement subject to such conditions as

may be specified in such certificate.

(3) All chains, other than bridle chains, attached to derricks or

masts, and all rings, hooks, shackles, swivel and pulley blocks shall

be liable to be inspected by a competent person immediately before

each occasion on which they are used in hoisting or lowering,

unless they have been inspected within the preceding three months.

(4) All chains, rings, hooks, shackels or swivels used in

hoisting or lowering which have been lengthened, altered or

repaired by welding shall, before being again taken into use, be

adequately tested and re-examined.

(1) No rope shall be used in hoisting or lowering unless -

(a) it is of suitable quality and free from patent defect; and

(b) in the case of wire rope, it has been examined and

tested by a competent person in the manner set out in

the Schedule.

(2) Every wire rope in general use for hoisting or lowering

shall be inspected by a competent person once at least in every

three months, provided that after any wire has been broken in such

rope that rope shall be inspected once at least in every month.

(3) No wire rope shall be used in hoisting or lowering if in any

length of eight diameters the total number of visible broken wires

exceeds ten per centum of the total number of wires, or the rope

shows signs of excessive wear, corrosion or other defect which, in

the opinion of the person who inspects it, renders it unfit for use.

(4) A thimble or loop splice made in any wire rope shall have at

least three tucks with a whole strand of the rope and two tucks with

one half of the wires cut out of each strand. The strands in all cases

shall be tucked against the lay of the rope

Provided that this subregulation shall not operate to prevent

the use of another form of splice which can be shown to be as

efficient as that laid down in this subregulation.

(1) Certificates containing detailed particulars with regard

to the tests, examinations, inspections, annealing or other treatment

required under regulations 19, 20(1) and (2), and 21(1) shall be

obtained and entered in or attached to the relative register before

the machinery, chain, rope or other gear to which the certificate

refers is subsequently taken into use in connection with the

processes.

(2) Such register with the certificates required to be attached to

it shall be kept on the premises unless some other place has been

approved in writing by the Authority for Transport in Malta.

No pulley block shall be used in hoisting or lowering

unless the safe working load is clearly stamped upon it.

(1) Means shall be provided to enable any person using a

chain or wire rope sling to ascertain the safe working load for such

chain or sling under such conditions as it may be used.

(2) As regards chain slings, such means shall consist of

marking the safe working load in plain figures or letters upon the

sling or upon a tablet or ring of durable material attached securely

thereto.

(3) As regards wire rope slings, such means shall consist of

either the means specified in subregulation (2) or a notice or

notices, so exhibited as to be easily read by any person concerned,

stating the safe working loads for the various sizes of wire rope

slings used.

Chains shall not be shortened by tying knots in them; and

suitable packing shall be provided to prevent the links coming into

contact with sharp edges of loads of hard material.

All motors, cog-wheels, chain and friction gearing,

shafting, live electric conductors and steam pipes shall (unless it

can be shown that by their position and construction they are

equally safe to every person employed as they would be if securely

fenced) be securely fenced so far as is practicable without impeding

the safe working of the ship.

Cranes and winches shall be provided with such means as

will reduce to a minimum the risk of the accidental descent of a

load while being raised or lowered. In particular, the lever

controlling the link motion reversing gear of a crane or winch shall

be provided with a suitable spring or other locking arrangement.

The driver’s platform on every crane or tip driven by

mechanical power shall be securely fenced and shall be provided

with safe means of access. In particular, where access is by a

ladder

(a) the sides of the ladder shall extend to a reasonable

distance beyond the platform or some other suitable

handhold shall be provided;

(b) the landing place on the platform shall be maintained

free from obstruction;

(c) in cases where the ladder is vertical and exceeds nine

metres and fifteen centimetres in height, a resting

place shall be provided approximately midway

between the platform and the foot of the ladder.

Every crane and derrick shall have the safe working load

plainly marked upon it, and every shore crane, if so constructed

that the safe working load may be varied by the raising or lowering

of the jib or otherwise, shall have attached to it an automatic

indicator of safe working loads, provided that, in cases where the

jib may be raised or lowered, provision on the crane of a table

showing the safe working loads at the corresponding inclinations or

radii of the jib shall be considered sufficient compliance.

Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent exhaust steam

from, and so far as it is practicable live steam to, any crane or

winch obscuring any part of the decks, gangways, stages, wharf, or

quay where any person is employed in the processes.

Appropriate measures shall be taken to prevent the foot of

a derrick being accidentally lifted out of its socket or support.

PART V

Precautions shall be taken to facilitate the escape of the

workers when employed in a hold or on ’tween decks in dealing

with coal or other bulk cargo.

(1) No lifting machinery, chains or other lifting appliance

shall be loaded beyond the safe working load, except that a crane

may be loaded beyond the safe working load in exceptional cases to

such extent and subject to such conditions as may be approved by

the engineer in charge or other competent person, if on each

occasion

(a) the written permission of the owner or his responsible

agent has been obtained;

(b) a record of the overload is kept

Provided also that, where the load upon a single sheave

pulley block is attached to the pulley block instead of to the chain

or rope passing round the sheave, the load on the pulley block shall

be deemed for the purpose of this regulation to be half the actual

load.

(2) No load shall be left suspended from a crane, winch or

other machine unless there is a competent person actually in charge

of the machine while the load is so left.

No person under sixteen years of age and no person who is

not sufficiently competent and reliable shall be employed as driver

of a crane or winch, whether driven by mechanical power or

otherwise, or to give signals to a driver or to attend to cargo falls on

winch-ends or winch-bodies.

Where goods are placed on a wharf or quay -

(a) a clear passage leading to the means of access to the

ship required by regulation 10 shall be maintained on

the wharf or quay; and

(b) if any space is left along the edge of the wharf or quay,

it shall be at least one metre wide and clear of all

obstructions other than fixed structures, plant and

appliances in use.

(1) No deck-stage or cargo-stage shall be used in the

processes unless it is substantially and firmly constructed and

adequately supported, and, where necessary, securely fastened.

(2) No truck shall be used for carrying cargo between ship and

shore on a stage so steep as to be unsafe.

(3) Any stage which is slippery shall be made safe by the use of

sand or otherwise.

(1) If any hatch of a hold accessible to any person

employed and exceeding one point five metres in depth, measured

from the level of the deck in which the hatch is situated to the

bottom of the hold, is not in use for the passage of goods, coal or

other material, or for trimming, and the coamings are less than

seventy-six centimetres in height, such hatch shall either be fenced

to a height of one metre or be securely covered

Provided that this requirement shall not apply -

(a) to vessels not exceeding 200 tons net registered

tonnage which have only one hatchway, or

(b) to any vessel during meal times or other short

interruptions of work during the period of

employment.

(2) Hatch coverings shall not be used in the construction of

deck or cargo stages, or for any other purpose which may expose

them to damage.

(3) Hatch coverings shall be replaced on the hatches in the

position indicated by the markings made thereon in pursuance of

regulation 15.

No cargo shall be loaded or unloaded by a fall or sling at

any intermediate deck unless either the hatch at that deck is

securely covered or a secure landing platform of a width not less

than that of one section of hatch coverings has been placed across

it

Provided that this regulation shall not apply to any process

of unloading, the whole of which will be completed within a period

of half an hour.

When the working space in a hold is confined to the square

of the hatch, hooks shall not be made fast in the bands or fastenings

of bales of cotton, wool, cork, gunny bags or other similar goods,

nor shall hooks be used for raising or lowering a barrel when,

owing to the construction or condition of the barrel or of the hooks,

their use is likely to be unsafe.

Nothing in this regulation shall apply to breaking out or

making up slings.

When work is proceeding on any skeleton deck, adequate

staging shall be provided unless the space beneath the deck is filled

with cargo to within a distance of sixty-one centimetres of such

deck.

Where staking, unstaking, stowing or unstowing of cargo

or handling in connection therewith cannot be safely carried out

unaided, reasonable measures to guard against accident shall be

taken by shoring or otherwise.

The beams of any hatch in use for the processes shall, if

not removed, be adequately secured to prevent their displacement.

When cargo is being loaded or unloaded by a fall at a

hatchway, a signaller shall be employed, and where more than one

fall is being worked at a hatchway, a separate signaller shall be

employed to attend to each fall

Provided -

(a) that this regulation shall not apply in cases where a

barge, lighter or similar vessel, is being loaded or

unloaded if the driver of the crane or winch working

the fall has a clear and unrestricted view of those parts

of the hold where work is being carried on;

(b) that where the Authority for Transport in Malta is of

opinion that, owing to the nature of the crane or winch

or other appliance in use or by reason of any special

arrangements, the requirements of this regulation are

not necessary for the safety of persons employed, it

may by certificate in writing (which it may in its

discretion revoke) suspend such requirements subject

to such conditions as may be specified in such

certificate.

When any person employed has to proceed to or from a

ship by water for the purpose of carrying on the processes, proper

measures shall be taken to provide for his safe transport. Vessels

used for this purpose shall be in charge of a competent person, shall

not be over-crowded, and shall be properly equipped for safe

navigation and maintained in good condition.

PART VI

No person shall, unless duly authorised or in case of

necessity, remove or interfere with any fencing, gangway, gear,

ladder, hatch covering, life-saving means or appliances, lights,

marks, stages or other things whatsoever required by these

regulations to be provided. If removed, such things shall be

restored at the end of the period during which the removal was

necessary by the person last engaged in the work that necessitated

such removal.

The fencing required by regulation 4 shall not be removed

except to the extent and for the period reasonably necessary for

carrying on the work of the dock or ship, or for repairing any

fencing. If removed it shall be restored forthwith at the end of that

period by the person engaged in the work that necessitated its

removal.

Every person employed shall use the means of access

provided in accordance with regulations 10, 11 and 12, and no

person shall authorise or order another to use means of access other

than those provided in accordance therewith.

No person shall go upon the fore and aft beams or

thwartship beams for the purpose of adjusting the gear for lifting

them on and off nor shall any person authorise or order another to

do so.

PART VII

No employer of persons in the processes shall allow

machinery or gear to be used by such persons which does not

comply with Part IV.

If the persons whose duty it is to comply with regulations

10, 11 and 13, fail to do so, then it shall also be the duty of the

employers of the persons employed for whose use the means of

a c c e s s a n d t h e l i g h t s a r e r e q u i r e d t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e sa i d

regulations within the shortest time reasonably practicable after

such failure.

The register relative to all machinery, etc., for use in

connection with the processes shall be produced at the request of

the Authority for Transport in Malta by the person in charge

thereof. If it relates to the lifting machinery and other gear of a ship

and is kept on the ship, it shall be produced, together with the

certificate of the ship’s register, by the person for the time being in

charge of the ship.

The Director of Labour shall appoint competent persons to

issue certificates with regard to the safety of all machinery and

other gear used in connection with the processes. The Director of

Labour shall also fix the maximum amount that may be charged by

such persons for any certificate or other service given by them. All

expenses in connection with the tests and examinations of such

machinery and gear will be borne by the owner or master of the

ship as the case may be.

(1) It shall be the duty of the Director of Labour to see that

the provisions of these regulations are duly complied with.

(2) Copies or summaries of the regulations shall be posted up

in prominent positions at docks, wharves, quays and similar places

which are in frequent use for the processes.

DOCK SAFETY