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Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)

Regulations

Maritime Occupational Safety Regulations, 1994

Chapter II : Safety provisions for staff on board ship, appliances and equipment

13. Requirements and duties of employers regarding safety officers, safety committees and safety representatives to enable them to perform their functions

 

Every employer of a crew shall—

(1) inform the safety officer and safety committee concerned of any hazardous cargo on board a vessel and the hazards which may arise therefrom, and of any other hazards on board the vessel that are known to him and that may endanger the vessel or her crew;
(2) allow a safety officer and safety representative such reasonable absence from ship's duties without loss of pay as may be necessary to enable them to perform their duties or functions as safety officer or safety representative, as the case may be;
(3) at any reasonable time, receive representations about occupational safety from the safety officer, the safety representatives or the safety committee, including recommendations by a safety representative that certain work should be suspended, and discuss their representations with them and implement any agreed measures as soon as may be reasonable and practicable;
(4) provide the safety officer, and safety committee concerned on request with any information relating to accidents and potential hazards to safety on board a vessel;
(5) provide the safety officer concerned on request with any information or plans necessary to enable him to undertake an inspection referred to in regulation 10(3)(d);
(6) set the election date of a safety representative to be within three working days of being requested to do so by any two persons entitled to vote in such an election and give publicity to any such election;
(7) subject to the provision of section 355A(5) of the Act, provide the safety officer and safety committee access to any necessary information, document and similar material, including any applicable legislation and Marine Notices;
(8) provide the safety officer and safety committee with the necessary accommodation, office equipment and similar materials;
(9) permit the safety officer and safety committee to inspect the whole or part of the vessel for the purpose of occupational safety; and
(10) display in a conspicuous place on board a notice containing the names of the safety officer and safety representative on board the vessel.