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

Regulations

Maritime Occupational Safety Regulations, 1994

Chapter III : Stevedores, shore contractors and incidental persons on board vessels in the course and scope of their duty

31. Appointment, termination of appointment, and functions of a safety officer

 

(1) The employer of a stevedore or shore contractor shall in writing appoint an employee as safety officer for a group of his employees.

[Regulation 31(1) substituted by regulation 11(a) of Notice No. R. 1712 dated 19 December 1997]

 

(2) The appointment of the safety officer shall cease on the date—
(a) the employee ceases to be employed by the owner; or
(b) that the employer terminates the appointment.

 

(3) The safety officer shall whilst the employees are working on a vessel—
(a) ensure that the employees comply with the provisions of the regulations;
(b) ensure that any occupation safety policy determined by the employer concerned is complied with by the employees;
(c) ensure that the employees maintain a high standard of occupational safety;
(d) investigate the cause of an accident mentioned in section 259(1)(c) of the Act, all hazards or potential hazards to safety, including fatigue, affecting or which may affect the employees in the execution of their work and all complaints about occupational safety by the employees onboard the vessel;
(e) make recommendations to the employer regarding any investigation or inspection or the prevention of an accident, or the removal of a hazard, or potential hazard, and about any deficiency in occupational safety regarding the requirements of the Act and these regulations;
(f) monitor the effectiveness of the safety measures and immediately stop or cause to be stopped, the performance of any work which in his opinion may cause an accident or serious injury and inform the employer, owner or master forthwith thereof;

[Regulation 31(3)(f) substituted by regulation 11(b) of Notice No. R. 1712 dated 19 December 1997]

(g) [Regulation 31(3)(g) deleted by regulation 11(c) of Notice No. R. 1712 dated 19 December 1997]
(h) carry out any other investigation relating to occupational safety which an employer may deem necessary if requested thereto in writing by the employer and thereafter submit a report in respect of such investigation;
(i) submit a brief report of the investigation contemplated in this regulation to the employer for the purposes of record keeping.