Safe Working Practices Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1467)

52 The supports and ropes or tackle carrying a stage shall have a factor of safety of not less than six.

53 Every person who is required to work on a stage at a height greater than 3 m shall wear a safety belt fitted with a safety line that is rigged to a life line so as to limit the free fall of a person from the stage to not more than 1.2 m.

Ladders and Gangways

• 54 (1) Every access ladder or gangway between a ship and the shore or between one ship and another ship shall provide a safe means of access between the ship and shore or between the ships, as the case may be.

• (2) Every ship that is in dry dock or moored alongside a wharf or other ship shall be fitted with at least one access ladder or gangway that, in the opinion of a qualified person, complies with subsection (1).

• (3) Where an access ladder or gangway leads to a location on board a ship at a height of more than 1 m above the deck, safe access to the deck shall be provided by means of a series of steps or some similar structure.

• (4) Where a bulwark ladder is used to provide the safe access to the deck of a ship required by subsection (3), it shall be firmly secured to the bulwark so as to prevent its shifting, slipping or pivoting and shall be equipped with two handhold stanchions

  • (a) each not less than 40 mm in diameter;

  • (b) each extending not less than 1.2 m above the top of the bulwark;

  • (c) fitted at the point of boarding or leaving the ship not less than 0.7 m and not more than 0.8 m apart; and

  • (d) firmly secured to the ship’s structure at or near the base of the ladder and at a higher point.

• 55 (1) Every access ladder and gangway shall

  • (a) be maintained in a safe condition;

  • (b) be secured to prevent its shifting and slipping;

  • (c) be suitably rigged and maintained to compensate for the movement of the ship;

  • (d) be adequately lighted; and

  • (e) have a lifebuoy with line, strategically placed and ready for immediate use.

• (2) When an access ladder is being used by a person to board or disembark from a ship, at least one end of the ladder shall be fastened securely and, if necessary to ensure safety, a person, other than a person engaged in manoeuvring the ship, shall be stationed at the ladder to assist the person using it.

• 56 (1) Safety nets shall be fitted under every part of an access ladder and gangway except where, in the opinion of a qualified person,

  • (a) the ladder or gangway and the approaches thereto are constructed in a manner that makes the fitting of a safety net unnecessary; or

  • (b) the fitting of a safety net is impracticable.

• (2) Safety nets shall

  • (a) extend on both sides of an access ladder or a gangway for a distance of 1.8 m; and

  • (b) be kept taut at all times.

57 Where a platform is provided at the bottom of an access ladder or gangway, the platform shall be flat and horizontal.

58 Every Jacob’s ladder shall be of sufficient length to reach the intended landing point and the means of attachment thereof to the ship shall be effective and maintained in a safe and good condition.

59 Every portable ladder shall be maintained in a safe and good condition and shall be secured to prevent its shifting and slipping when in use.

60 Every ladder, whether portable or permanently secured, shall be positioned in such a manner that it is not necessary for a person to use the underside of the ladder.

Electrical

61 No person other than a qualified person shall work on the installation, maintenance and repair of electrical equipment.

62 The person in charge of a working area in which work is being performed on electrical equipment that is isolated from its power supply shall, where the power supply could be accidentally reconnected to the electrical equipment, ensure that

• (a) locking devices are fitted to the circuit breakers or control switches for the isolated electrical equipment;

• (b) a person is in attendance at the position where the electrical equipment is isolated;

• (c) effective warning notices are placed at the position where the electrical equipment is isolated; or

• (d) when fuses are removed to isolate electrical equipment, the fuses are kept in the possession of a qualified person.

63 No person shall work on an electrical circuit that has not been isolated from the power supply unless he is protected by a rubber mat, rubber boots, rubber gloves or insulated tools or any combination thereof.

64 Defective electrical equipment shall be disconnected from its power supply by a means other than the control switch, and notices shall be placed on the equipment and at the control switch to indicate that the equipment is defective.

• 65 (1) Electrical fuses shall be of the correct ampere rating and fault capacity rating for the circuit in which they are installed.

• (2) No person shall replace missing or burnt-out fuses without the permission of a qualified person.

66 Control switches for all electrically operated machinery shall clearly indicate the “ON” and “OFF” switch positions.

67 Where necessary, electrical equipment shall be grounded and all electrical connections shall be properly insulated or covered to protect persons from electrical shock.

• 68 (1) Grounded electrical equipment and appliances shall be used only when connected into a matching grounded electrical outlet fitting.

• (2) A three wire power supply cable on electrical equipment or appliances shall not be altered or changed for the purpose of using the equipment or appliances on a two wire power supply.

69 Power supply cables for portable electrical equipment shall be placed clear of areas used for vehicles unless adequate protection for the cables is provided.

70 Electrical appliances and tools shall be constructed and used in accordance with the Canadian Standards Association specifications or with any other specifications acceptable to the Board.

Personal Protective Equipment

71 The personal protective equipment referred to in sections 72 to 74 shall comply with the Canadian Standards Association specifications for that equipment or, where a higher standard is required by a provincial authority having jurisdiction over the use of that equipment, the higher standard required by that authority.

72 Every person employed in an area where there is danger of injury to the feet from falling or moving objects shall wear safety shoes or boots, which shall be made available by his employer.

73 Every person employed in an area where there is danger of injury to the head from falling or moving objects shall wear a safety hat or helmet fitted with a chin strap.

74 Every person shall wear a buoyancy aid that is not dependent upon manual control to produce its buoyancy when

• (a) required to work over water; or

• (b) transferring between a ship and a tow.

75 Except as provided in section 74, every person shall wear a life jacket

• (a) when crossing between a ship and the shore during the berthing or docking of the ship; and

• (b) when crossing between one ship and another ship, where one or both of the ships are not moored.

76 Every person who is required to work on unmanned barges shall have two strips of reflective tape, each of which is not less than 19 mm wide by 230 mm long, attached to both front and back of his exterior jacket or coat when darkness or a dimly lighted condition exists in the working area.

• 77 (1) A person employed in welding or burning operations shall wear eye protection designed to protect his eyes from the glare of the operations.

• (2) A person employed in rivetting, drilling, grinding or chipping operations shall wear eye protection designed to protect his eyes from flying particles.

• (3) Every person exposed to a threat of danger to his eyes from flying grit, chips or excessive heat or light shall wear suitable eye protection.

78 Every employer shall provide the appropriate protective clothing and respiratory equipment to an employee required to work with a substance or in an atmosphere that may adversely affect the employee’s health.

79 Every person who is required to work at a height greater than 3 m, on a mast or at the edge of any other structure that is not provided with guard rails, shall wear a safety belt fitted with a safety line that is rigged so as to limit the free fall of a person to not more than 1.2 m.

• 80 (1) Safety belts, safety lines and life lines shall be of sufficient strength to support a load of 1 134 kg

• (2) Where a safety line or life line is subject to chafing, it shall be made of wire rope or wire core fibre rope.

Pressure Vessels

• 81 (1) No person shall enter or remain in a boiler unless

  • (a) a qualified person has ascertained that the boiler is isolated from every other steaming boiler; and

  • (b) there is another person in attendance at a manhole opening of the boiler.

• (2) The qualified person referred to in paragraph (1)(a) shall ensure that

  • (a) locking devices are fitted to the boiler isolating valves;

  • (b) a person is in attendance at the position where the boiler is isolated;

  • (c) effective warning notices are placed at the position where the boiler is isolated; or

  • (d) blank flanges are fitted between the boiler and every other steaming boiler.

• (3) Every person who is in attendance at a manhole opening of a boiler shall, except where an emergency occurs with respect to the person inside the boiler, remain in attendance until the person inside leaves the boiler.

• (4) No person shall enter the furnace side of any boiler that contains

  • (a) hot water at a temperature in excess of 55°C; or

  • (b) steam under pressure.

82 Before a pressure vessel is sealed, the person in charge of the working area in which the pressure vessel is located shall ascertain that no person is inside the pressure vessel.

83 When manhole covers are to be removed from a boiler, the uppermost manhole cover shall be removed first.

• 84 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person, other than a person appointed by an authority acceptable to the Board, shall alter or deal with a safety or relief valve of a boiler or other pressure vessel.

• (2) A qualified person may

  • (a) in a case of emergency, adjust a valve referred to in subsection (1); and

  • (b) overhaul a valve referred to in subsection (1), prior to its inspection by a person appointed by an authority acceptable to the Board.

General Requirements and Working Practices

85 Every person in charge of a working area that is in darkness or in which a dimly lighted condition exists shall ensure that portable lights are provided to any person required to enter that working area.

86 Every person on board a towed ship for the purpose of handling the mooring lines of that ship shall maintain visible or audible contact with the operator of the towing ship either directly or with the assistance of other persons.