26Safety
(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations make such provision as he considers appropriate for the purpose of securing the proper construction and safe operation of pipe-lines, preventing damage to pipe-lines and securing the safety, health and welfare of persons engaged on pipe-line works ; and, without prejudice to the generality of the preceding provisions of this subsection, regulations in pursuance of this subsection may include provision with respect to the use of any aircraft, vessel, vehicle, structure, plant, equipment or other thing for the pur-Poses of any pipe-line works and with respect to the movement of and the precautions to be taken on or in connection with any of those things which are used for the purposes of any pipeline works or are in the vicinity of a pipe-line or pipe-line works.
(2)In the preceding subsection " pipe-line works " means works of any of the following kinds, namely—
(a)assembling or placing a pipe-line or length of pipe-line ;
(b)inspecting, testing, maintaining, adjusting, repairing, altering or renewing a pipe-line or length of pipe-line;
(c)changing the position of or dismantling or removing a pipe-line or length of pipe-line ;
(d)opening the bed of the sea for the purposes of works mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, tunnelling or boring for those purposes and other works needed for or incidental to those purposes ;
(e)works for the purpose of determining whether a place is suitable as part of the site of a proposed pipe-line, and the carrying out of surveying operations for the purpose of settling the route of a proposed pipe-line.
(3)References to a pipe-line in the preceding provisions of this section are to a controlled pipe-line but shall be construed as excluding—
(a)any pipe-line so far as it forms part of—
(i)an offshore installation within the meaning of the [1971 c. 61.] Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971, or
(ii)such an other installation as is mentioned in section 44(1) of this Act, or
(iii)the equipment of a vessel or vehicle ; and
(b)any apparatus and works associated with a pipe or system of pipes and prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph.