17.—(1) To enable him to fulfil his functions under regulation 16 above, a safety representative may exercise the powers set out in paragraphs (2), (3), (4)(b) and (5) of this regulation and he may seek advice and guidance whether from persons on the offshore installation or elsewhere on any matters arising out of regulation 16 above and regulation 22 below, as appropriate.
(2) A safety representative may inspect any part of the offshore installation or its equipment if–
(a)he has given the installation manager and, if his employer is not the installation owner, his employer, reasonable notice in writing of his intention to do so, and
(b)he has not inspected that part of the installation or its equipment in the previous three months;
and he may carry out more frequent inspections by agreement with the installation manager and, if his employer is not the installation owner, his employer.
(3) If–
(a)there has been a notifiable incident, and
(b)it is safe for an inspection to be carried out, and
(c)the interests of the members of his constituency might be involved,
a safety representative may inspect the part of the installation or the equipment concerned and, so far as is necessary for the purpose of determining the cause, he may inspect any other part of the installation or its equipment; provided that the safety representative shall first notify of his intention to carry out the inspection–
(i)the installation manager; and
(ii)where his employer is not the installation owner and it is reasonably practicable to notify him, his employer.
(4) Where two or more safety representatives consider there is an imminent risk of serious personal injury arising from an activity carried out on the installation–
(a)they shall make representations to the installation manager who shall prepare and send a report in writing on the matter to an inspector appointed under section 6(4) of the 1971 Act as soon as is reasonably practicable; and
(b)a safety representative may make a report in writing by the fastest practicable means to an inspector appointed under section 6(4) of the 1971 Act.
(5) A safety representative may receive information given under section 28(8) of the 1974 Act by an inspector appointed under section 19 of that Act.
(6) In this regulation, “notifiable incident” means any casualty, accident, injury or disease which is required to be notified by the installation owner or the installation manager under regulation 9 or 12 of the Offshore Installations (Inspectors and Casualties) Regulations 1973(1).
S.I. 1973/1842.