The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Chemical Agents) Regulations 2010

Accidents, incidents and emergencies

9.—(1) This regulation does not apply where the results of the regulation 6(2) assessment reveal only a slight risk to the health and safety of workers and the measures taken in accordance with regulation 7 are sufficient to reduce that risk.

(2) The employer shall, in order to protect the health and safety of workers from an accident, incident or emergency related to the presence of hazardous chemical agents in a ship (“a relevant incident”), establish procedures which can be put into effect when a relevant incident occurs, so that the appropriate action is taken.

(3) Arrangements under paragraph (2) shall include—

(a) relevant safety drills to be performed at intervals not less than once every six months; and

(b) the provision of appropriate first aid facilities.

(4) When a relevant incident occurs the employer shall—

(a) immediately take steps to mitigate the effects of the relevant incident and to inform the workers concerned; and

(b) in order to restore the situation to normal—

(i) implement appropriate measures to remedy the situation as soon as possible; and

(ii) permit only those workers who are essential to the carrying out of repairs and other necessary work to work in the affected area.

(5) The employer shall provide workers who are permitted to work in an area affected by a relevant incident with appropriate protective clothing, personal protective equipment, specialised safety equipment and plant.

(6) The employer shall not permit unprotected persons to remain in, or to enter an area affected by a relevant incident.

(7) The employer shall take such measures as are necessary to provide the warning and other communication systems required—

(a) to signal an increased risk to health and safety;

(b) to enable an appropriate response to be made; and

(c) to enable remedial actions, assistance, escape and rescue operations to be launched immediately if necessary.

(8) The employer shall ensure that—

(a) information on emergency arrangements involving hazardous chemical agents is available;

(b) the relevant internal and external accident and emergency services have access to this information; and

(c) the information includes—

(i) advance notice of relevant work hazards, hazard identification arrangements, precautions and procedures and precautionary measures sufficient to enable the emergency services to prepare their own response procedures and precautionary measures; and

(ii) any available information concerning specific hazards arising, or likely to arise, at the time of a relevant incident, including information on procedures prepared under this regulation.