EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY 859
THE FACTORY AND WORKSHOPS ACT.
The requirements of this Act are supervised by surveyors
appointed by the Home Office. The part of the Act applying to
ships comes under Dock Regulations, copies of which are exhibited
within the precincts of harbours and on board ships. Penalties are
imposed on employers, employees and other persons who contravene
or fail to comply with the Regulations. Nautical officers should
be conversant with the requirements, and we here refer to some of
the more important that are likely to come within their province.
The United Kingdom Steamship Assurance Association in a
report under the heading " Loss of Life and Personal Injury,"
remarked that " the most frequent causes of accidents on board
ship are defective hatch covers resulting in men falling into ships'
hold and defective gear. If only ships' officers would guard against
these two things probably 25 to 50 per cent, of the deplorable
accidents could be prevented."
Gangways.—When a ship is loading or discharging cargo or
bunkers at a wharf, a gangway shall be provided for the safe means
of access of authorised persons, and when alongside other vessels
or barges the ship with the higher freeboard shall provide the
gangway.
The gangway has to be at least 22 inches wide, properly secured
and fenced throughout on each side to a clear height of 2| feet by
means of upper and lower rails, taut ropes or chains, or by other
equally safe means.
Access to holds, unless permanent footholds are fitted according
to prescribed regulations, shall be by means of ladders, and these
are only to be deemed safe when the cargo is stowed far enough
from the ladder to have at each of its rungs sufficient room for a
man's feet. All parts of the ship to which persons employed may be
required to proceed in the course of the employment shall be
sufficiently lighted, subject to the safety of the ship, her cargo,
navigation, or to bye-laws or regulations of Harbour Authority.
Hatches.—Portable hatch beams to have suitable gear for
lifting them. Hatch beams and covering to be plainly marked for
the position they belong, and adequate hand grips to be fitted on all
hatch coverings. A hatch is defined as an opening in the deck used