HATCH BEAMS AND COVERS 565
When the working space in a hold is confined to the square
of the Jiatch, hooks shall not be made fast in the bands or fastenings
of bales of cotton, wool, cork, gunny bags or other similar goods,
nor shall can hooks be used for raising or lowering a barrel when,
owing to the construction or condition of the barrel or of the hooks,
their use is likely to be unsafe.
Nothing in this Regulation shall apply to breaking out or making
up slings.
When work is proceeding on any skeleton deck, adequate staging
shall be provided unless the space beneath the deck is filled with
cargo to ^ithin a distance of two feet of such deck.
Where stacking, unstacking, stowing or unstowing of cargo or
handling in connection therewith cannot be safely carried out
unaided, reasonable measures to guard against accident shall be
taken by shoring or otherwise.
The beams of any hatch in use for the processes shall, if not
removed, be adequately secured to prevent their displacement.
When cargo is being loaded or unloaded by a fall at a hatchway,
a signaller shall be employed, and where more than one fall is being
worked at a hatchway, a separate signaller shall be employed to
attend to each fall.
Provided that this Regulation shall not apply in cases where a
barge, lighter or other similar vessel is being loaded or unloaded if
the driver of the crane or winch working the fall has a clear and
unrestricted view of those parts of the hold where work is being
carried on.
When any person employed has to proceed to or from a ship by
water for the purpose of carrying on the processes, proper measures
shall be taken to provide for his safe transport. Vessels used for
this purpose shall be in charge of a competent person, shall not bo
overcrowded, and shall be properly equipped for safe navigation
and maintained in good condition.
There are various registration forms issued by the Home Office
to be filled in when winches, derricks, cargo blocks and gear have
been inspected, Particulars of the testing of any chain, ring, hook,
shackle or swivel, or any pulley, gin or block, is given on the certificate
granted by the firm authorised by the Home Office to carry out such
tests, the maximum safe working load of the several items being
specially mentioned. This certificate remains in force until the next
annual examination and annealling of chains, etc., is called for.