UK Statutory Instrument
1997
United Kingdom
The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
14 compliance obligations
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Employer 8
- Trader 5
- Any Person 1
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Employers also bound by 694 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 236 duties
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 1998 120 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 72 duties
- Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 52 duties
- Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 2003 50 duties
Traders also bound by 826 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 413 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 243 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 114 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 62 duties
- Building Societies Act 1986 1986 56 duties
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Interpretation
Application
Part II — General duties
Persons on whom duties are imposed
- Comply with all health and safety provisions for merchant shipping and fishing vessels Employer
General duties
- Ensure health and safety of workers and other persons on board Employer
New or expectant mothers
- Assess and manage risks to new and expectant mothers Employer
Reporting of occupational diseases
- Report occupational diseases in seafarers to the MCA Employer
Capabilities and training
- Ensure workers are competent and adequately trained for shipboard duties Employer
Code of Safe Working Practices
- Keep sufficient copies of the Code of Safe Working Practices onboard and accessible Trader
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Health and safety policy
Risk assessment
Night work
Notification of pregnancy
Health surveillance
Part III — Duties of the Company
Co-ordination
- Co-ordinate health and safety with other employers on your ship Trader
Extension of duties in other Regulations as regards seafarers who are not workers
- Extend health and safety protections to non-worker seafarers on your ship Any Person
Part IV — Special responsibility for health and safety and consultation with workers
Protective and preventive services
- Appoint competent persons for health and safety advice Employer
Appointment of safety officers
- Appoint a competent safety officer on sea-going ships with 5+ seafarers Trader
Election of safety representatives and safety committees
- Elect safety representatives and appoint a safety committee Trader
Duties of the Company and master
- Support safety officers and representatives and record serious accidents Trader
Consultation with workers
- Consult workers on health and safety matters in advance Employer
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Duties of safety officers
Powers of safety representatives and safety committees
Part V — General duties of workers
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
General duties of workers
Part VI — Prohibitions, penalties, inspections and detentions
Browse 13 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Prohibition on levy
Duty not to interfere with or misuse certain things
Penalties
Offences by body corporate
Onus of proving what is reasonably practicable
Inspection and detention of a United Kingdom fishing vessel
Inspection of United Kingdom ships and non-United Kingdom ships without MLC documentation
Detention of United Kingdom ships and non-United Kingdom ships without MLC documentation
Inspection and detention and other measures in respect of fishing vessels registered outside the United Kingdom
Inspection of non-United Kingdom ships with MLC documentation
Detention of non-United Kingdom ships with MLC documentation
Enforcement of detention
Compensation
Part VII — Review
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Review
Other sections — not classified into a Part
These sections sit outside the numbered Parts — usually provisions added or moved by later amendments.
reg.11n1
- Consult workers on health and safety and implement agreed measures Employer
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Maritime safety regulator responsible for implementing UK and international maritime law. Provides 24-hour search and rescue coordination. Issues certifications for ships and …
Explore more
Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.