Hong Kong Regulations

MERCHANT SHIPPING (SEAFARERS) (HEALTH AND SAFETY: GENERAL DUTIES) REGULATION - SECT 4

General duties of employers

(1) It shall be the duty of the employer of seafarers on board a ship to
ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of those
seafarers and other persons on board the ship who may be affected by his acts
and omissions.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the employer's duty under
subsection (1), the matters to which that duty extends shall include-

   (a)  the provision and maintenance of plant, machinery and equipment and
        systems of work that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe
        and without risk to health;

   (b)  arrangements for ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, safety
        and absence of risk to health in connection with the use, handling,
        stowage and transport of articles and substances;

   (c)  the provision to seafarers of such information, instruction, training
        and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably
        practicable, the health and safety of all persons on board the ship;

   (d)  so far as is reasonably practicable, the maintenance of all places of
        work in the ship in a condition that is safe and without risk to
        health;

   (e)  the provision and maintenance of an environment for all persons on
        board the ship that is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and
        without risk to health; and

   (f)  so far as is reasonably practicable, collaboration with others who
        employ persons who are at any time in the course of their employment
        on board the ship or engaged in loading or unloading activities in
        relation to the ship to protect the health and safety of all persons
        on board the ship.

(3) It shall be the duty of every employer of seafarers on board a ship to
prepare and, as often as may be appropriate, revise a written statement of his
general policy with respect to health and safety of all persons on board the
ship and the organization and arrangements for the time being in force for
carrying out that policy, and to bring the statement and any revision of it to
the notice of those seafarers: Provided that this requirement shall not apply
to an employer who employs less than 5 seafarers in aggregate on board ships.
(Enacted 1995)