MERCHANT SHIPPING (FISHING VESSELS)
(MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS) _g S.234.34 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 234.34
MERCHANT SHIPPING (FISHING VESSELS) 
(MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH 
REQUIREMENTS) REGULATIONS
1st April, 2004
LEGAL NOTICE 305 of 2003.
Citation.
(Fishing Vessels) (Minimum Safety and Health Requirements)
Regulations.
Interpretation.
requires -
Cap. 234.
''the Authority'' has the same meaning as is assigned to it in the
Act;
''the Directive'' means Council Directive 93/103/EC of the 23
November, 1993, concerning the Minimum Safety and Health
Requirements for Work on board Fishing Vessels;
''the Minister'' has the same meaning as is assigned to it in the
Act;
S.L. 234.05
(Medical Stores) Regulations;
''new fishing vessel'' means a fishing vessel with a length
between perpendiculars of 15 metres or over and for which, on or
after the 23 November, 1995:
( a ) a building or major conversion contract is placed;
( b ) the building and major conversion contract had been
placed before the 23 November, 1995 and which was
or will be delivered three or more years after such
date; or
( c ) in the absence of a building contract:
(i) the keel is laid, or
(ii) construction identifiable with a specific vessel
begins, or
(iii) assembly has commenced comprising at least 50
tonnes or 1% of the estimated mass of all
structural material, whichever is less;
''existing fishing vessel'' means any fishing vessel with a length
between perpendiculars of 18 metres or over and which is not a new
fishing vessel;
''vessel'' means any new or existing fishing vessel;
''worker'' means any person carrying out an occupation on board
a vessel, including trainees and apprentices but excluding shore
2 _g S.L.234.34
MERCHANT SHIPPING (FISHING VESSELS)
(MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS)
personnel carrying out work on board a vessel at the quayside and
port pilots;
''skipper'' shall have the same meaning as the term ''master'' in
the Act.
Application. 3. These regulations are to apply to fishing vessels used for
commercial purposes either for catching or catching and processing
fish or other living resources from the sea.
Duty to report 
occurances at sea.
4. (1) The skipper shall carefully record in detail any
occurrences at sea which affect or could affect the safety and health
of the workers on board in the ship's log, and in the absence of such
a log in a document required for the purpose. In the event of
serious, imminent and unavoidable danger when workers leave
their workstation and, or a dangerous area, account is to be taken of
the hazards faced by such workers.
(2) The skipper shall also forward a detailed report of the
occurrence to the Authority.
New fishing 
vessels.
5. New fishing vessels shall comply with the minimum safety
and health requirements laid down in the First Schedule.
Existing fishing 
vessels.
6. Existing fishing vessels shall comply with the minimum
safety and health requirements laid down in the Second Schedule.
Extensive repairs, 
conversions and 
alterations.
7. Where fishing vessels undergo extensive repairs,
conversions and alterations, such extensive repairs, conversions
and alterations must comply with the relevant minimum
requirements laid down in the First Schedule.
Owner’s 
responsibilities.
8. Any vessel owner, without prejudice to the skipper’s
responsibility, is to the ensure that:
( a ) such owner’s vessel is used without endangering the
safety and health of workers, in particular in
foreseeable meteorological conditions;
( b ) the vessel and its fittings and equipment, particularly
those referred to in the First and the Second Schedules,
are technically maintained, and that any defects found
which are likely to affect the safety and health of
workers are rectified as quickly as possible;
( c ) the vessel and all fittings and equipment are cleaned
regularly in order to maintain an appropriate standard
of hygiene;
( d ) an adequate quantity of suitable emergency and
survival equipment in good working order is kept on
board the vessel;
( e ) the minimum safety and health requirements
concerning life-saving and survival equipment referred
to in the Third Schedule are taken into account;
S.L. 424.21 ( f ) without prejudice to the provisions of the Minimum
Requirements for the use of Personal Protective
Equipment at Work Regulations, the personal
protective equipment specifications given in the
Fourth Schedule are taken into account;
MERCHANT SHIPPING (FISHING VESSELS)
(MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS) _g S.234.34 3
( g ) the skipper is supplied with all the means needed to
enable him to fulfill the obligations imposed upon him
by these regulations.
Information to, 
consultation with 
and training of 
workers.
S.L. 424.13
S.L. 424.18
9. (1) Without prejudice to regulation 9 of the Work Place
(First Aid) Regulations, and regulation 14 of the General
Provisions for Health and Safety at Work Places Regulations,
workers and, or their representatives shall be informed of all
measures to be taken regarding safety and health on board the
fishing vessel. The information must be comprehensible to the
workers concerned.
S.L. 424.18
(2) The consultation of workers and, or their representatives
and their participation in discussions on the matters covered by
these regulations and their schedules shall take place in accordance
with regulation 13 of the General Provisions for Health and Safety
at Work Places Regulations.
S.L. 424.18
Provisions for Health and Safety at Work Places Regulations,
workers on the fishing vessel are to be given suitable training, in
particular in the form of precise, comprehensible instructions, on
safety and health on board vessels and on accident prevention in
particular. The training shall cover in particular fire fighting, the
use of life-saving and survival equipment and, for the workers
concerned, the use of fishing gear and hauling equipment and the
use of various types of signs including hand signals. Such training
shall be subject to the necessary updating when this is required by
changes in the activity on board.
S.L. 234.05
Regulations, the skipper and any other person likely to take
command of the vessel shall be given detailed training in:
( a ) the prevention of occupational illness and accidents on
board and the steps to be taken in the event of an
accident;
( b ) stability and maintenance of the vessel under all
foreseeable conditions of loading and during fishing
operations; and
( c ) radio navigation and communication including
procedures.
Maximum hours of 
work.
10. (1) Any worker on board a sea-going fishing vessel shall
be entitled to adequate rest and shall work for a number of hours
that does not exceed:
( a ) fourteen hours in any twenty-four hour period;
( b ) seventy-two hours in any seven-day period;
( c ) a weekly average of forty-eight hours, as calculated
over a maximum reference period of twelve months.
(2) Hours of rest may be divided into no more than two periods,
one of which must be at least six hours in length and the interval
between consecutive periods of rest shall not exceed fourteen
hours.
(3) The skipper shall have the right to require workers on board
4 _g S.L.234.34
MERCHANT SHIPPING (FISHING VESSELS)
(MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS)
to perform any hours of work necessary for the immediate safety of
the vessel, persons on board or cargo, or for the purpose of giving
assistance to other vessels or persons in distress at sea.
S.L. 234.27
(4) Workers on board sea-going fishing vessels for which any
national legislation or practice determines that these vessels are not
allowed to operate in specific periods of the calendar year
exceeding one month, shall take annual leave in accordance with
the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Hours of Work)
Regulations, within the above mentioned period.
Breach of 
regulations.
11. Where a serious breach of these regulations results, any
license issued for fishing purposes may be suspended or may not be
renewed.
Exemptions and 
exceptions.
12. (1) The Minister may exempt any fishing vessel that
embodies features of a novel kind from any of the requirements of
these regulations, the application of which might seriously impede
research into the development of such features and their
incorporation in vessels. Any such vessel shall, however, comply
with safety requirements, which, in the opinion of the Minister, are
adequate for the service for which it is intended and are such as to
ensure the overall safety of the vessel.
(2) The Minister may exempt any fishing vessel engaged solely
in fishing near the coast of Malta from any of the requirements of
these regulations if he considers that their application is
unreasonable and impracticable in view of the distance of the
vessel’s operating area from its port of departure in Malta, the type
of vessel, the weather conditions and the absence of general
navigational hazards, provided that it complies with safety
requirements which, in the opinion of the Minister, are adequate for
the service for which it is intended and are such as to ensure the
overall safety of the vessel.
(3) The Minister may under conditions that he may deem fit
allow exceptions to the limits laid down in regulation 10, including
the establishment of reference periods. Such exceptions shall, as far
as possible, comply with the standards laid down in these
regulations but may take account of more frequent or longer leave
periods or the granting of compensatory leave for the workers.
Equivalents. 13. Where these regulations require that the hull or machinery
of a ship shall be constructed in a particular manner, or that
particular equipment shall be provided, or that particular provisions
shall be made, the Minister shall permit the hull or machinery of
the ship to be constructed in any other manner, or any other
equipment to be provided or other provision made, if he is satisfied
by trial thereof or otherwise that such other construction,
equipment or provision is at least as effective as that required by
these regulations.
Duty to ensure 
compliance.
14. It shall be the duty of the owner, of the company which has
assumed the operation of the vessel and the skipper to ensure that
the vessel is in compliance with the provisions and requirements of
these regulations and such person, if in fault, shall be liable to a
fine ( multa ) not exceeding 500 units.
MERCHANT SHIPPING (FISHING VESSELS)
(MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS) _g S.234.34 5
FIRST SCHEDULE
(Regulations 5, 7 and 8)
MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS 
FOR NEW FISHING VESSELS
Preliminary Note
The obligations laid down in this Schedule apply whenever required by the
features of the workplace, the activity, the circumstances or a risk on board a new
fishing vessel.
1. Seaworthiness and stability
1.1. The vessel must be maintained in a seaworthy condition and be properly
equipped appropriate to its purpose and use.
1.2. Information on the vessel’s stability must be available on board and must be
accessible to the men on watch.
1.3. All vessels must be sufficiently stable when intact in the conditions of
service for which they are intended. The skipper must take the precautionary
measures necessary to maintain adequate stability of the vessel. Instructions
supplied concerning the vessel’s stability must be strictly observed.
2. Mechanical and electrical installations
2.1. Electrical installations must be designed and constructed so as not to present
any danger and so as to ensure:
2.1.1 protection for the crew and vessel from electrical hazards,
2.1.2 the proper functioning of all equipment necessary to maintain the
vessel in normal operational and living conditions without recourse
to an emergency power supply,
2.1.3 the operation of electrical equipment essential for safety in all
emergencies.
2.2. An emergency electrical power source must be provided. Except in open
vessels, it must be located outside the engine room and must, in all cases, be so
arranged as to ensure in the event of fire or other failure of the main electrical
installation, simultaneous functioning for at least three hours of:
2.2.1 the internal communication system, fire detectors and emergency
signals,
2.2.2 the navigation lights and emergency lighting,
2.2.3 the radio installation,
2.2.4 the emergency electrical fire pump where present.
If the emergency electrical power source is an accumulator battery and the main
electrical power source fails, the accumulator battery must be automatically
connected to the emergency electrical switchboard and supply power for an
uninterrupted period of three hours to the systems referred to in items 2.2.1, 2.2.2
and 2.2.3. The main electrical switchboard and the emergency switchboard must, to
the extent possible, be installed in such a way that they cannot be exposed
simultaneously to water or fire.
2.3. Switchboards should be clearly marked; fuse boxes and fuse holders should
be checked at regular intervals to ensure that the correct rating of fuse is being used.
2.4. Compartments housing electrical storage batteries must be adequately
6 _g S.L.234.34
MERCHANT SHIPPING (FISHING VESSELS)
(MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS)
ventilated.
2.5. Electronic aids to navigation should be tested frequently and well
maintained.
2.6. All equipment used in hoisting should be tested and examined at regular
intervals.
2.7. All parts of hauling gear, hoisting gear and related equipment should be
maintained in good repair and working order.
2.8. Where refrigeration plants and compressed air systems are installed they
should be well maintained and examined at regular intervals.
2.9. Cooking and domestic appliances using heavy gases should be used only in
well ventilated spaces and care should be taken to avoid any dangerous accumulation
of gas. Cylinders containing flammable and other dangerous gases should be clearly
marked as to their contents and stowed on open decks. All valves, pressure
regulators and pipes leading from the cylinders should be protected against damage.
3. Radio installation
The radio installation must permit contact at all times with at least one coastal or
land-based station, taking into account the normal conditions for propagation of
radio waves.
4. Emergency routes and exits
4.1. Routes and exits which can be used as emergency routes and exits must be
unobstructed and easily accessible at all times and lead out as directly as possible to
the open deck or to a safe area and thence to the survival craft so that workers can
evacuate their workstations or living areas quickly and as safely as possible.
4.2. The number, distribution and dimensions of the routes and exits which can
be used as emergency routes and exits must depend on the use, equipment and
dimensions of workplaces and living areas and on the maximum potential number of
persons present.
Exits which can be used as emergency exits and which are closed must be
immediately and readily operable in an emergency by any worker or by rescue
teams.
4.3. Emergency doors and other emergency exits must be adequately
weatherproof and watertight for their location and particular function. Emergency
doors and other emergency exits must be as fire-resistant as the bulkheads.
4.4. Emergency routes and exits must be indicated by signs in accordance with
the Workplace (Provision of Health and_cor Safety Signs) Regulations.
4.5. Escape routes and facilities and emergency exits requiring illumination must
be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in case the lighting fails.
5. Fire detection and fire fighting
5.1. Depending on the dimensions and use of the vessel, the equipment it
contains, the physical and chemical properties of the substances present and the
maximum potential number of persons present, living quarters and enclosed
workplaces, including the engine-room and the fish hold if necessary, must be
equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and, as necessary, with fire
detectors and alarm systems.
5.2. Fire-fighting equipment must always be kept in its proper location,
maintained in good working order, and be available for immediate use. Workers
MERCHANT SHIPPING (FISHING VESSELS)
(MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS) _g S.234.34 7
must be familiar with the locations of fire-fighting equipment, the way it works and
how it should be used. The presence of extinguishers and other portable fire-fighting
equipment must always be checked before the vessel gets under way.
5.3. Manually-operated fire-fighting equipment must be easily accessible and
simple to use and must be indicated by signs in accordance with the Workplace
(Provision of Health and_cor Safety Signs) Regulations.
5.4. Fire-detection and alarm systems should be regularly tested and well
maintained.
5.5. Fire-fighting drills shall be carried out at regular intervals.
6. Ventilation of enclosed workplaces
Steps must be taken to see that there is sufficient fresh air in enclosed workplaces,
having regard to the working methods used and the physical demands placed on the
workers. If a mechanical ventilation system is used, it must be maintained in good
condition.
7. Temperature of working areas
7.1. The temperature in working areas must be adequate for the human body
during the hours of working, having regard to the work methods used, the physical
demands placed on the workers and the actual or potential weather conditions in the
area in which the vessel operates.
7.2. The temperature in living quarters, sanitary facilities, canteens and first-aid
rooms must, where those areas exist, be appropriate to the particular purpose of such
areas.
8. Natural and artificial lighting of workplaces
8.1. Workplaces must as far as possible receive sufficient natural light and be
equipped with artificial lighting suitable for the fishing operations in hand, without
placing workers’ safety and health in danger or jeopardizing other vessels.
8.2. Installations for the lighting of working areas, stairs, ladders and
passageways must be placed in such a way that the type of lighting provided poses
no risk of accident to workers and no hindrance to the navigation of the vessel.
8.3. Workplaces in which workers are especially exposed to risks in the event of
failure of artificial lighting must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate
intensity.
8.4. Emergency lighting must be maintained in an efficient operating condition
and be tested at regular intervals.
9. Decks, bulkheads and deckheads
9.1. Spaces accessible to workers must be non-slip or anti-slip or be provided
with devices to prevent falls and kept free of obstacles as far as possible.
9.2. Workplaces containing workstations must be adequately soundproofed and
insulated, bearing in mind the type of tasks involved and the physical activity of
workers.
9.3. The surface of decks, bulkheads and deckheads in working areas must be
such that they can be cleaned or refurbished to an appropriate standard of hygiene.
10. Doors
10.1. Means should be provided so that doors can at all times be operated from the
inside without special equipment. The doors must be operable from either side when
workplaces are in use.
8 _g S.L.234.34
MERCHANT SHIPPING (FISHING VESSELS)
(MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS)
10.2. Doors, and in particular sliding doors, where such have to be used, must
function as safely as possible for the workers, especially in adverse weather and sea
conditions.
11. Traffic routes - danger areas
11.1. Passageways, trunks, the outer part of deckhouses and all traffic routes in
general must be equipped with guard rails, grab rails and lifelines or other means of
ensuring the safety of workers in the course of activities on board.
11.2. If there is a risk that workers may fall through openings in the deck, or from
one deck to another, adequate protection should be provided wherever possible.
Where guard rails provide such protection, they must be at least one metre high.
11.3. Access to installations above the deck for operations or maintenance
purposes must be such as to ensure workers' safety. Guard rails or similar protective
devices of appropriate height must be provided to prevent falls.
11.4. Bulwarks or other means provided to prevent persons falling overboard must
be maintained in an efficient condition. Bulwarks must be fitted with freeing ports or
other similar devices to enable water to drain away quickly.
11.5. On stern trawlers with ramps, the upper part of the ramp must be fitted with
a gate or other means of securing it of the same height as the bulwarks or other
adjacent means, to protect workers from the risk of falling into the ramp.
This gate or other device must be easily opened and closed, preferably by remote
control, and must be open only for casting the net or for hauling it in.
12. Layout of workstations
12.1. Working areas must be kept clear and, as far as possible, be protected from
the sea and provide adequate protection for workers against falling on the vessel or
falling overboard. Handling areas must be sufficiently spacious, in terms of both
height and surface area.
12.2. If the engines are controlled from the engine room, they must be controlled
from a separate area, soundproofed and insulated from the engine room  per se  and
accessible without entering the latter. The navigating bridge is considered to be an
area that meets the requirements of the first subparagraph.
12.3. The controls for the hauling gear must be installed in an area sufficiently
large to enable operators to work unhindered. The hauling gear must also have
appropriate safety devices for emergencies, including emergency stop facilities.
12.4. The hauling gear operator must have an adequate view of the hauling gear
and the workers at work. If the hauling gear is controlled from the bridge, the
operator should also have a clear view of the workers at work, either directly or via
any other suitable medium.
12.5. A reliable communications system must be used between the bridge and the
working deck.
12.6. A sharp look out should always be maintained and the crew warned of the
imminent danger of heavy oncoming seas during fishing operations or when other
work is being done on deck.
12.7. Contact with bare ropes and warps and with moving parts of the equipment
must be minimized by installing protective devices.
12.8. Controls must be installed for moving masses, particularly on trawlers:
12.8.1 devices to immobilize the otter boards,
MERCHANT SHIPPING (FISHING VESSELS)
(MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS) _g S.234.34 9
12.8.2 devices to control the swinging motion of the codend.
13. Living quarters
13.1. The location, structure, soundproofing, means of insulation and layout of the
workers’ living quarters and facilities, where these exist, and means of access
thereto should be such as to provide adequate protection against weather and sea,
vibration, noise and unpleasant odours from other parts of the vessel likely to disturb
the workers during their period of rest. Where the design, dimensions and, or
purpose of the vessel allow, the workers’ living quarters must be located so as to
minimize the effects of motion and acceleration. Appropriate measures should be
taken as far as possible to protect non-smokers from discomfort caused by tobacco
smoke.
13.2. The workers’ living quarters should be properly ventilated to ensure a
constant supply of fresh air and prevent condensation. Appropriate lighting must be
provided in the living quarters, with:
13.2.1 adequate normal general lighting,
13.2.2 reduced general lighting to avoid disturbing workers who are resting,
and
13.2.3 local lighting in each berth.
13.3. The galley and mess, where these exist, should be of adequate size, well lit
and ventilated and easy to clean. Refrigerators or other low-temperature food-
storage equipment must be provided.
14. Sanitary facilities
14.1. On vessels with living quarters, shower facilities with hot and cold running
water, wash-basins and toilets must be properly equipped and installed and the
respective areas must be properly ventilated.
14.2. Every worker must have the use of a place where he can keep his clothes.
15. First aid
On all vessels first-aid equipment must be available which fulfils the requirements
of the First Schedule of the Merchant Shipping (Medical Stores) Regulations.
16. Accommodation ladders and gangways
An accommodation ladder, gangway or other similar equipment providing an
appropriate, safe means of boarding the vessel must be available.
17. Noise
All appropriate technical measures must be taken to reduce the noise level at
workplaces and in the living quarters as far as possible, taking into account the size
of the vessel.
10 _g S.L.234.34
MERCHANT SHIPPING (FISHING VESSELS)
(MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS)
SECOND SCHEDULE
(Regulations 6 and 8)
MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
FOR EXISTING FISHING VESSELS
Preliminary note
The obligations laid down in this Schedule apply, in so far as the structural
characteristics of the existing fishing vessel permit, whenever required by the
features of the workplace, the activity, the circumstances or a risk on board an
existing fishing vessel.
1. Seaworthiness and stability
1.1. The vessel must be maintained in a seaworthy condition and be properly
equipped appropriate to its purpose and use.
1.2. Where it exists, information on the vessel’s stability must be available on
board and must be accessible to the men on watch.
1.3. All vessels must be sufficiently stable when intact in the conditions of
service for which they are intended. The skipper must take the necessary
precautionary measures in order to maintain adequate stability of the vessel.
Instructions supplied concerning the vessel’s stability must be strictly observed.
2. Mechanical and electrical installations
2.1. Electrical installations must be designed and constructed so as not to present
any danger and so as to ensure:
2.1.1 protection for the crew and vessel from electrical risks,
2.1.2 the proper functioning of all equipment necessary to maintain the
vessel in normal operational and living conditions without recourse
to an emergency power supply,
2.1.3 the operation of electrical equipment essential for safety in all
emergencies.
2.2. An emergency electrical power source must be provided. Except in open
vessels, the emergency electrical power source must be located outside the engine
room and in all cases be so arranged as to ensure, in the event of fire or other failure
of the main electrical installation, simultaneous functioning for at least three hours
of:
2.2.1 the internal communication system, fire detectors and emergency
signals,
2.2.2 the navigation lights and emergency lighting,
2.2.3 the radio installation,
2.2.4 the emergency electrical fire pump where present.
If the emergency electrical power source is an accumulator battery and the main
electrical power source fails, the accumulator battery must be automatically
connected to the emergency electrical switchboard and supply power for an
uninterrupted period of three hours to the systems referred to in items 2.2.1, 2.2.2
and 2.2.3. The main electrical switchboard and the emergency switchboard must, to
the extent possible, be installed in such a way that they cannot be exposed
simultaneously to water or fire.
2.3. Switchboards should be clearly marked; fuse boxes and fuse holders should
MERCHANT SHIPPING (FISHING VESSELS)
(MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS) _g S.234.34 11
be checked at regular intervals to ensure that the correct rating of fuse is being used.
2.4. Compartments housing electrical storage batteries must be adequately
ventilated.
2.5. Electronic aids to navigation should be tested frequently and well
maintained.
2.6. All equipment used in hoisting should be tested and examined at regular
intervals.
2.7. All parts of hauling gear, hoisting gear and related equipment should be
maintained in good repair and working order.
2.8. Where refrigeration plants and compressed air systems are installed, they
should be well maintained and examined at regular intervals.
2.9. Cooking and domestic appliances using heavy gases should be used only in
well ventilated spaces and care should be taken to avoid any dangerous accumulation
of gas. Cylinders containing flammable and other dangerous gases should be clearly
marked as to their contents and stowed on open decks. All valves, pressure
regulators and pipes leading from the cylinders should be protected against damage.
3. Radio installation
The radio installation must permit contact at all times with at least one coastal or
land-based station, taking into account the normal conditions for propagation of
radio waves.
4. Emergency routes and exits
4.1. Routes and exits which can be used as emergency routes and exits must be
unobstructed and easily accessible at all times and lead out as directly as possible to
the open deck or to a safe area and thence to the survival craft so that workers can
evacuate their workstations or living areas quickly and as safely as possible.
4.2. The number, distribution and dimensions of the routes and exits which can
be used as emergency routes and exits must depend on the use, equipment and
dimensions of workplaces and living areas and on the maximum potential number of
persons present. Exits which can be used as emergency exits and which are closed
must be immediately and readily operable in an emergency by any worker or by
rescue teams.
4.3. Emergency routes and exits must be indicated by signs in accordance with
the Workplace (Provision of Health and_cor Safety Signs) Regulations.
4.4. Escape routes and facilities and emergency exits requiring illumination must
be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in case the lighting fails.
5. Fire detection and fire fighting
5.1. Depending on the dimensions and use of the vessel, the equipment it
contains, the physical and chemical properties of the substances present and the
maximum potential number of persons present, living quarters and enclosed
workplaces, including the engine-room and the fish hold if necessary, must be
equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and, as necessary, with fire
detectors and alarm systems.
5.2. Fire-fighting equipment must always be kept in its proper location,
maintained in good working order, and be available for immediate use. Workers
must be familiar with the location of fire-fighting equipment, the way it works and
how it should be used. The presence of extinguishers and other portable fire-fighting
equipment must always be checked before the vessel gets under way.
12 _g S.L.234.34
MERCHANT SHIPPING (FISHING VESSELS)
(MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS)
5.3. Manually-operated fire-fighting equipment must be easily accessible and
simple to use and must be indicated in accordance with the Workplace (Provision of
Health and,or Safety Signs) Regulations.
5.4. Fire-detection and alarm systems should be regularly tested and well
maintained.
5.5. Fire-fighting drills shall be carried out at regular intervals.
6. Ventilation of enclosed workplaces
Steps must be taken to see that there is sufficient fresh air in enclosed workplaces,
having regard to the working methods used and the physical demands placed on the
workers. If a mechanical ventilation system is used, it must be maintained in good
condition.
7. Temperature of working areas
7.1. The temperature in working areas must be adequate for the human body
during the hours of working, having regard to the work methods used, the physical
demands placed on the workers and the actual or potential weather conditions in the
area in which the vessel operates.
7.2. The temperature in living quarters, sanitary facilities, canteens and first-aid
rooms must, where those areas exist, be appropriate to the particular purpose of such
areas.
8. Natural and artificial lighting of workplaces
8.1. Workplaces must as far as possible receive sufficient natural light and be
equipped with artificial lighting suitable for the operations in hand, without placing
workers’ safety and health in danger or jeopardizing the navigation of other vessels.
8.2. Lighting installations in working areas, stairs, ladders and passageways
must be placed in such a way that the type of lighting envisaged poses no risk of
accident to workers and no hindrance to the navigation of the vessel.
8.3. Workplaces in which workers are especially exposed to risks in the event of
failure of artificial lighting must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate
intensity.
8.4. Emergency lighting must be maintained in an efficient operating condition
and be tested at regular intervals.
9. Decks, bulkheads and deckheads
9.1. Spaces accessible to workers must be non-slip or anti-slip or be provided
with devices to prevent falls and kept free of obstacles as far as possible.
9.2. Workplaces containing workstations must, in so far as possible, be
adequately soundproofed and insulated, bearing in mind the type of tasks involved
and the physical activity of workers.
9.3. The surface of decks, bulkheads and deckheads in working areas must be
such that they can be cleaned or refurbished to an appropriate standard of hygiene.
10. Doors
10.1. Means should be provided so that doors can at all times be operated from the
inside without special equipment. The doors must be operable from either side when
workplaces are in use.
10.2. Doors and in particular sliding doors, where such have to be used, must
function as safely as possible for the workers, especially in adverse weather and sea
MERCHANT SHIPPING (FISHING VESSELS)
(MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS) _g S.234.34 13
conditions.
11. Traffic routes - danger areas
11.1. Passageways, trunks, the outer part of deckhouses and all traffic routes in
general must be equipped with guard rails, grab rails and lifelines or other means of
ensuring the safety of workers in the course of activities on board.
11.2. If there is a risk that workers may fall through openings in the deck, or from
one deck to another, adequate protection should be provided wherever possible.
11.3. Access to installations above the deck for operation or maintenance
purposes must be such as to ensure workers' safety. Guard rails or similar protective
devices of appropriate height must be provided to prevent falls.
11.4. Bulwarks or other means provided to prevent persons falling overboard must
be maintained in an efficient condition. Bulwarks must be fitted with freeing ports or
other similar devices to enable water to drain away quickly.
11.5. On stern trawlers with ramps, the ramp must be fitted with a gate or other
means of securing it of the same height as the bulwarks or other adjacent means, to
protect workers from the risk of falling into the ramp. This gate or other device must
be easily opened and closed and must be open only for casting the net or for hauling
it in.
12. Layout of workstations
12.1. Working areas must be kept clear and, as far as possible, be protected from
the sea and provide adequate protection for workers against falling on the vessel or
falling overboard. Handling areas must be sufficiently spacious, in terms of both
height and surface area.
12.2. If the engines are controlled from the engine room, they must be controlled
from a separate area, soundproofed and insulated from the engine room per se and
accessible without passing through the latter. The navigating bridge is considered to
be an area that meets the requirements of subparagraph 12.1.
12.3. The controls for the hauling gear must be installed in an area sufficiently
large to enable operators to work unhindered. The hauling gear must also have
appropriate safety devices for emergencies, including emergency stop facilities.
12.4. The hauling gear operator must have an adequate view of the hauling gear
and the workers at work. If the hauling gear is controlled from the bridge, the
operator should also have a clear view of the workers at work, either directly or via
any other suitable medium.
12.5. A reliable communications system must be used between the bridge and the
working deck.
12.6. A sharp look out should always be maintained and the crew warned of the
imminent danger of heavy oncoming seas during fishing operations or when other
work is being done on deck.
12.7. Contact with bare ropes and warps and with moving parts of the equipment
must be minimized by installing protective devices.
12.8. Controls must be installed for moving masses, particularly on trawlers:
12.8.1 devices to immobilize the otter boards,
12.8.2 devices to control the swinging motion of the codend.
13. Living quarters
13.1. The workers’ living quarters, where they exist, must be such as to minimize
14 _g S.L.234.34
MERCHANT SHIPPING (FISHING VESSELS)
(MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS)
noise, vibration, the effects of motion and acceleration, and unpleasant odours from
other parts of the vessel. Appropriate lighting must be installed in the living
quarters.
13.2. The galley and mess, where they exist, should be of adequate size,
adequately lit and ventilated and easy to clean. Refrigerators or other low-
temperature food-storage equipment must be provided.
14. Sanitary facilities
On vessels with living quarters, toilets, wash-basins and, if possible, a shower
must be installed and the respective areas must be properly ventilated.
15. First aid
On all vessels first-aid equipment must be available which fulfils the requirements
of the First Schedule of the Merchant Shipping (Medical Stores) Regulations.
16. Accommodation ladders and gangways
An accommodation ladder, gangway or other similar equipment providing an
appropriate, safe means of boarding the vessel must be available.
THIRD SCHEDULE
(Regulation 8)
MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS 
CONCERNING LIFE-SAVING AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT
Preliminary note
The obligations laid down in this Schedule apply wherever required by the
features of the workplace, the activity, the circumstances or a risk on board a vessel.
1. Vessels must carry adequate life-saving and survival equipment, including
adequate means of recovering workers from the water, and radio rescue, in particular
an emergency position-indicating radio beacon with a hydrostatic release
mechanism, taking account of the number of persons on board and the area in which
the vessel is operating.
2. All items of life-saving and survival equipment must be kept in their proper
locations, maintained in good working order and be available for immediate use.
They must be checked by the workers before the vessel leaves port and during the
voyage.
3. The life-saving and survival equipment must be inspected at regular
intervals.
4. All workers must receive proper training and appropriate instructions in
anticipation of an emergency.
5. If the length of the vessel exceeds 45 metres or if five or more workers are
carried, a muster list must be provided with clear instructions for each worker which
must be followed in case of emergency.
6. Musters of workers for survival drill should be carried out each month in
port and, or at sea. These drills must ensure that the workers thoroughly understand
and are exercised in the duties which they have to perform with respect to the
MERCHANT SHIPPING (FISHING VESSELS)
(MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS) _g S.234.34 15
handling and operation of all life-saving and survival equipment. Workers must be
trained in the setting up and operation of the portable radio equipment, where
carried.
FOURTH SCHEDULE
(Regulation 8)
MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
CONCERNING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Preliminary note
The obligations laid down in this Schedule apply whenever required by the
features of the workplace, the activity, the circumstances or a risk on board a vessel.
1. Where risks to the safety and health of workers cannot be prevented or
sufficiently limited by collective or technical means of protection, they must be
provided with personal protective equipment.
2. Personal protective equipment in the form of clothing or worn over clothing
must be in bright colours, contrasting with the marine environment and clearly
visible.
