Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971

Inspectors and inquiries

9 Powers and duties to be exercised by, and facilities to be accorded to, inspectors appointed by the Secretary of State under this Act, and other persons acting at the direction of the Secretary of State, and in particular—

(a) powers to board, and to obtain access to all parts of, any offshore installation, to obtain information and to inspect and take copies from any log book or other document,

(b) powers to test equipment and, in special circumstances, to dismantle, test to destruction or take possession of any article of equipment.

(c) powers to require, in connection with the survey or inspection of any installation, part of an installation or equipment, the carrying out of procedures and the conduct of tests by such person as may be prescribed by the regulations,

(d) rights to require conveyance to and from any offshore installation, including conveyance of any equipment required by an inspector for testing, or any equipment of which he has taken possession in special circumstances,

(e) duties to provide inspectors and others with reasonable accommodation and means of subsistence while on any offshore installation,

(f) any powers exercisable in case of immediate or apprehended danger.

10 (1) Casualties or other accidents involving loss of life or danger to life, and in particular—

(a) the making of special reports by inspectors, and

(b) the holding of public inquiries.

(2) In the case of any public inquiry held in pursuance of regulations under this Act, provision—

(a) conferring on the person holding the inquiry, and any person assisting him in the inquiry, powers of entry and inspection,

(b) conferring on any such person powers of summoning witnesses to give evidence or produce documents,

(c) powers to take evidence on oath and administer oaths or require the making of declarations,

(d) authorising the Secretary of State to make payments to the person holding the inquiry, to any assessor appointed to assist him and to witnesses summoned to the inquiry,

(e) as to the persons by whom, and the manner in which, costs of any such inquiry, including the remuneration of the person or persons holding the inquiry, are to be defrayed.

(3) The provision as respects costs under sub-paragraph (2)(e) above may include—

(a) provision for the treatment of any such costs as expenses of the Secretary of State under this Act,

(b) provision requiring any such costs to be defrayed by any person who appears to the person or persons holding the inquiry to be, by reason of any act or default on his part or on the part of any servant or agent of his, responsible in any degree for the occurrence of the accident.