The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997

Powers of safety representatives and safety committees

18.  Safety representatives and safety committees may—

(a) participate, subject to the concurrence of the safety officer, in any of the investigations or inspections carried out by the safety officer under regulation 16, or after notification to the master or his deputy, undertake similar investigations or inspections themselves, whether or not such investigations or inspections have already been carried out by the safety officer;

(b) make representations to the employer on potential hazards and dangerous occurrences at the workplace which affect, or could affect, workers on the ship;

(c) make representations to the master and the employer on general matters affecting the health and safety of workers on the ship and, in particular, on such matters as those on which the employer carries out consultation under regulation 20;

(d) request the safety officer to carry out any occupational health and safety inspection they consider necessary and to report the findings to them.