The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Control of Vibration at Work) Regulations 2007

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations–

“the Act” means the Merchant Shipping Act 1995;

“daily exposure” means the quantity of mechanical vibration to which a worker is exposed during a working day, which takes account of the magnitude and duration of the vibration;

“employer” means a person by whom a worker is employed on a ship under a contract of employment;

“exposure action value” means the level of daily exposure for any worker which, if exceeded, requires specified action to be taken to reduce the risk;

“exposure limit value” means the level of daily exposure for any worker which must not be exceeded, save as set out in regulation 12;

“General Duties Regulations” means the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997(1);

“Government ship” has the meaning given in section 308(4) of the Act;

“hand-arm vibration” means mechanical vibration which is transmitted into the hands during a work activity;

“health and safety” includes the occupational health and safety of persons whilst on board a ship and whilst boarding or leaving the ship;

“health surveillance” means assessment of the state of health of a worker as related to exposure to mechanical vibration which is intended to prevent and diagnose rapidly any disorder linked with exposure to mechanical vibration;

“MCA” means the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, an executive agency of the Department for Transport;

“mechanical vibration” means vibration occurring in a piece of machinery or equipment, or in a ship as a result of its operation;

“Merchant Shipping Notice” means a Notice described as such and issued by the MCA;

“the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations” means the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Provision and Use of Work Equipment) Regulations 2006(2);

“the risk assessment” means, except where the context otherwise requires, a risk assessment carried out in compliance with regulation 6 of these Regulations;

“surveyor of ships” has the meaning given by section 256(9) of the Act;

“United Kingdom ship” means a ship which—

(a)

is a United Kingdom ship within the meaning of section 85(2) of the Act; or

(b)

is a Government ship; or

(c)

is a hovercraft registered under the Hovercraft Act 1968;

“United Kingdom waters” means the sea or other waters within the seaward limits of the territorial sea of the United Kingdom; and

“whole-body vibration” means mechanical vibration which is transmitted into the body, when seated or standing, through the supporting surface, during a work activity.

(2) In these Regulations, any reference to an ISO standard includes a reference to any document amending that publication which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time and is specified in a Merchant Shipping Notice.

(1)

S.I. 1997/2962, amended by S.I. 1998/2411 and S.I. 2001/54.

(2)

S.I. 2006/2183.