Maritime Occupational Health and Safety Regulations

16 (1) A raised structure or a deck opening that has a coaming height of less than 900 mm, from which there is a drop of more than 1.2 m, and to which an employee has access, must have a guardrail.

(2) Every guardrail must consist of

• (a) a horizontal top rail or line not less than 900 mm and not more than 1100 mm above the base of the guardrail;

• (b) a horizontal intermediate rail or line spaced midway between the top rail or line and the base of the guardrail; and

• (c) supporting posts spaced not more than 3 m apart at their centres.

(3) Every guardrail must be designed to withstand the greater of

• (a) the maximum load that is likely to be imposed on it, and

• (b) a static load of not less than 890 N applied in any direction at any point on the top rail or line.

(4) If there is hazard that tools or other objects may fall from a scaffold, a stage or any other raised structure onto a person, the employer must install

• (a) a toe board that extends from the floor of the platform or other raised structure to a height of not less than 125 mm; or

• (b) a solid or mesh panel that extends from the floor of the platform or other raised structure to a height of not less than 450 mm, if the tools or other objects are piled to a height that a toe board will not prevent them from falling.

(5) If the installation of a toe board is not practical on a scaffold, a stage or any other raised structure, all tools or other objects that could fall on a person must be

• (a) tied in a manner that will protect any persons beneath, if the tools or other objects fall; or

• (b) placed in a way that they will be caught by a safety net positioned so as to protect from injury any persons on or below the raised area, if the tools or the other objects fall.