# The Docks Regulations 1988, Regulation 7: Access


(1) Subject to paragraph (2), there shall be provided and properly maintained safe means of access to every part of dock premises which any person has to visit for the purpose of dock operations, and in particular floors, decks, surfaces, stairs, steps, passages and gangways comprised in dock premises shall not be used unless they are of adequate strength for the purpose required, of sound construction and properly maintained.
(2) So far as is reasonably practicable, all floors, decks, surfaces, stairs, steps, passages and gangways in dock premises shall be kept free from any substance or obstacle likely to cause persons to slip or fall or vehicles to skid.
(3) Portable ladders shall not be used as a means of access to—
(a) ships;
(b) holds;
(c) freight container stacks on board ships; or
(d) a vertical stack of three or more freight containers on dock premises which are not part of a ship,
except where no other safer means of access is reasonably practicable.
(4) All ladders (whether portable or not) shall be of good construction, sound material, of adequate strength for the purpose for which they are used, free from patent defect and properly maintained.
(5) A ladder shall not be used unless—
(a) effective measures are taken to prevent it from slipping or falling; and
(b) it extends to at least 1 metre above the place of landing to which it provides access, or there is other adequate handhold.
(6) There shall be secure and adequate fencing at the following places where persons are engaged in dock operations, that is to say—
(a) every break, dangerous corner and other dangerous part or edge of a dock, wharf, quay or jetty;
(b) every open side of a gangway, footway over a bridge, caisson or dock gate; and
(c) any other place not being a quay or jetty where any person working or passing might fall a distance of more than 2 metres,
except in so far as such fencing is impracticable because of the nature of work carried out there and either the work is in progress or there is a short interruption for a meal or other purpose.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1988/1655/regulation/7 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/docks-regulations-1988/regulation-7
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.