Regulation 26 Protection of openings
Every side or edge of an opening in a deck or tank top of a vessel, being a side or edge which may be a source of danger to persons employed, shall, except where and while the opening is securely covered or where the side or edge is protected to a height of not less than two feet six inches by a coaming or other part of the vessel, be provided with fencing to a height of not less than three feet above the side or edge, and such fencing shall be kept in position save when and to the extent to which its absence is necessary (whether or not for the purposes of the operations) for the access of persons, or for the movement of materials, or for traffic or working, or for repair, but fencing removed for any of these purposes shall be kept readily available and shall be replaced as soon as practicable.
Paragraph (1) of this Regulation shall not apply—
to that part of an opening in a deck or tank top which is at the head of a stairway or ladder-way intended to be used while the operations are being carried on; or
to parts of a deck or tank top which are intended to be plated, except such parts where the plating has necessarily to be delayed so that the opening may be used for the purposes of the operations.