PART II MEANS OF ACCESS AND STAGING

24 Stages from which a person is liable to fall more than six feet six inches or into water
1 This Regulation applies to stages from which a person is liable to fall a distance of more than six feet six inches or into water in which there is a risk of drowning.
2 Every stage to which this Regulation applies—
(a) shall so far as is reasonably practicable be closely boarded, planked or plated;
(b) shall be so constructed or placed that a person is not liable to fall as aforesaid through a gap in the staging not being a gap necessary and no larger than necessary having regard to the nature of the work being carried on;
(c) shall be at least seventeen inches wide.
3 Every side of a stage to which this Regulation applies shall—
(a) if it is not a side immediately adjacent to any part of a vessel, be fenced (subject to the provisions of paragraphs (4) to (7) of this Regulation) with a guard rail or guard rails to a height of at least three feet above the stage, which rail or rails shall be so placed as to prevent so far as practicable the fall of persons from the stage or from any raised standing place on the stage; or
(b) if it is a side immediately adjacent to any part of a vessel, be placed as near as practicable to that part having regard to the nature of the work being carried on and to the nature of the structure of the vessel.
4 In the case of stages which are suspended by ropes or chains, and which are used solely for painting, the fencing required by sub-paragraph (a) of the preceding paragraph may be provided by means of a taut guard rope or taut guard ropes.
5 No side of a stage or, as the case may be, no part of the side of a stage need be fenced in pursuance of paragraph (3) (a) of this Regulation in cases where, and so long as, the nature of the work being carried on makes the fencing of that side or, as the case may be, that part impracticable.
6 Guard rails provided in pursuance of paragraph (3) (a) of this Regulation may be removed for the time and to the extent necessary for the access of persons or for the movement of materials; but guard rails removed for either of these purposes shall be replaced as soon as practicable.
7 Where it is not reasonably practicable to comply with the provisions of paragraph (3) (a) of this Regulation, the stage shall in cases where the limitations of space make this possible be at least twenty-five inches wide and, in other cases, as wide as those limitations permit.
8 This Regulation shall come into operation at the expiration of twelve months after the making of these Regulations.