Access to dry dock
8.—(1) Every flight of steps giving access from ground level either to an altar or to the bottom of a dry dock shall be provided throughout on each side or in the middle with a substantial hand-rail. In the case of an open side, secure fencing to a height of at least two feet nine inches shall be provided by means of upper and lower rails, taut ropes or chains, or by other equally safe means. For the purposes of this paragraph a flight of steps which is divided into two by a chute for materials, with no space between either side of the chute and the steps, shall be deemed to be one flight of steps.
(2) Such hand-rails and fencing as aforesaid shall be kept in position save when and to the extent to which their absence is necessary (whether or not for the purposes of the operations) for the access of persons, or for the movement of materials or vessels or for traffic or working, or for repair, but hand-rails or fencing removed for any of these purposes shall be kept readily available and shall be replaced as soon as practicable.
(3) This Regulation shall come into operation at the expiration of twelve months after the making of these Regulations.