HC Deb 16 June 1981 vol 6 cc347-8W
Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, following the fatality at Devonport ceremonial mast, whether any safety instructions and improvements have been made to the bosun's chairs used throughout naval dockyards; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Blaker

Following the regrettable fatality at Devonport in April 1980, all the naval dockyards have reviewed their procedures to ascertain whether safe systems of masthead work were being carried out as were required by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The wearing of belts or harnesses of approved design is now compulsory for all men working aloft to prevent a recurrence of the Devonport incident.

Formal instructions and training are given to all masthead workers to make sure that they understand fully the safe system of work. The design of the boatswain's chair has been re-examined and where improvements were found to be necessary they have been made. We are also considering using a safety harness with a fall-arrester attachment which could be a useful addition to the harnesses and safety lines in current use.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if bosun's chairs used by Her Majesty's naval dockyards conform to British Standard specifications.

Mr. Blaker

The appropriate safety regulations applicable to the great majority of mastwork in the naval dockyards are the Shipbuilding and Shiprepairing Regulations 1960. The boatswain's chair used by masthead workers complies with the requirements of these regulations but does not conform to BS2830: 1973—suspended safety chairs and cradles for use in the construction industry". The suspended safety chair specified in the British standard is an alternative to but is not intended to exclude the use of the boatswain's chair.

After the unfortunate fatality at Devonport, trials were carried out with the suspended safety chair specified in the British standard but it was found to be unsuitable for much of the masthead work carried out in naval dockyards and was not favoured by the masthead workers.