DREDGING REGULATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2308, 26 May 1898, Page 19

DREDGING REGULATIONS.

The acting inspector of mines has issued a circular to dredge owners drawing attention to the provisions of section 20 of the act of 1895, wbich makes a manager liable to a penalty of £20 if he fails to provide life-saving appliances and at least one boat. The acting inspector notifies that all dredge 3 must be equipped with tafety appliances as under :— Two lifebuoys and two light lines to be hung in conspicuous piacc-s within easy reach fore and aft, two boaibsoks, one boat, containing a a lifebuoy, lias, an-i, boathoofc. If woikiii? la or adjacent to a current the following additional appliances must be provided, viz •■— Lifebelts to be worn by each member of the crew of any boat while *nf,'aged in shifting t the lines ; one extra boat, containing a' lifebuoy, line, and boathoofc. Attention is directed to the practice of men stepping on buckets when in motion for the purpose of crossing the well. This is dangerous, and must be strictly prohibited 3 "and, where practicable, the well should be protected by a jg^vabje feace, Ipr covered «yer .*s fiwwh 94

ynsviilp wiili n p'aUorui in, say, 2ft sections. WhiMe neither method is practicable, a gangway at least 2ft (sin wide and fatted with substantial hJDdrails at each side is to be used for crossing the wpIL " ! Where 1 cos}, i:c.< is not brought on board by j boats, s gangway of sufficient length, not less than i 2fs Gin wide, r\nd fitted with a substantial hand- j rail s»t each side must; be provided and tised, as th« j practice of carrying coal on board a dredge acro&s ! an unprotected plank or gangway 13 dangerous. ' On dredges which are not entirely covered in, ! the sides of the uncovered portion of the hull i must be fitted wiih stanchions, net more than Bft. i apart, and two substantial rails or tightly stretched ; wires or chains, the lower rail, wire, or chain not ; being more than lOin above tha deck, and the3<3 may be made movable for the purpose of '.Bkicg coal, &c, on board, but ar« to be kept in position at all other times, as the practice of leaving certain portions of the .liuil ■unprotected is dungerous.