Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971

1971 CHAPTER 61

An Act to provide for the safety, health and welfare of persons on installations concerned with the underwater exploitation and exploration of mineral resources in the waters in or surrounding the United Kingdom, and generally for the safety of such installations and the prevention of accidents on or near them.

[27th July 1971]

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7 Regulations: general provisions.

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) The punishment for an offence created by regulations under this Act shall be—

(a) on summary conviction a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale ,

(b) on conviction on indictment imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine, or both,

but without prejudice to any further restriction on the punishments which can be awarded contained in the regulations, and without prejudice to the exclusion of proceedings on indictment by the regulations.

(4) The operation of any regulations made under this Act may be excluded in whole or in part . . . in relation to any particular installation by directions of the Secretary of State given in such manner and to such persons as he thinks appropriate.

(5) Any exemption or exclusion . . . by directions of the Secretary of State under this Act, may be made subject to the imposition of conditions specified by the . . . directions.

(6) Where in pursuance of this section a person is exempted or excluded from the requirements of any provision of this Act, or of regulations under this Act, but subject to a condition, and the condition is not observed, the exemption or exclusion shall not have effect, and proceedings may be brought in respect of any breach of duty as if the exemption or exclusion had not had effect.

(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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9 Offences: general provisions.

(1) Where an offence under this Act which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, he, as well as the body corporate, shall be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

In this subsection “ director ”, in relation to a body corporate established by or under any enactment for the purpose of carrying on under public ownership any industry or part of an industry or undertaking, being a body corporate whose affairs are managed by its members, means a member of that body corporate.

(2) In proceedings for an offence under this Act an averment in any process of the fact that anything was done or situated within controlled waters shall, until the contrary is proved, be sufficient evidence of that fact as stated in the averment.

(3) In proceedings for an offence under section 3, . . .of this Act, it shall be a defence for the accused to prove—

(a) that he has used all due diligence to enforce the execution of this Act, and of any relevant regulation made under this Act, and

(b) that any relevant contravention was committed without his consent, connivance or wilful default.

(4) Proceedings for any offence under this Act may be taken, and the offence may for all incidental purposes be treated as having been committed, in any place in the United Kingdom.

(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11 Civil liability for breach of statutory duty.

(1) This section has effect as respects—

(a) a duty imposed on any person by any provision of this Act, or

(b) a duty imposed on any person by any provision of regulations made under this Act which expressly applies the provisions of this section.

(2) Breach of any such duty shall be actionable so far, and only so far, as it causes personal injury, and references in section 1 of the Fatal Accidents Act 1846, as it applies in England and Wales, and in Article 3(1) of the Fatal Accidents (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 , to a wrongful act, neglect or default shall include references to any breach of a duty which is so actionable.

(3) Subsection (2) above is without prejudice to any action which lies apart from the provisions of this Act.

(4) Neither section 9(3) of this Act, nor any defences afforded by regulations made in pursuance of section 7(2)( b ) of this Act, shall afford a defence in any civil proceedings, whether brought by virtue of this section or not.

(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7) In this section “ personal injury ” includes any disease and any impairment of a person’s physical or mental condition and includes any fatal injury.

12 Interpretation.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

“the 1995 Regulations” means the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995;
“controlled waters” means—
(a)
tidal waters and parts of the sea in or adjacent to Great Britain up to the seaward limits of territorial waters; and
(b)
any area designated by order under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964;
- . . .
- . . .
“installation manager” has the meaning given by regulation 2(1) of the 1995 Regulations;
- “ offence under this Act, ” includes an offence under regulations made under this Act,
“offshore installation” has the same meaning as in regulation 3 of the 1995 Regulations;
“owner”, in relation to an offshore installation, means the person who is, in relation to the installation, the duty holder as defined by regulation 2(1) of the 1995 Regulations in relation to that installation;
- “ prescribed ” means prescribed by regulations under this Act,
- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) It is hereby declared that, notwithstanding that this Act may affect individuals or bodies corporate outside the United Kingdom, it applies to any individual whether or not he is a British subject, and to any body corporate whether or not incorporated under the law of any part of the United Kingdom.

(5) Any reference in this Act to a contravention of a provision of this Act or of regulations made under this Act includes a reference to a failure to comply with such a provision.

(6) Any reference in this Act to any enactment or Act of Parliament includes a reference to an enactment or Act of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.

(7) Except where the context otherwise requires, any reference in this Act to any enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended, extended or applied by or under any other enactment.

12 Interpretation.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

“the 1995 Regulations” means the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995;
“controlled waters” means tidal waters and parts of the sea in or adjacent to Northern Ireland up to the seaward limits of territorial waters,
- . . .
- . . .
“installation manager” has the meaning given by regulation 2(1) of the 1995 Regulations;
- “ offence under this Act, ” includes an offence under regulations made under this Act,
“offshore installation” has the same meaning as in regulation 3 of the 1995 Regulations;
“owner”, in relation to an offshore installation, means the person who is, in relation to the installation, the duty holder as defined by regulation 2(1) of the 1995 Regulations in relation to that installation;
- “ prescribed ” means prescribed by regulations under this Act,
- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) Any reference in this Act to a contravention of a provision of this Act or of regulations made under this Act includes a reference to a failure to comply with such a provision.

(6) Any reference in this Act to any enactment or Act of Parliament includes a reference to an enactment or Act of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.

13 Financial provisions.

(1) There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament—

(a) any expenses incurred by the Secretary of State under this Act, and

(b) any increase in money so payable under any other Act which is an increase attributable to this Act.

(2) Any receipts of the Secretary of State under this Act shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

14 Short title, commencement and saving.

(1) This Act may be cited as the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971.

(2) This act shall come into force on such date as the Secretary of State may by order in a statutory instrument appoint, and an order under this subsection may appoint different dates for different provisions of this Act, or for different purposes.

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SCHEDULE

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footnote	commentary	related provisions	geo extent	insert/omit
C1	Act restricted by Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982 (c. 23, SIF 86) , s. 27(3)(4)
C2	Power to repeal or modify Act conferred (E.W.S.) (6.3.1992) by Offshore Safety Act 1992 (c.15) , ss.1 , 3(1)(d)
C3	Act modified (E.W.S.) (6.3.1992) by Offshore Safety Act 1992 (c. 15) , s. 1(5)(a)
C4	Power to repeal or modify Act conferred (15.9.1992) by S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17) , arts. 1(1) , 3(3)(a)
C5	S. 7(4) and (5) amended (E.W.S.) (23.8.1993) and (N.I.) (1.11.1993) by S.I. 1993/1823 , reg. 4(2) (with reg. 6(2) ); S.R. 1993/384 , reg. 4(1) (with reg. 6(2)
C6	S. 11 applied by S.I. 1989/1029 , reg. 11
C7	S. 11 amended (E. W.) by Fatal Accidents Act 1976 (c. 30) , Sch. 1 para. 2
C8	Power of appointment conferred by s. 14(2) fully exercised
E1	This version of this provision extends to England and Wales and Scotland only; a separate version has been created for Northern Ireland only.
E2	This version of this provision extends to Northern Ireland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales and Scotland only.
F1	S. 1 repealed (E.W.S.) (20.6.1995) and (N.I.) (9.10.1995) by S.I. 1995/738 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. I ; S.R. 1995/340 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. I		repealed: England, Wales and Scotland	repealed
F2	S. 2 repealed (E.W.S.) (23.8.1993) and (N.I.) (1.11.1993) by S.I. 1993/1823 , reg. 3(1)(a) (with reg. 6(1) ); S.R. 1993/384 , reg 3(1)(a) (with reg. 6(1) )	this amendment (text repealed) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.	repealed: England, Wales and Scotland	repealed
F3	S. 3 repealed (E.W.S.) (30.6.1996) and (N.I.) (21.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/913 , reg. 25 ; S.R. 1996/228 , reg. 25		repealed: England, Wales and Scotland	repealed
F4	S. 4 repealed (E.W.S.) (20.6.1995) and (N.I.) (9.10.1995) by S.I. 1995/738 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. I ; S.R. 1995/340 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. I		repealed: England, Wales and Scotland	repealed
F5	S. 5 repealed (E.W.S.) (20.6.1995) and (N.I.) (9.10.1995) by S.I. 1995/738 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. I ; S.R. 1995/340 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. I		repealed: England, Wales and Scotland	repealed
F6	S. 6 repealed (E.W.S.) (23.8.1993) and (N.I.) (1.11.1993) by S.I. 1993/1823 , reg. 3(1)(e) (with reg. 6(1) ); S.R. 1993/384 , reg. 3(1)(e) (with reg. 6(1) )	this amendment (text repealed) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.	repealed: England, Wales and Scotland	repealed
F7	7(1)-(2) and (7)-(8) repealed (E.W.S.) (23.8.1993) and (N.I.) (1.11.1993) by S.I. 1993/1823 , reg. 3(1)(f) (with reg. 6(1) ); S.R. 1993/384 , reg. 3(1)(f) (with reg. 6(1) )	this amendment (text repealed) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.	repealed: England, Wales and Scotland	repealed
F8	S. 7(3) a reference to level 5 on the standard scale is substituted as regards any summary offence for the reference to £400 (E.W.) by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1) , ss. 40 , 46 , (S.), Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1) , s. 289G and (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3) , arts. 5 , 6		substituted: England and Wales	substituted
F9	Words in s. 7(4) repealed (E.W.S.) (23.8.1993) and (N.I.) (1.11.1993) by S.I. 1993/1823 , reg. 3(1)(f) (with reg. 6(1) ); S.R. 1993/384 , reg. 3(1)(f) (with reg. 6(1) )	this amendment (text repealed) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.	repealed: England, Wales and Scotland	repealed
F10	Words in s. 7(5) repealed (E.W.S.) (23.8.1993) and (N.I.) (1.11.1993) by S.I. 1993/1823 , reg. 3(1)(f) (with reg. 6(1) ); S.R. 1993/384 , reg. 3(1)(f) (with reg. 6(1) )	this amendment (text repealed) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.	repealed: England, Wales and Scotland	repealed
F11	S. 8 repealed by Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982 (c. 23, SIF 86) , s. 37 , Sch.			repealed
F12	Words substituted by Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982 (c. 23, SIF 86) , s. 37 , Sch. 3 para. 8			substituted
F13	Words in s. 9(3) repealed (E.W.S.) (20.6.1995) and (N.I.) (9.10.1995) by S.I. 1995/738 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. I ; S.R. 1995/340 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. I		repealed: England, Wales and Scotland	repealed
F14	S. 9(5) repealed by Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982 (c.23, SIF 86) , s. 37 , Sch. 4			repealed
F15	S. 10 repealed and superseded by Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982 (c.23, SIF 86) , ss. 27(7) , 37 , Sch. 4			repealed
F16	Words substituted by S.I. 1977/1251 (N.I. 18) , Sch. 1 para. 6			substituted
F17	S. 11(5)(6) repealed (E.W.S.) (20.6.1995) and (N.I.) (9.10.1995) by S.I. 1995/738 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. I ; S.R. 1995/340 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. I		repealed: England, Wales and Scotland	repealed
F18	S. 12(1) : Definition of “the 1995 Regulations”inserted (E.W.S.) (20.6.1995) by S.I. 1995/738 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 1		inserted: England, Wales and Scotland	inserted
F19	S. 12(1) : Definitions of “controlled waters”, “installation manager”, “offshore installation”and “owner”substituted (E.W.S.) (20.6.1995) by S.I. 1995/738 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. II paras. 2-5		substituted: England, Wales and Scotland	substituted
F20	S. 12(1) : Definition of “designated area”repealed (E.W.S.) (20.6.1995) by S.I. 1995/738 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. I		repealed: England, Wales and Scotland	repealed
F21	S. 12(1) : Definition of “foreign sector of the continental shelf”repealed (E.W.S.) (20.6.1995) by S.I. 1995/738 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. I		repealed: England, Wales and Scotland	repealed
F22	Definitions repealed by Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982 (c. 23, SIF 86) , s. 37 , Sch. 3 para. 11(1) ( d ), Sch. 4			repealed
F23	S. 12(2)(3) repealed (E.W.S.) (20.6.1995) by S.I. 1995/738 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. 1		repealed: England, Wales and Scotland	repealed
F24	S. 14(3) repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36) , Sch. 6 Pt. I			repealed
F25	Sch. repealed (E.W.S.) (23.8.1993) and (N.I.) (1.11.1993) by S.I. 1993/1823 , reg. 3(1)(g) (with reg. 6(1) ); S.R. 1993/384 , reg. 3(1)(g) (with reg. 6(1) )	this amendment (text repealed) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.	repealed: England, Wales and Scotland	repealed
F41	S. 12(1) : Definition of “the 1995 Regulations”inserted (N.I.) (9.10.1995) by S.R. 1995/340 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 1		inserted: Northern Ireland	inserted
F42	S. 12(1) : Definitions of “controlled waters”, “installation manager”, “offshore installation”and “owner”substituted (N.I.) (9.10.1995) by S.R. 1995/340 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. II paras. 2-5		substituted: Northern Ireland	substituted
F43	S. 12(1) : Definition of “designated area”repealed (N.I.) (9.10.1995) by S.R. 1995/340 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. I		repealed: Northern Ireland	repealed
F44	S. 12(1) : Definition of “foreign sector of the continental shelf”repealed (N.I.) (9.10.1995) by S.R. 1995/340 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. I		repealed: Northern Ireland	repealed
F45	Definitions repealed by Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982 (c. 23, SIF 86) , s. 37 , Sch. 3 para. 11(1) ( d ), Sch. 4			repealed
F46	S. 12(2)(3) repealed (N.I.) (9.10.1995) by S.R. 1995/340 , reg. 22 , Sch. 1 Pt. I		repealed: Northern Ireland	repealed
I1	Act not in force at Royal Assent see s. 14(2) ; Act wholly in force at 31.8.1972
M1	1846 c. 93 .
M2	1977/1251 (N.I. 18).

Defined Term	Section/Article	ID
controlled waters	s. 12	controlled_rtOgMtD
controlled waters	s. 12	controlled_rt2MZ7W
director	s. 9	legTermNojYTxk7
installation manager	s. 12	installati_rtMaaHi
installation manager	s. 12	installati_rtcx4Kt
offence under this Act,	s. 12	legTermRGklPcee
offence under this Act,	s. 12	legTermxJHjU26A
offshore installation	s. 12	offshore_i_rtRfBJD
offshore installation	s. 12	offshore_i_rtWKvTA
owner	s. 12	owner_rtyKIBA
owner	s. 12	owner_rtC3Q0p
personal injury	s. 11	legTermSOKjLdL2
prescribed	s. 12	legTerm24X5axIR
prescribed	s. 12	legTermGizAawPo
the 1995 Regulations	s. 12	the_1995_R_rtCDIhY
the 1995 Regulations	s. 12	the_1995_R_rtzUI6w

Defined Term

Section/Article

Scope of Application

controlled waters

s. 12

controlled_rtOgMtD

controlled waters

s. 12

controlled_rt2MZ7W

director

s. 9

legTermNojYTxk7