Maritime Occupational Health and Safety Regulations

115 (1) Every vessel that is engaged on an unlimited voyage, a near coastal voyage, Class 1 or an international voyage of more than three days’ duration, other than an inland voyage, must carry a medicine chest, medical equipment and the most recent edition of the International Medical Guide for Ships, published by the World Health Organization.

(2) The medicine chest and its contents, as well as the medical equipment and the International Medical Guide for Ships must be properly maintained and inspected at regular intervals of not more than 12 months by a qualified person to ensure that supplies and medicines are properly stored and labelled with directions for their use and their expiry date, that all equipment functions as required and that all supplies and medicines have not reached or exceeded their expiry dates and are not set to expire before the next scheduled inspection date.

(3) Every medicine chest must be

• (a) accessible when an employee is on board the vessel; and

• (b) clearly identified by a conspicuous sign.

(4) The employer must provide and maintain a medicine chest with supplies and medicine in accordance with the recommendations of the most recent version of the International Medical Guide for Ships, taking into consideration the particulars of the intended voyage.