[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 33, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 33CFR143.101]

[Page 147]
 
                TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 143--DESIGN AND EQUIPMENT--Table of Contents
 
                        Subpart B--OCS Facilities
 
Sec. 143.101  Means of escape.

    (a) ``Primary means of escape'' shall be fixed stairways or fixed 
ladders of metal construction.
    (b) ``Secondary means of escape'' shall be types approved for 
``primary means of escape'' or portable, flexible ladders, knotted man 
ropes, and other devices satisfactory to the Officer in Charge, Marine 
Inspection.
    (c) Manned OCS facilities shall be provided with at least two 
``primary means of escape'' extending from the uppermost platform level 
that contains living quarters or that personnel occupy continuously, to 
each successively lower working level and to the water surface. Working 
levels without living quarters, shops, or offices in manned facility 
structural appendages, extensions, and installations that personnel 
occupy only occasionally shall be provided with one ``primary means of 
escape'' and, when necessary in the opinion of the Officer in Charge, 
Marine Inspection, one or more ``secondary means of escape.''
    (d) Unmanned OCS facilities shall be provided with at least one 
``primary means of escape'' extending from the uppermost platform 
working level to each successively lower working level and to the water 
surface. When personnel are on board, unmanned facilities shall also be 
provided with one or more ``secondary means of escape,'' but not more 
than one will be required for every 10 persons extending from the 
uppermost working level of the facility to each successively lower 
working level and to the water surface, excluding facility appendages 
and installations, unless ``secondary means of escape'' from such 
appendages and installations are necessary in the opinion of the Officer 
in Charge, Marine Inspection.
    (e) ``Means of escape'' shall be suitably accessible to personnel 
for rapid facility evacuation.
    (f) When two or more ``means of escape'' are installed, at least two 
shall be located as nearly diagonally opposite each other as practicable 
unless such requirement is unreasonable or impracticable in the opinion 
of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.