Schedule XVIII

HANDLING AND PROCESSING OF ASBESTOS, MANUFACTURE OF

ANY ARTICLE OR SUBSTANCE OF ASBESTOS AND ANY OTHER

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE OR OTHERWISE IN WHICH ASBESTOS

IS USED IN ANY FORM.

1. Application:-This Schedule shall apply to all manufacturing process

involving handling, using or manipulation of Asbestos is carried on in a

factory which may lead to exposure of workers to asbestos and/or product

containing Asbestos.

a. The State Government may, at any time, for the purpose of giving

effect to any scientific proof obtained from specialized institutions or

experts in the field, by notification in the Andhra Pradesh Government

Gazette, make suitable changes in the said schedule.

b. Notwithstanding anything mentioned in sub-paragraph (1), use of

asbestos is prohibited in the manufacturing processes may be notified

by the State Government in this behalf.

2. Definitions:-For the purpose of this Schedule:-

a. “asbestos” means any fibrous silicate mineral and any admixture

containing actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, chrysotile, crocidolite,

tremolite or any mixture thereof, whether crude, crushed or opened;

b. “asbestos textiles” means yarn or clothes composed of asbestos or

asbestos mixed with any other materials;

c. “approved” means approved for the time being in writing by the Chief

Inspector-cum-Facilitator;

d. “breathing apparatus” means a helmet or face piece with necessary

connection by means of which a person using it breathes air free from

dust, or any other approved apparatus;

e. “efficient exhaust draught” means a localized ventilation by

mechanical means for the removal of dust so as to prevent dust from

escaping into air of any place in which work is carried on. No draught

shall be deemed to be efficient which fails to control dust produced at

the point where such dust originates;

f. “preparing means crushing, disintegrating any other processes in or

incidental to the opening or asbestos;

g. “protective clothing” means overalls and head covering, which (in

either case) will when worn exclude asbestos dust;

h. “asbestos dust” means, airborne particles of asbestos or settled

particles of asbestos which are liable to become airborne in the factory

i. “airborne asbestos dust” means, for the purposes of measurement,

dust particles measured by gravimetric assessment or other

equivalent method;

j. “repairable asbestos fibers “means asbestos fibers having diameter of

less than 3 micro meter and a length to diameter ratio greater

than3:1’

k. “exposure to asbestos” means exposure to airborne repairable

asbestos fibers or asbestos dust; whether originating from asbestos or

from minerals, materials or products containing asbestos in the

factory.

3. Tools and equipment:-Any tools or equipment used in processes

to which this schedule applies shall be such that they do not create

asbestos dust above the permissible limit or are equipped with efficient

exhaust draught.

4. Exhaust draught.-

(1) An effective exhaust draught shall be provided and maintained to

control dust from the following processes and machines as per the relevant

standard prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standard:-

a) Manufacture and conveying machinery, such as

(i) preparing,grinding,or dry mixing machines;

(ii) carding,card waste and ring spinning machines, and looms;

(iii) machines or other plant fed with asbestos;

(iv) machines used for the sawing, grinding, turning, drilling, abrading or

polishing, in the dry state of articles composed wholly or partly of

asbestos;

b) cleaning and grinding of the cylinders or other parts of a carding

machine;

c) chambers, hoppers or other structures into which loses asbestos is

delivered or passes;

d) work benches for asbestos waste sorting or other manipulation or

asbestos by hand;

e) workplaces at which the filling or emptying of sacks, skips or other

portable containers, weighing or other process incidental thereto which is

affected by hand, is carried on;

f) sack cleaning machines;

g) mixing and blending of asbestos by hand; and

h) any other process in which dust is given off into the work environment.

(2) Exhaust ventilation equipment provided in accordance with sub-

paragraph(1) shall, while any work of maintenance or repair to the

machinery, apparatus or other plant or equipment in connection with which

it is provided is being carried on, be kept in use so as to produce an

exhaust draught which prevents the entry of asbestos dust into the air of

any work place.

(3) Arrangements shall be made to prevent asbestos dust discharged from

exhaust apparatus being drawn into the air of any work room.

(4) The asbestos bearing dust removed from any work room by the exhaust

system shall be collected in suitable receptacles or filter bags which shall

be isolated from all work areas.

5. Testing and examination of ventilating systems:-

(1) All ventilating systems used for the purpose of extracting or suppressing

dust as required by this schedule shall be as per the relevant standard

prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards, examined and inspected

once every week by a responsible person. It shall be thoroughly examined

and tested by a competent person once in every period of twelve months.

Any defects found by such examinations or test shall be rectified forthwith.

(2) A register containing particulars of such examination and tests as shown in

Form: EDE and the state of the plant and the repairs or alterations, if any,

found to be necessary shall be kept and shall be available for inspection by

an inspector-cum-Facilitator.

6. Segregation in case of certain process:-

Mixing or blending of asbestos by the hand, or making or repairing of

mattresses composed wholly or partly of asbestos shall not be carried on in

any in which any room other work is done.

7. Storage and distribution of loose asbestos:-

All loose asbestos hall, while not in use be kept in suitable closed

receptacles which prevent the escape of asbestos dust there from. Such

asbestos shall not be distributed within a factory except in closed

receptacles or in a totally enclosed system of conveyance.

8. Asbestos sacks:–

(1) All sacks used as receptacles for the purpose of transport of asbestos

within the factory shall be constructed of impermeable materials and shall

be kept in good repair.

(2) A sack which has contained asbestos shall not be cleaned by hand beating

but by a machine, complying with paragraph 5.

(3) Asbestos sacks or receptacles which contain asbestos shall be disposed off

in a safe manner.

9. Maintenance of floors and work places.-

(1) In every room in which any of the requirements of this schedule apply-

(a) the floors, work-benches, machinery and plant shall be kept in a clean

state and free from asbestos debris and suitable arrangements shall be

made for the storage of asbestos not immediately required for use; and

(b) the floors shall be kept free from any materials, plant or other articles not

immediately required for the work carried on in the room, which would

construct the proper cleaning of the floor.

(2) The cleaning as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) shall so far as is

practicable, as carried out by means of vacuum-cleaning equipment so

designed and constructed and so used that asbestos dust neither escapes

nor is discharged in to the air of any work place.

(3) When the cleaning is done by any method other than that mentioned in

sub-paragraph (2), the persons doing cleaning work and any other person

employed in that room shall be provided with respiratory protective

equipment and protective clothing.

(4) The vacuum- cleaning equipment used in accordance with provisions of

sub-paragraph (2), shall be properly maintained and after each cleaning

operation, its surfaces kept in a clean state and free from asbestos waste

and dust.

(5) Asbestos waste shall not be permitted to remain on the floors or other

surfaces at the work place at the end of the working shift and shall be

transferred without delay to suitable receptacles. Any spillage of asbestos

waste occurring during the course of the work at any time shall be

removed and transferred to the receptacles maintained for the purpose

without delay.

(6) (1) The occupier shall replace asbestos or of certain types of asbestos or

products containing asbestos by other materials or products or shall use

alternative technology, scientifically evaluated as harmless or less harmful,

wherever is possible.

(2) The occupier shall take all the measures to prevent or control the

release of asbestos in to the air and to ensure that the exposure limits or

other exposure criteria are complied with and also reduce exposure to as

low as a level as is reasonably practicable.

10. Breathing Apparatus, Personnel Protective Equipment and Clothing.-

(1) The occupier of every factory to which this schedule applies shall provide

to workers personnel protective equipment’s such as hand gloves, shoes,

helmets, goggles, earplug, aprons, safety belt, overall suit, etc., as per the

relevant standard prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The

approved breathing apparatus and appropriate work clothing as per the

relevant standard prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards in

consultation with the workers representatives and maintained in good

conditions for use of every person employed -

(a) In chambers containing loose asbestos;

(b) In cleaning, dust settling or filtering chambers of apparatus;

(c) in cleaning the cylinders, including the defer cylinders, or other parts of

a carding machine by means of hand-stickles;

(d) in filling, beating or levelling in the manufacture or repair of insulating

mattresses; and

(e) in any other operation or circumstances in which it is impracticable to

adopt technical means to control asbestos dust in the work

environment within the permissible limit.

(2) Suitable accommodation in conveniently accessible position shall be

provided for the use of persons when putting on or taking off breathing

apparatus and protective clothing provided in accordance with this

schedule and for the storage of such apparatus and clothing when not in

use.

(3) All breathing apparatus and protective clothing not in use shall be stored

in the accommodation provided in accordance with sub-paragraph (2)

above.

(4) All protective clothing in use shall be de-dusted under an efficient exhaust

draught or by vacuum cleaning and shall be washed at suitable intervals.

The cleaning schedule and procedure should be such as to ensure the

efficiency in protective the wearer.

(5) All breathing apparatus shall be cleaned and disinfected at suitable

intervals and thoroughly inspected once in every month by a responsible

person.

(6) A record of the cleaning and maintenance and of the condition of the

breathing apparatus shall be maintained in a register provided for that

purpose which shall be readily available for inspection by an Inspector-

cum-Facilitator.

(7) No person shall be employed to perform any work specified in sub-

paragraph

(1) for which breathing apparatus is necessary to be provided under that

sub- paragraph unless he has been fully instructed in the proper use of

that equipment.

(8) No breathing apparatus provided in pursuance of sub-paragraph (1)

which has been worn by a person shall be worn by another person unless it

has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected since last being worn and the

person has been fully instructed: in the proper use of that equipment.

(9) No worker shall take home any work clothing or special protective

clothing or personal protective equipment provided him for protection

against exposure to asbestos.

11. Separate accommodation for personal clothing:-

A separate accommodation shall be provided in a conveniently

accessible position for all persons employed in operations to which this

schedule applies for storing of personal clothing.

This shall be separated from to accommodation provided under sub-

paragraph (2) of paragraph 11 to prevent contamination of personal

clothing.

12. Washing and bathing facilities.-

(1) There shall be provided and maintained in a clean state and in good

repair for the use of all workers employed in the processes covered by

this schedule, adequate washing and bathing places having a constant

supply of water under cover at the rate of one such place for every15

persons employed.

(2) The washing places shall have stand pipes placed at intervals of not less

than one metre.

(3) Not less than one half of the total number of washing places shall be

provided with bath rooms.

(4) Sufficient supply of clean towels made of suitable material shall be

provided:

Provided that such towels shall be supplied individually for each worker if so

ordered by the Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

(5) Sufficient supply of soap and nail brushes shall be provided.

13. Mess Room:-

There shall be provided and maintained for the use of all workers

employed in the factory covered by this schedule, remaining on the

premises during the rest intervals, a suitable mess room which shall be

furnished with

(a) Sufficient tables and benches with back rest; and

(b) Adequate means for warming food.

14. Prohibition relating to smoking:-

No person shall smoke in any area where processes covered by this

schedule are carried on. A notice in Telugu and the language understood

by majority of the workers shall be posted in the plant prohibiting smoking

at such areas.

15. Pictorial Cautionary notices:-

Cautionary notices in the form specified in appendix and printed in Telugu

and the language easily read and understood by the majority of the

workers shall be displayed in prominent places in the workrooms where

asbestos or substances containing asbestos are manufactured, handled or

used.

16. Air monitoring.-

To ensure the effectiveness of control measures in continuous or repetitive

processes, the monitoring of asbestos fibres in air as well as personal

monitoring of workers shall be carried out at least once in every shift and

the result so obtained shall be entered in register and

(a) There shall be no substantial change in work place conditions;

(b) the results of the two (2) preceding measurements have not exceeded

half the relevant control limit.

(c) all factories should adopt membrane filter test as per the relevant

standard prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards without fail.

Explanation.-“Membrane Filter Test” is defined as the method of

determination of air borne asbestos fiber concentration in work

environment by light microscopy (Membrane Filter Method).

17. Medical Facilities and Records:-

(1) The occupier of every factory to which the schedule applies, shall

a. employ a Health Surveillance Officer for medical surveillance of the

workers employed therein.

b. provide to the said Health Surveillance Officer all the necessary

facilities for the purpose referred to in clause (a).

(2) Workers employed in this scheduled process / operation shall be

medically examined by the Health Surveillance Officer-

i. Once before employment, to ascertain the physical fitness of the person

to do the particular job:

ii. Once in a period of six months, to ascertain the health status of all the

workers in respect of occupational health hazards to which they are

exposed; and in cases where in the opinion of the Health Surveillance

officer it is necessary to do so at a shorter interval in respect of any

workers.

(3) The pre-employment medical examination shall include pulmonary function

test, tests for detecting asbestos fibers in sputum and chest Xray.

(4) The periodical re-examination shall, wherever the Health Surveillance

Officer considers appropriate, include all the tests of pre-employment

except the chest X-ray which shall be carried out at least once in three

years.

(5) The record of the examinations referred to in sub-paragraph (2) shall be

maintained in Health Register in Form: HR which shall be kept readily

available for inspection by the Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

(6) No person shall be employed for the first time without a Certificate of

Fitness in Form: XVII granted by the Health Surveillance officer. If the

Health Surveillance officer declares a person unfit for being employed in

any process covered under sub-rule (1), such a person shall have the right

to appeal to the Inspector-cum- Facilitator who shall refer the matter to

the Medical Officer whose opinion shall be final in this regard. If the

Inspector-cum-Facilitator is also a Medical Officer, he may dispose of the

application himself.

(7) Any findings of the Health Surveillance officer revealing any abnormality or

unsuitability of any person employed in the process shall immediately be

reported to the Medical Officer who shall in turn, examine the concerned

worker and communicate his findings to the occupier within thirty days. If

the Medical Officer is of the opinion that the workers examined is required

to be taken away from the process for health protection, he will direct the

occupier accordingly, who shall not employ the said worker in the same

process. However, the worker so taken away shall be provided with

alternate placement unless he is in the opinion of the Medical Officer, fully

incapacitated in which case the worker affected shall he suitably

rehabilitated.

(8) A Medical Officer on his own motion or on a reference from an Inspector-

cum- Facilitator may conduct medical examination of a worker to ascertain

the suitability of his employment in the scheduled Process/operation or for

ascertaining his health status. The opinion of the Medical Officer in such a

case shall be final. The fee required for this medical examination shall be

paid by the occupier.

(9) The worker taken away from employment in any process under sub-rule

(2) may be employed again in the same process only after obtaining the

Fitness Certificate from the Medical Officer and after making entries to that

effect in the Health Register.

(18)Exemptions: If in respect of any factory, the Chief Inspector is satisfied

that owing to the exceptional circumstances or in frequency of the

processes or for any other reason, all or any of the processes or for any

other reason, all or any of the provisions of this schedule is not necessary

for protection of the workers in the factory, the Chief Inspector may by a

certificate of writing, which he may at his discretion revoke at any time,

exempt such factory from all or any of such provisions subject to such

conditions, if any, as he may specify therein.