Schedule XXIV

MANUFACTURE OR MANIPULATION OF DANGEROUS PESTICIDES

1. Application

This schedule shall apply in respect of all factories or any part thereof in

which the process of manufacture or manipulation of dangerous pesticide

therein after referred to as the said manufacturing process) is carried on.

2. Definition

For the purpose of this schedule

(a) "dangerous pesticides" means any product proposed or used for

controlling, destroying or repelling any pest or for preventing growth or

mitigating effects of such growth including any of its formulations which

is considered toxic under and is covered by the Insecticides Act, 1968

and the rules made thereunder and any other products as may be

notified from time to time by the State Government;

(b) "manipulation" includes mixing, blending, formulating, filling, emptying,

packing or otherwise handling ;

(c) "efficient exhaust draught" means localized mechanical ventilation for

removal of smoke, gas, vapour dust, fume or mist so as to prevent

them from escaping into the air of any workroom in which work is

carried on. No exhaust draught shall be considered efficient if it fails to

remove smoke generated at the point where such gas, fume, dust,

vapour or mist originates from the processes;

(d) "first employment" shall mean first employment in any manufacturing

process to which this schedule applies and shall also include re-

employment in the said manufacturing process following any cessation

of employment for a continuous period exceeding three calendar

months ; and

3. Instruction to workers

Every worker on his first employment shall be fully instructed on the

properties including dangerous properties of the chemicals handled in the

said manufacturing process and the hazards involved. The employees shall

also be instructed in the measures to be taken to deal with any

emergency. Such instructions shall be repeated periodically.

4. Cautionary notice and placards

Cautionary notices and placards in the form specified in the Appendix to

this Schedule and printed in the language of the majority of the workers

shall be displayed in all work places in which said manufacturing process is

carried on so that they can be easily and conveniently read by the workers.

Arrangements shall be made by the occupier of the factory to periodically

instruct the workers regarding the health hazards arising in the said

manufacturing proem and methods of protection. Such notices shall include

brief instructions regarding the periodical clinical tests required to be

undertaken for protecting health of the workers.

5. Food, drink and smoking prohibited

(1) No food, drink, tobacco, pan or supari shall be brought into or

consumed by any worker in any workroom in which the said

manufacturing process is carried out.

(2) Smoking shall be prohibited in any workroom in which the said

manufacturing process is carried out.

6. Protective clothing and protective equipment

(1) Protective clothing consisting of long pants and shirts or overalls with long

sleeves and head coverings shall be provided for all workers employed in

the said manufacturing process.

(2) (a) Protective equipment consisting of rubber gloves, gum boots, rubber

aprons, chemical safety goggles and respirators shall be provided for all

workers employed in the said manufacturing process.

(b) Gloves, boots, aprons shall be made from synthetic rubber where a

pesticide contains oil.

(3) Protective clothing and equipment shall be worn by the workers supplied

with such clothing and equipment.

(4) Protective clothing and equipment shall be washed daily from inside and

outside if the workers handle pesticides containing

nicotine or phosphorous and shall be washed frequently if handling other

pesticides.

(5) Protective clothing and equipment shall be maintained in good repair.

7. Floor sand work-benches

(1) Floors in every work-room where dangerous pesticides are manipulated

shall be of cement or other impervious material giving a smooth

surface.

(2) Floor shall be maintained in good repair, provided with adequate slope

leading to a drain and thoroughly washed once a day with hose pipe.

(3) Work-benches where dangerous pesticides are manipulated shall be

made of smooth, non-absorbing material preferably stainless steel and

shall be cleaned at least once daily.

8. Spillage and waste

(1) If a dangerous pesticide during its manipulation splashes or spills on

the work-bench, floor or on the protective clothing worn by a worker,

immediate action shall be taken for thorough decontamination of such

areas or articles.

(2) Cloth, rags, paper or other material soaked or soiled with a dangerous

pesticide shall be deposited in a suitable receptacle with tight fitting

cover. Contaminated waste shall be destroyed by burning at least once

a week.

(3) Suitable deactivating agents, where available shall be kept in a readily

accessible place for use while attending to a spillage.

(4) Easy means of access shall be provided to all parts of the plant for

cleaning, maintenance and repairs.

9. Empty containers used for dangerous pesticides

Containers used for dangerous pesticides shall be thoroughly cleaned of

their content and treated with an inactivating agent before being

descended or destroyed.

10. Manual handling

(1) A dangerous pesticide shall be required or allowed to be manipulated

by and except by means of a long handled scoop.

(2) Direct contact of any part of the body with a dangerous pesticide during

its manipulation shall be avoided.

11. Ventilation

(1) In every workroom or area where a dangerous pesticide is manipulated,

adequate ventilation shall be provided at all times by the circulation of

fresh air.

(2) Unless the process is completely enclosed, the following operations

during manipulation of a dangerous pesticide shall not be undertaken

without an efficient exhaust draught

(a) Emptying a container holding a dangerous pesticide;

(b) Blending a dangerous pesticide;

(c) Preparing a liquid or powder formulation containing a dangerous

pesticide; and

(d) changing or filling a dangerous pesticide into a container, tank hopper

or machine or small sized containers.

(3) In the event of a failure of the exhaust or draught provided on the above

operation, the said operations shall be stopped forthwith.

12. Time allowed for washing

(1) Before each meal and before the end of the day's work at least ten minutes

in addition to the regular rest interval shall be allowed for washing to each

worker engaged in the manipulation of dangerous pesticide.

(2) Every worker engaged in the manipulation of dangerous pesticides shall

have a thorough wash before consuming any food and also at the end of

the day's work.

13. 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 factory where the said

manufacturing process is carried on, adequate washing and bathing places

having a constant supply of water under cover at the rate of one such

place for every 5 persons employed.

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

than one meter.

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

provided with bathrooms.

(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 nailbrushes shall be provided.

14. Cloak room

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

employed in the factory where the said manufacturing process is carried

on:

(a) A cloakroom for clothing put off during working hours with adequate

arrangements for drying clothing, if wet and

(b) Separate and suitable arrangements for the storage of protective clothing

provided under paragraph 7.

15. Mess-room

(1) There shall be provided and maintained for the use of all workers employed

in the factory in which the said manufacturing process is carried on and

remaining on the premises during the rest intervals, a suitable mess-room

which shall be furnished with --

(a) Sufficient tables and benches with backrest, and

(b) Adequate means for warming food.

(2) The mess room shall be placed under the charge of a responsible person

and shall be kept clean.

16. Manipulation not to be undertaken

Manufacture or manipulation of a pesticide shall not be undertaken in any

factory unless a certificate regarding its dangerous nature or otherwise is

obtained from the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

17. Medical facilities and records of examinations and tests

(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 in respect of Halogenated

Pesticides, shall include tests for determination of the chemical in blood

and in fat tissues, EEG abnormalities and memory tests, in respect of or

Gano phosphorous compounds, such examination shall include test for

depression of cholinesterase in plasma and red blood cells

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

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

(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.