Schedule XXVI

MANUFACTURE OR MANIPULATION OF MANGANESE AND ITS

COMPOUNDS

1. Definitions

For the purpose of this Schedule

(a) "Manganese Process" means processing, manufacture or manipulation

of manganese or any compound of manganese or any ore or any

mixture containing manganese.

(b) "First employment" means first employment in any manganese process

and includes also re-employment in any manganese process following

any cessation of employment for a continuous period exceeding 3

calendar months ;

(c) "Manipulation" means mixing, blending, filling, emptying, grinding,

sieving, drying, packing, sweeping or otherwise handling of manganese

or a compound of manganese or any mixture containing manganese ;

(d) “Efficient exhaust ventilation" means localized ventilation effected by

mechanical means for the removal of dust or fume or mist at its source

of origin so as to prevent it from escaping into the atmosphere of any

place where any work is carried on. No draught shall be deemed to be

efficient which fails to remove the dust or fume or mist at the point

where it is generated and fails to prevent it from escaping into and

spreading into the atmosphere of a work place.

2. Application

The Schedule shall apply to every factory in which or in any part of which

any manganese process is carried on.

3. Isolation of a process

Every manganese process which may give rise to dust, vapour or mist

containing manganese shall be carried on in a totally enclosed system or

otherwise effectively isolated from other processes so that other plants and

process and other parts of the factory and persons employed on other

work or process may not be affected by the same.

4. Ventilation of process

No process, in which any dust, vapour or mist containing manganese is

generated, shall be carried out except under a efficient exhaust ventilation

which shall be applied as near to the point of generation as practicable.

5. 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 shall include tests for detection

of serum calcium, serum phosphate and manganese in blood and urine and

also include steadiness tests and other neuromuscular co-ordination tests.

(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.

6. Personal Protective Equipment

(1) The Occupier of the factory shall provide and maintain in good and clean

condition suitable overalls and head coverings for all persons employed in

any manganese process and such overalls and head coverings shall be

worn by the persons while working on a manganese process.

(2) The Occupier of the factory shall provide suitable respiratory protective

equipment for use by workers in emergency to prevent inhalation of dusts,

fumes or mists sufficient number of complete sets of such equipment shall

always be kept near the work place and the same shall be properly

maintained and kept always in a condition to be used readily.

(3) The Occupier shall provide and maintain for the use of all persons

employed, suitable accommodation for the storage and make adequate

arrangements for cleaning and maintenance of personal protective

equipment.

7. Food, drinks prohibited in the work rooms

No food, drink, pan and supari or tobacco shall be allowed to be brought

into or consumed by any worker in any work room in which any

manganese process is carried on.

8. Mess-room

There shall be provided and maintained for the use of the persons

employedin a manganese process a suitable mess-room which shall be

furnished with sufficient tables and benches and adequate means for

warming of food. The mess room shall be placed under the charge of a

responsible person and shall be kept clean.

9. Washing facilities

There shall be provided and maintained in a clean state and in good

condition, for the use of persons employed on manganese process a wash

place under cover, with either

(1) a trough with a smooth impervious surface fitted with a waste pipe

without plug. The trough shall be of sufficient length to allow at least

60 centimeters for every ten such persons employed at any one time,

and having a constant supply of water from tap or jets above the

trough at intervals of not more than 60 centimeters, or at least one

wash basin for every five such persons employed at any one time,

fitted with a waste pipe and plug and having a constant supply of

water; and

(2) sufficient supply of soap or other suitable cleaning material and nail

brushes and clean towels.

10. Cloak-room

If the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator so requires there shall be provided

and maintained for the use of persons employed in manganese process a

cloak-room for the clothing put off during working hours with adequate

arrangement for drying the clothing.

11. Cautionary placard instructions

Cautionary notices in the following form and printed in the language of the

majority of the workers employed, shall be affixed in prominent places in

the factory where they can be easily and conveniently read by the workers

and arrangements shall be made by the occupier to instruct periodically all

workers employed in a manganese process regarding the health hazards

connected with their duties and the best preventive measures and methods

to protect themselves. The notices shall always be maintained in a legible

condition.

CAUTIONARY NOTICE

Manganese and Manganese Compounds

(1) Dust fumes and mists of Manganese and Compounds are toxic when

inhaled or when ingested.

(2) Do not consume food or drink near the work place.

(3) Take a good wash before taking meals.

(4) Keep the working area clean.

(5) Use the protective clothing and equipments provided.

(6) When required to work in situations where dusts, fumes, or mists are

likely to be inhaled, use respiratory protective equipments provided for

the purpose.

(7) If you get severe headaches, prolonged sleeplessness or abnormal

sensations on the body, loose gait, speech interference and loss of

virility, report to the Occupier who would make arrangements for your

examination and treatment.