Schedule XXVIII

MANUFACTURE OF RAYON BY VISCOSE PROCESS

For the purpose of this schedule

(i) "approved" means approved for the time being in writing by the Chief

Inspector-cum-Facilitator ;

(ii) "breathing apparatus" means a helmet or face piece with necessary

connections by means of which the person using it in a poisonous,

asphyxiating or irritant atmosphere breathes unpolluted air ; or any

other approved apparatus ;

(iii) "churn" means the vessel in which alkali cellulose pulp is treated with

carbon disulphide;

(iv) "dumping" means transfer of cellulose xanthate from a dry churn to a

dissolver ;

(v) "efficient exhaust draught" means a localized ventilation by mechanical

means for the removal of any gas or vapour, so as to prevent it from

escaping into the air or any place in which work is carried on. No

draught shall be deemed to be efficient if it fails to control effectively

any gas or vapour generated at the point where such gas or fume

originates;

(vi) "fume process" means any process in which carbon disulphide or

hydrogen sulphide is produced, used or given off;

(vii) "life belt" means a belt made of leather or other suitable material which

can be securely fastened round the body with a suitable length of rope

attached to it, each of which is sufficiently strong to sustain the weight

of a man ;

(viii) "protective equipment" means apron, goggles, face shields, footwear,

gloves and overalls made of suitable materials.

2. Ventilation

(1) In all workrooms where a fume process is carried on, adequate ventilation

by natural or mechanical means shall be provided so as to control, in

association with other control measures, the concentration of carbon-

disulphide and hydrogen sulphide in the air of every work environment

within the permissible limits.

(2) Not with standing the requirements in sub-paragraph (1), an efficient

exhaust draught shall be provided and maintained to control the

concentration of carbon-disulphide and hydrogen sulphide in the air at the

following locations :

(a) Dumping hoppers of dry churns;

(b) spinning machines;

(c) trio roller sand cutters used in staple fiber spinning;

(d) hydro-extractors for yarn cakes;

(e) after treatment processes; and

(f) spin baths.

(3) In so far as the spinning machines and trio rollers and cutters used in

staple fiber spinning are concerned, they shall be, for the purpose of

ensuring the effectiveness of the exhaust draught to be provided as

required in sub-paragraph (1), enclosed as fully as practicable and

provided with suitable shutters in sections to enable the required

operations to be carried out without giving rise to undue quantities of

carbon-di-sulphide and hydrogen sulphide escaping to the work

environment

(4) No dry churn shall be opened after completion of reaction without initially

exhausting the residual vapors of carbon-di-sulphide by operation of a

suitable and efficient arrangement for exhausting the vapors which shall be

continued to be operated as long as the churn is kept opened.

(5) Whenever any ventilation apparatus normally required for the purpose of

meeting the requirements in sub-paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) is ineffective,

fails, or is stopped for any purpose whatsoever, all persons shall be

required to leave the work areas where the equipment or processes

specified in the above said sub-paragraphs are in use, as soon as possible,

and in any case not later than 15 minutes after such occurrence.

(6) (i) All ventilating systems provided for the purposes as required in sub-

paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) shall be 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 12 months. Any defects

found by such examinations of test shall be rectified forthwith.

(ii) A register containing particulars of such examinations and tests, and

the state of the systems 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.

3. Waste from spinning machines

Waste yarn from the spinning machines shall be deposited in suitable

containers provided with close fitting covers.Such waste shall be disposed

off as quickly as possible after decontamination.

4. Linking of dry churns

The inside surface of all dry churns shall be coated with a non-sticky paint

so that cellulose xanthate will not stick to the surface of the churn, such

coating shall be maintained in good condition.

5. Air monitoring

(1) To ensure the effectiveness of the control measures, monitoring of carbon-

disulphide and hydrogen sulphide in air shall be carried out once at least in

every shift and the record of the results so obtained shall be entered in a

register specially maintained for the purposes.

(2) For the purpose of the requirement in sub-paragraph (1), instantaneous

gas detector tubes shall not be used. Samples shall be collected over a

duration of not less than 10 minutes and analyzed by an approved method.

The locations where such monitoring is to be done shall be as directed by

the Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

(3) If the concentration of either carbon disulphide or hydrogen sulphide

exceeds the permissible limits for such vapour or gas as laid down in Rule

49 suitable steps shall be taken for controlling the concentrations in air of

such containers. A report of such occurrences shall be sent to the Chief

Inspector-cum-Facilitator forthwith.

6. Prohibition to remain infume process room

No person during his intervals for meal, or rest shall remain in any room

wherein fume process is carried on.

7. Protective equipment

(1) The occupier shall provide and maintain in good condition protective

equipment as specified in the Table for use of persons employed in the

processes referred to therein.

THE TABLE

Process Protective equipment

(1) (2)

1. Dumping Overalls, face-shields,

gloves and

footwear - all made of suitable

material

2. Spinning Suitable aprons, gloves and

footwear

3. Process involving or Suitable gloves and footwear

likely to involve

contact with viscose

solution

4.Handling of Sulphur Suitable Chemical goggles

5. Any other process Protective equipment as may be

involving contact with directed by the Chief Inspector-

hazardous chemicals cum-Facilitator by an order in

writing

(2) A suitable room, rooms or lockers shall be provided exclusively for the

storage of all the protective equipment supplied to workers and no such

equipment shall be stored at any place other than the room, rooms or

lockers so provided.

8. Breathing apparatus

(1) There shall be provided in every factory where fume process is carried on,

sufficient supply of,

(a) Breathing apparatus;

(b) Oxygen and suitable appliances for its administration; and

(c) Life belts.

(2) (i) The breathing apparatus and other appliances referred to in sub-

paragraph (1) shall be maintained in good condition and kept inappropriate

locations so as to be readily available.

(ii) The breathing apparatus and other appliances referred to in clauses (a)

and (b) of sub-paragraph (1) shall be cleaned and disinfected at suitable

intervals and thoroughly inspected once every month by a responsible

person.

(iii) A record of the maintenance and of the condition of the breathing

apparatus and other appliances referred to in sub-clause (1) shall be

entered in a register provided for that purpose which shall be readily

available for inspection by an Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

(3) Sufficient number of workers shall be trained and periodically re-trained in

the use of breathing apparatus and administering artificial respiration so

that at least two such trained persons would be available during all the

working hours in each room in which tune process is carried on.

(4) Breathing apparatus shall be kept properly labeled in clean, dry, light proof

cabinets and if liable to be affected by fumes, shall be protected by placing

them in suitable containers.

(5) 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.

(6) 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. Electric fittings

All electric fittings in any room in which carbon-disulphide is produced,

used or given off or is likely to be given off into the work environment,

other than a spinning room, shall be of flame-proof construction and all

electric conductors shall either be enclosed in metal conduits or be lead

sheathed.

10. Prohibition relating to smoking, etc

No person shall smoke or carry matches, fire or naked light or other

means of producing a naked light or spark in a room in which fume process

is carried on. A notice in the language understood by the majority of the

workers shall be posted in prominent locations in the plant prohibiting

smoking and carrying of matches, fire or naked light or other means of

producing naked light or spark into such rooms.

Provided that fire, naked light or other means of producing a naked

light or spark may be carried on in such room only when required for the

purpose of the process itself under the direction of a responsible person.

11. 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 the

schedule, adequate washing and bathing places having a constant supply

of water under cover at the rate of one such place for every 25 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 nail brushes shall be provided.

12. Rest room

(1) A rest room shall be provided for the workers engaged in doffing

operations of filament yarn spinning process.

(2) Such rest room shall be provided with fresh air supply and adequate

seating arrangement.

13. Cautionary notice and instructions

(1) The following cautionary notice shall be prominently displayed in each

fume process room: -

CAUTIONARY NOTICE

1. Carbon disulphide (CS) and Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) which may be

present in this room are hazardous to health.

2. Follow safety instructions.

3. Use protective equipment and breathing apparatus as and when

required.

4. Smoking is strictly prohibited in this area.

This notice shall be in a language understood by the majority of the

workers and displayed where it can be easily and conveniently read. If

any worker is illiterate, effective steps shall be taken to explain

carefully to him the contents of the notice so displayed.

(2) Arrangements shall be made to instruct each worker employed in any

room in which a fume process is carried on regarding the health hazards

connected with their work and the preventive measures and methods to

protect themselves. Such instructions shall be given on his first

employment and repeated periodically.

(3) Simple and special instructions shall be framed to ensure that effective

measures will be carried out in case of emergency involving escape of

carbon disulphide and hydrogen sulphide. Those instructions shall be

displayed in the concerned areas and workers shall be instructed and

trained in the actions to be taken in such emergencies.

14. 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 inrespect 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 estimation

of exposure co-efficient (iodine azide test in urine) and cholesterol, as well

as Electro cardiogram (ECG) and Central Nervous System (CNS) 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.