Schedule XXXII

HANDLING AND PROCESSING COIR FIBRE

1. Application

This schedule shall apply to all factories or part of factories in which

any of the following operations involving coir fibre is carried on.

(a) hammering

(b) harvesting

(c) defibering/decortication

(d) spinning/curling

(e) bleaching

(f) dyeing

(g) spooling and bailing

(h) PVC tufting

(i) Weaving

(j) Shearing

(k) Rubber backing

(l) latex backing

(m) stenciling

(n) flocking

2. Definition

(a) Dangerous Chemical: Any chemical used in any of the operations listed in

clause 1 shall be considered as dangerous chemical for the purpose of this

Schedule.

3. Declaration of operations as dangerous: Harvesting, defibering,

bleaching, dyeing, Tufting, rubber backing, shearing, stenciling, flocking

and latex backing of coir are declared to be dangerous operations when

carried out in any factory.

4. Prohibition of Employment of young persons:

No young person shall be employed or permitted to work in any operation

specified in clause 1.

5. Storage and Handling of dangerous of chemicals: Whenever any

dangerous chemical is handled, stored or used, all necessary steps shall be

taken to prevent inhalation, ingestion or absorption of this chemical by

workers while engaged in operations specified in clause 1.

6. Seating arrangement: Suitable seating arrangements shall be provided

for the workers engaged in manual defibering and manual hammering

operations.

7. Ventilation: Bleaching and dyeing operation shall be carried out

separately away from other operations. Effective arrangements shall be

made to prevent escape of fumes in the work environment.

8. Escape of dust and fumes: Suitable and adequate arrangements shall be

made for preventing escape of dust and fumes in work environment.

9. Personal Protective Equipment.

(a) The occupier shall provide the following for free of cost and maintain in

good condition for use of all persons engaged in the operations mentioned

in the Clause 3:

(i) Suitable gloves of durable quality for both hands.

(ii) Rubber boots of durable quality for both legs.

(iii) goggles

(iv) nose mask

(v) any other appliances, which in the opinion of Chief Inspector-cum

facilitator shall be necessary for protection of the workers.

(b) All persons engaged in operations specified in clause 3, while at work in

these operations make use of the material and appliances provided.

10. Food and drink:

(i) No food or drink shall be brought into any room in which any of the

operations specified in clause 3 is carried on.

(ii) No food or drink shall be consumed in any room in which any of the

operations specified in clause 3 is carried on.

11. Floor of work rooms: The floor of every room in which any of the

operations specified in clause 3 is carried on shall be:

(i) Of cement or similar material so as to be smooth and impervious.

(ii) Maintained in sound condition; and

(iii) Provided with suitable and adequate arrangements for drainage.

12. Washing facilities:

(a) The occupier shall provide and maintain for the use of all persons

employed in operation specified in clause 3, suitable washing facilities

consisting of.

(i) a water tank capable of holding sufficient water and having taps at the

rate of one tap for every ten persons employed at any one time. The

floor around the tank and below the taps shall be cement plastered and

maintained in sound and clean conditions. Suitable and adequate

arrangements for drainage shall be provided around the tanks and the

taps; and

(ii) Sufficient supply of nail brushes, soap or other suitable cleaning material

and clean towels.

(b) The facilities so provided shall be placed under the charge of a

responsible person and shall be kept clean.

13. Medical Examination:

(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 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.

(4) 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.

(5) Any findings of the Health Surveillance of ficer 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 she is in the opinion of the Medical Officer, fully

in capacitated in which case the worker affected shall he suitably

rehabilitated.

(6) 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.

(7) 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 inthe Health Register.

14. Exemptions: The Chief Inspector cum facilitator of Factories may grant

exemption from the operation of any clause of the Schedule to the extent

he deems suitable, where he is satisfied that their observations are not

necessary for safeguarding the health of the workers.