Schedule VI

MANUFACTURE AND TREATMENT OF LEAD AND CERTAIN

COMPOUNDS OF LEAD

1. Definitions

For the purposes of this schedule

(a) "Lead compound" means any compound of lead other than galena which,

when treated in the manner described below, yields to an aqueous solution

of hydrochloric acid, a quantity of soluble lead compound exceeding, when

calculated as lead monoxide, five per cent of the dry weight of the portion

taken for analysis. In the case of paints and similar products and other

mixtures containing oil or fat the "dry weight" means the dry weight of the

material remaining after the substance has been thoroughly mixed and

treated with suitable solvents to remove oil, fats, varnish or other media.

The method of treatment shall be as follows:

A weighed quantity of the material which has been dried at 100°C and

thoroughly mixed shall be continuously shaken for one hour, at the

common temperature with 1,000 times its weight of an aqueous solution of

hydrochloric acid containing 0.25 per cent by weight of hydrogen chloride.

This solution shall thereafter be allowed to stand for one hour and then

filtered. The lead salt contained in the clear liberate shall then be

precipitated as lead sulphide and weighed as lead sulphate.

(b) "Efficient exhaust draught" means localized ventilation effected by heat or

mechanical means, for the removal of gas, vapour, dust or fumes so as to

prevent them (as practicable under the atmospheric conditions usually

prevailing) from escaping into the air of any place in which work is carried

on. No draught shall be deemed efficient which fails to remove smoke

generated at the point where such gas, vapour, fumes or dust originate.

(c) “Manipulation” means mixing, blending, filling, emptying, grinding, sieving,

drying, packing, sweeping, handling, using, etc.

2. Application

This schedule shall apply to all factories or parts of factories in which any

of the following operations are carried on:

a. Work at a furnace where the reduction or treatment of zinc or lead ores is

carried on.

b. The manipulation, treatment or reduction of ashes containing lead, the

desilverising of lead or the melting of scrap lead or zinc.

c. The manufacture and manipulation of solder or alloys containing more than

ten percent of lead.

d. The manufacture of any oxide, carbonate, sulphate, chromate, acetate,

nitrate, or silicate of lead.

e. Handling or mixing of lead tetraethyl.

f. Any other operation involving the use of a lead compound.

g. The cleaning of work room where any of the operations a foresaid are

carried on.

3. Requirements to be observed

No person shall be employed or permitted to work in any process involving

the use of lead compounds if the process is such that dust or fume from a

lead compound is produced therein, or the persons employed therein are

liable to be splashed with any lead compound in the course of their

employment unless the provisions of paragraphs 6 to 14 are complied with.

4. Exhaust draught

Where dust, fume, gas or vapour is produced in the process, provision

shall be made for removing them by means of any efficient exhaust

draught so contrived as to operate on the dust, fume, gas or vapour as

closely as possible to the point of origin.

5. Medical facilities and records of examinations and tests

(1) The occupier of every factory to which thes chedule 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 for lead in blood

and urine, ALA in urine, hemoglobin content, stippling of cells and

steadiness 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

(1) 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. Food, drinks, etc., prohibited in workrooms

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

consumed by any worker in any workroom in which the process is carried

on and no person shall remain in any such room during intervals for meals

or rest.

7. Protective clothing

Suitable protective overalls and head coverings shall be provided,

maintained and kept clean by the factory occupier and such overalls and

head coverings shall be worn by the persons employed.

8. Cleanliness of workrooms, tools, etc

The rooms in which the person’s are employed and all tools and apparatus

used by them shall be kept in a clean state.

9. Washing facilities

(1) The occupier shall provide and maintain for the use of all Persons

employed, suitable washing facilities consisting of

a. a trough with a smooth impervious surface fitted with a waste pipe without

plug and of sufficient length to allow at least 61 centimeters for every ten

persons employed at any one time,and having a constant supply of clean

water from taps or jets above the trough at intervals of not more than 61

centimeters ;or

b. At least one wash-basin for every ten persons employed at any one time,

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

water, together with, in either case, a sufficient supply of nail brushes,

soap or other suitable cleansing material and clean towels.

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

responsible person and shall be kept clean.

10. Mess-room or Canteen

The occupier shall provide and maintain for the use of the persons

employed suitable and adequate arrangements for taking their meals. The

arrangement shall consist of the use of a room separate from any

workroom which shall be furnished with sufficient tables and benches and

unless a canteen serving hot meals is provided, adequate means for

warming food. The room shall be adequately ventilated by the circulation

of fresh air shall be placed under the charge of a responsible person and

shall be kept clean.

11. Cloak-room

The occupier shall provide and maintain for the use of persons employed,

suitable accommodation for clothing not worn during working hours, and

for the drying of wet clothing.