Schedule ‘H’ (iii)

MANUFACTURE AND REPAIRS OF ELECTRIC ACCUMULATORS:

1. Savings.—This schedule shall not apply to the manufacture or repair of electric accumulators

or parts thereof not containing lead or any compound of lead; or to the repair on the premises,

of any accumulator forming part of a stationary battery.

2. Definitions.—For the purposes of this schedule—

(a) "First employment" means first employment in a lead process in the factory or workshop

and shall also include re-employment said process following any cessation of

employment for a continuous period exceeding three calendar months.

(b) "Lead process " means the melting of lead or any material containing lead, casting,

pasting, lead burning, or any other work, including tribbing, or any other abrading or

cutting of pasted plates, involving the use, movement or manipulation of, or contact with

any oxide of lead.

(c) "Manipulation of raw oxide of lead" means any lead process involving any manipulation

or movement of raw oxides of lead other than its conveyance in a receptacle or transfer

by means of an implement from one operation to another.

(d) "Suspension" means suspension from employment in any lead process by written

certificates in the Health Register (Form V) signed by the Factory Medical Officer, who

shall have power of suspension as regards all persons employed in any such process .

3. Prohibition relating to women and young persons.—No women or young person shall be

employed or permitted to work in any lead process or in any room in which the manipulation of

raw oxide of lead or pasting is carried on.

4. Separation of certain processes.—Each of the following Process shall be carried on in such a

manner and under such conditions as to secure effectual separation from one another, and

from any other process :

(a) manipulation of raw oxide of lead ;

(b) pasting;

(c) drying of pasted plates ;

(d) formation with lead burning ("tacking")necessarily carried on in connection therewith;

(e) melting down of pasted plates,

5. Air space.—In every room in which a lead process is carried on, there shall be at least 500

cubic feet of air space for each person employed therein, and in computing this air space no

height over 12 feet shall be taken into account.

6. Ventilation.—Every work-room shall be provided with inlets and outlets of adequate size so as

to secure and maintain efficient ventilation to all parts of the room.

7. Distance between worker in the pasting room.—In every pasting room the distance between

the centre of the working position of any paster and that of the paster working nearest to him

shall not be less than five feet.

8. Floor of work-rooms.—(1) The floor of every room in which a lead process is carried on shall

be—

(a) of cement or similar material so as to be smooth and impervious to water;

(b) maintained in sound conditions ;and

(c) kept free from materials, plant or other obstruction not required for, or produced in,

the process carried on in the room.

(2) In all such rooms other than grid casting shops the floor shall be cleaned daily after being

thoroughly sprayed with water at a time when no other work is being carried on in the

room.

(3) In grid casting shops the floor shall be cleansed daily.

(4) Without prejudice to the requirements of sub-paragraphs (1), (2) and (3), where

manipulation of raw oxide of lead of pasting is carried on the floor shall also be—

(a) kept constantly moist while work is being done;

(b) provided with suitable and adequate arrangements for drainage;

(c) thoroughly washed daily by means of a hose pipe.

9. Work benches.—The work benches at which any lead process is carried on shall—

(a) have a smooth surface and be maintained in sound condition;

(b) be kept free from all materials or plant not required for, or produced in, the process

carried on thereat;

and, all such work-benches other than those in grid casting shops shall—

(c) be cleansed daily either after being thoroughly dampened or by means of a suction

cleaning apparatus, at a time when no other work is being carried on thereat;

and, all such work-benches in grid casting shops, shall—

(d) be cleansed daily;and every work-bench used for pasting shall—

(e) be covered throughout with sheet lead or other impervious material;

(f) be provided with raised edges ;and

(g) be kept constantly moist while pasting is being carried on.

10. Exhaust draught.—(1) The following process shall not be carried on without the use of an

efficient, exhaust draught:

(a) Melting of lead or materials containing lead ;

(b) Manipulation of raw oxide of lead, unless done in an enclosed apparatus so as to

prevent the escape of dust into the workroom ;

(c) Pasting;

(d) Trimming, brushing, filing or any other abrading or cutting of pestered plates

giving rise to dust;

(e) Lead burning,other than—

(i) "tacking" in the formation room ;

(ii) chemical burning for the making of lead linings for cell cases necessarily

carried on in such a manner that the application of efficient exhaust is

impracticable.

(2) Such exhaust draught shall be affected by mechanical means and shall operate on the

dust or fume given off in the process as nearly as may be at its point of origin, so as to

prevent it from entering the air of any room in which persons work.

11. Fumes and Gases from melting pots.—The products of combustion produced in the heating of

any melting pot shall not be allowed to escape into a room in which persons work.

12. Container of dross.—A suitable receptacle with tightly fitting cover shall be provided and used

for dross as it is removed from every melting pot. Such receptacle shall be kept covered while

in the work-room except when dross is being deposited therein.

13. Container for lead waste.—A suitable receptacle shall be provided in every work- room in

which old plates and waste material, which may give rise to dust shall be deposited.

14. Racks and shelves in drying room.—(1)The racks or shelves provided in any drying room shall

not be more than 8 feet from the floor nor more than 2 feet in width;

Provided that as regards racks or shelves set or drawn from both sides, the total width

shall not exceed 4 feet.

(2) Such racks or shelves shall be cleansed only after being thoroughly dampened unless

an efficient suction cleaning apparatus is used for the purpose.

15. Medical facilities and record of examinations and tests. - (1) The occupier of every factory in

which manufacture and repair of electric accumulators is carried on shall-

(a) employ a Factory Medical Officer for medical surveillance of the workers employed

therein and

(b) provide to the said Factory medical officer all the necessary facilities for the purposes

referred to in clause (a)

16. Medical examination.— Medical examination by factory medical officer

(1) Every worker employed in lead processes shall be examined by a factory medical officer

within 15 days of his firs employment. Such examination shall include tests for lead in

urine and blood. ALA in urine, haemoglobin content, stippling of cells and steadiness

test. No worker shall be allowed to work after 15 days of his first employment in the

factory unless certified fit for such employment by the Certifying Surgeon.

(2) Every worker employed in the said processes shall be re-examined by a factory medical

officer at least once in every three calendar months. Such re-examination shall,

wherever the factory medical officer considers appropriate, include tests specified in sub-

paragraph (1).

(3) The Factory Medical officer after examining workers shall issue Certificate of Fitness in

Form XXXIII. The record of examination and re-examinations carried out shall be

entered in the certificate and the certificate shall be kept in the custody of the Manager of

the factory. The record of each examination carried out under sub-paragraphs (1) and

(2), including the nature and the results of the rests, shall also be entered by the Factory

medical officer in a Health Register in Form V.

(4) The Certificate of Fitness and the Health Register shall be kept readily available for

inspection by the Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

(5) If at any time the Factory Medical Officer or Medical Officer is of the opinion that a

worker is no longer fit for employment in the said processes on the ground that

continuance therein would involve special danger to the health of the worker he shall

make a record of his findings in the said Certificate and the Health Register. The entry of

his findings in those documents should also include the period for which he considers

that the said person is unfit for work in the said processes.

(6) No person who has been found unfit to work as said in sub-paragraph (5) above shall be

re-employed or permitted to work in the said processes unless the Medical Officer, after

further examination, again certifies him fit for employment in those processes.

17. Protective clothing.—(1) Protective clothing shall be provided and maintained in good repair for

all persons employed in—

(a) manipulation of raw oxide of lead ;

(b) pasting ;

(c) the formation room ;

and such clothing shall be worn by the persons concerned.

(2) The protective clothing shall consist of a water-proof apron and water-proof footwear; and,

in addition as regards persons employed in the manipulation of raw oxide- of lead or in

pasting, head coverings. The head coverings shall be washed daily.

18. Mess-room.—There shall be provided and maintained for the use of all persons employed in a

lead processes and remaining on the premises during the meal intervals, a suitable mess-

room, which shall be furnished with sufficient tables and benches and adequate means for

warming food.

The mess-room shall be provided under die charge of a responsible person, and shall be kept

clean.

19. Cloak-room.—There shall be provided and maintained for the use of all persons employed in a

lead process —

(a) a cloak-room for clothing put-off during working hours with adequate arrangements for

drying the clothing, if wet. Such accommodation shall be separate from any mess-

room;and

(b) separate and suitable arrangements for the storage of protective clothing provided under

paragraph 16.

20. Washing facilities.—(1)There shall be provided and maintained in a cleanly state and in good

repair for the use of all persons employed in a lead processes :

(a) A wash place under cover, with either—

(i) a trough with a smooth impervious surface fitted with a waste pipe, without

plug, and of sufficient length to allow of at least two feet for every such five

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

from taps or jets above the trough at intervals of not more than 2 feet; or

(ii) 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 laid on .a sufficient supply of clean towels made of suitable materials

renewed daily which supply, in the case of pastors and persons employed

in the manipulation of raw oxide of lead, shall include a separate marked

towel for each such worker; and

(iii) a sufficient supply of soap or other suitable cleansing material and of nail

brushes.

(2) There shall in addition be provided means of washing in close proximity to the rooms in

which manipulation of raw oxide of lead or pasting is carried on if required by notice in

writing from the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

21. Time to be allowed for washing.—Before each meal and before the end of the days, work at

least ten minutes, in addition to the regular meal times, shall be allowed for washing to each

person, who has been employed in the manipulation of raw oxide of lead or in pasting

Provided that if there be one basin or two feet of trough for each such-person this "rule s

hall not apply.

22. Facilities for bathing.—sufficient bath accommodation to the satisfaction of the Chief Inspector

cum-Facilitator shall be provided for all persons engaged in the manipulation of raw oxide of

lead or in pasting, and a sufficient supply of soap and clean towels.

23. Food, drink, etc. prohibited in work-rooms.—No food, drink, pan and supari or tobacco shall be

consumed or brought by any worker into any workroom in which any lead process is carried on.