Schedule ‘H’(vi)

MANUFACTURE AND TREATMENT OF LEAD AND CERTAIN COMPOUNDS OF LEAD:

1. Exemptions.—Where the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator is satisfied that all or any of the

provisions of this schedule are not necessary for the protection of the persons employed, he

may by certificate in writing, exempt any factory from all or any such provisions, subject to such

condition as he may specify therein.

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

(a) "Efficient exhaust draught" means localised ventilation affected by heat or mechanical

means, for the removal of gas, vapour, dust or fumes so as to prevent them (as far 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 vapour, fumes or dust

originate.

(b) "First Employment" means first employment in the Process specified in paragraph 3 and

on glass blowing and shall also include re-employment in such Process following any

cessation of employment for a continuous period exceeding three calendar months,

(c) "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 points 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 filtrate shall then be

precipitated as lead sulphide and weighed as lead sulphate.

3. 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 desilvering of lead

or the melting of scrap lead or zinc.

(c) the manufacture 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-rooms where any of the operations aforesaid are carried on.

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

employed or permitted to work in any of the operations specified in paragraph 3.

5. 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.

6. Exhaust draught.—Where dust, fume, gas or vapour is produced in the process , provision

shall be made for removing them by means of an efficient exhaust draught so contrived as to

operate on the dust, fume, gas or vapour as closely as possible to the point of origin.

7. Medical facilities and records of examination and tests.—(1) The occupier of every factory to

which the schedule applies shall,- (a) employ a factory medical officer for medical surveillance

of the workers employed therein; and(b) provide the said medical practitioner all the necessary

facilities for the purpose referred to in clause (a).

(2) The record of medical examination and appropriate tests carried out by the factory medical

officer shall be maintain in a separate register, which shall be kept readily available for

inspection by the Inspector cum facilitator.

8. Medical examination by factory medical officer - (1) Every worker employed in the 15 days of

his first employment. Such examination shall include tests for lead in blood and urine, 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 factory medical officer.

(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 a worker will issue a 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 test shall also be entered 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.

(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.

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

be brought into or consumed by any worker in any work-room in which any of the Process

specified in paragraph 3 are carried on and no person shall remain in any such room during

intervals for meals or rest.

10. Protective clothing.—Suitable protective overalls and head coverings shall be provided,

maintained and kept clean by the factory occupier and such overalls and head covering shall

be worn by the persons employed.

11. Cleanliness of work-rooms, tools, etc.—The rooms in which the persons are employed and all

tools, and apparatus used by them shall be kept in a clean state.

12. 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 two feet 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 two feet; 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

cleaning material and clean towels.

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

shall be kept clean.

13. 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 arrangements shall

consist of the use of a room separate from any work-room which shall be furnished with

sufficient tables and benches, and unless a canteen serving hot meals is provided, adequate

means of 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.

14. 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.