Schedule H (xvii)

HANDLING AND PROCESSING OF ASBESTOS, MANUFACTURE OF ANYARTICLE OF

ASBESTOS AND ANY OTHER PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE OR

OTHERWISE IN WHICH ASBESTOS IS USED IN ANY FORM:

1. Application.—This Schedule shall apply to all factories or part of factories in which any of the

following process are carried on—

(a) breaking, crushing, disintegrating, opening, grinding, mixing or sieving of asbestos and

any other Processes involving handling and manipulation of asbestos incidental thereto;

(b) all process in the manufacture of asbestos textiles including preparatory and finishing

Process ;

(c) making of insulation slabs or Sections, composed wholly or partly of asbestos and

Processes incidental thereto;

(d) making or repairing of insulating mattresses composed wholly or partly of asbestos, and

processes incidental thereto;

(e) manufacture of asbestos cardboard and paper;

(f) manufacture of asbestos or cement goods;

(g) application of asbestos by spray method;

(h) sewing, grinding, turning, abrading and polishing in the dry state of articles composed

wholly or partly of asbestos;

(i) cleaning of any room, vessel, chambers, fixture or appliance for the collection of

asbestos dust; and

(j) any other process in which asbestos dust is given off into the work environment.

2. Definition.—For the purpose of this Schedule—

(a) "approved" means approved for the time being in writing by the Chief Inspector cum-

facilitator;

(b) "asbestos" means any fibrous silicate mineral and any admixture containing actionlite,

amosite, anthophylite, chrysolite, crocidolite, tremolite or any mixture thereof, whether

crude, crushed or opened;

(c) "asbestos textiles" means yarn or cloth composed of asbestos mixed with any other

material;

(d) "breathing apparatus" means a helmet or face piece with necessary connection by

means of which a person using it breathes air free from dust, or any other approved

apparatus;

(e) "efficient exhaust draught" means localised ventilation by mechanical means for the

removal of dust so as to prevent dust from escaping into air of any place in which work is

carried on. No draught shall be deemed to be efficient which fails to control dust

produced at the point where such dust originates;

(f) "first employment" shall mean first employment in the processes, specified in Paragraph

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

employment for a continuous period exceeding three calendar months;

(g) "preparing" means crushing, disintegrating, and any other process in or incidental to the

opening of asbestos; and

(h) "protective clothing" means overall and head covering, which (in either case) will when

worn exclude asbestos dust.

3. Tools and equipment.—Any tools or equipment used in Process to which this Schedule applies

shall be such that they do not create asbestos dust above the permissible limit or are equipped

with efficient exhaust draught.

4. Exhaust draught.—(1) An efficient exhaust draught shall be provided and maintained to control

dust from the following processes and machines—

(a) manufacture and conveying machinery, namely—

(i) preparing, grinding or dry mixing machines;

(ii) carding, card waste and ring spinning machines, and looms;

(iii) machines or other plant fed with asbestos; and

(iv) machines used for the sewing, grinding, turning, drilling, abrading or

polishing, in the dry state, of articles composed wholly or partly of asbestos.

(b) cleaning and grinding of the cylinders or other parts of a carding machine;

(c) chambers, hoppers or other structures into which loose asbestos is delivered or

passes;

(d) workbenches for asbestos waste sorting or for other manipulation of asbestos by

hand;

(e) workplaces at which the filling or emptying of sacks, skips or other portable

containers, weighing or other processes incidental thereto which is effected by

hand, is carried on;

(f) sack cleaning machines;

(g) mixing and blending of asbestos by hand; and

(h) any other process in which dust is given off into the work environment.

(2) Exhaust ventilation equipment provided in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) shall,

while any work of maintenance or repair to the machinery, apparatus or other plant or

equipment in connection with which it is provided is being carried on, be kept in use so

as to produce an exhaust draught which prevents the entry of asbestos dust into the air

of any workplace.

(3) Arrangements shall be made to prevent asbestos dust discharged from exhaust

apparatus being drawn into the air of any workroom.

(4) The asbestos bearing dust removed from any workroom by the exhaust system shall be

collected in suitable receptacles or filter bags which shall be isolated from all work areas.

5. Testing and examination of ventilating systems.—(1) All ventilating systems used for the

purpose of extracting or suppressing dust as required by this Schedule 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 or tests shall be rectified forthwith.

(2) A register containing particulars of such examination and tests and the state of the plant

and repairs or alterations (if any) found to be necessary shall be kept and shall be

available for inspection by an Inspector cum-Facilitator.

6. Segregation in case of certain process.—Mixing or blending by hand of asbestos, or making or

repairing of insulating mattresses composed wholly or partly of asbestos shall not be carried on

in any room in which any other work is done.

7. Storage and distribution of loose asbestos.—All loose asbestos shall while not in use, be kept

in suitable closed receptacles which prevent the escape of asbestos dust there from and such

asbestos shall not be distributed within a factory except in such receptacles or in a totally

enclosed system of conveyance.

8. Asbestos sacks.—(1) All sacks used as receptacles for the purpose of transport of asbestos

within the factory shall be constructed of impermeable material and shall be kept in good

repair.

(2) A sack which has contained asbestos shall not be cleaned by hand beating but by a

machine, complying with Paragraph 3.

9. Maintenance of floors and workplaces—(1) In every room in which any of the requirements of

this Schedule apply—

(a) the floors, workbenches, machinery and plant shall be kept in a clean state and

free from asbestos debris and suitable arrangements shall be made for the

storage of asbestos not immediately required for use; and

(b) the floors shall be kept free from any materials, plant or other articles not

immediately required for the work carried on in the room and which would obstruct

the proper cleaning of the floor.

(2) The cleaning as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) shall, so far as is practicable, be carried

out by means of vacuum cleaning equipment as designed and constructed and so used

that asbestos dust neither escapes nor is discharged into the air of any workplace.

(3) When the cleaning is done by any method other than that mentioned in sub-paragraph

(2), the persons doing cleaning work and any other person employed in that room shall

be provided with respiratory protective equipment and protective clothing.

(4) The vacuum cleaning equipment used in accordance with provisions of sub-paragraph

(2), shall be properly maintained and after each cleaning operation, its surface shall be

kept in a clean state and free from asbestos waste and dust.

(5) Asbestos waste shall not be permitted to remain on the floors or other surfaces at the

workplace at the end of the working shift and shall be transferred without delay to

suitable receptacles. Any spillage of asbestos waste occurring during the course of the

work at any time shall be removed and transferred to the receptacles maintained for the

purpose without delay.

10. Breathing apparatus and protective clothing.—(1) An approved breathing apparatus and

protective clothing shall be provided and maintained in good condition for use of every person

employed—

(a) in chambers containing loose asbestos;

(b) in cleaning, dust settling, or filtering chambers, or apparatus;

(c) in cleaning the cylinders, including the doffers cylinders, or other parts of a carding

machine by means of hand-strickles;

(d) in filling, beating, or levelling in the manufacture or repair of insulating mattresses;

and

(e) in any other operation or circumstance in which it is impracticable to adopt

technical means to control asbestos dust in the work environment within the

permissible limit.

(2) Suitable accommodation in a conveniently accessible position shall be provided for the

use of persons when putting on or taking off breathing apparatus and protective clothing

provided in accordance with this Schedule and for the storage of such apparatus and

clothing when not in use.

(3) All breathing apparatus and protective clothing when not in use shall be stored in the

accommodation provided in accordance with sub-paragraph (2).

(4) All protective clothing in use shall be re-dusted under an efficient exhaust draught or by

vacuum cleaning and shall be washed at suitable intervals. The cleaning Schedule and

procedure should be such as to ensure the efficiency of the said clothing in protecting

the wearer.

(5) All breathing apparatus shall be cleaned and disinfected at suitable intervals and

thoroughly inspected once every month by a responsible person.

(6) Records of the cleaning and maintenance and of the condition of the breathing

apparatus shall be maintained in a register provided for that purpose which shall be

readily available for inspection by an Inspector cum facilitator.

(7) 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.

(8) 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.

11. Separate accommodation for personal clothing.—A separate accommodation shall be provided

in a conveniently accessible position for all persons employed in operations to which this

Schedule applies for storing of personal clothing. This should be separated from the

accommodation provided under sub-paragraph (2) of Paragraph 10 to prevent contamination of

personal clothing.

12. 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 15 persons employed.

(2) The washing places shall have standpipes placed at intervals of not less than one metre.

(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 materials shall be provided:

Provided that such towels shall be supplied individually for each worker if so

ordered by the Inspector cum facilitaor.

13. Sufficient supply of soap and nail brushes shall be provided. Mess-room.—(1) There shall be

provided and maintained for the use of all workers employed in the factory covered by this

Schedule, remaining on the premises during the rest intervals, a suitable mess-room which

shall be furnished with—

(a) sufficient tables and benches with back-rest, and

(b) adequate means for warning food.

(2) The mess-room shall be placed under the charge of a responsible person and shall be

kept clean.

14. Prohibition of employment of young persons.—No young person shall be employed in any of

the process covered by this Schedule.

15. Prohibition relating to smoking.—No person shall smoke in any area where the Processes

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

the workers shall be posted in the plant prohibiting smoking in such areas.

16. Cautionary Notices.—(1) Cautionary notices shall be displayed at the approaches and along

the perimeter of every asbestos processing area to warn all persons regarding:

(a) hazards to health from asbestos dust;

(b) need to use appropriate protective equipment; and

(c) prohibition of entry to unauthorised persons or authorised persons but without

protective equipment.

(2) Such notices shall be in the languages understood by the majority of the workers.

17. Air Monitoring.—To ensure the effectiveness of the central measures, monitoring of asbestos 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 purpose.

18. Medical facilities and records of medical examinations and tests.—(1) The occupier of every

factory or part of the factory to which the Schedule applies, shall—

(a) employ a Factory medical officer for medical surveillance of the workers

covered by this Schedule whose employment shall be subject to the approval of

the Chief Inspector cum-Facilitator; and

(b) provide to the said medical practitioner all the necessary facilities for the purpose

referred to in clause (a).

(2) The record of medical examinations and appropriate tests carried out by the said medical

practitioner shall be maintained in a separate register approved by the Chief Inspector

cum-Facilitator , which shall be kept readily available for inspection by the Inspector

cum- Facilitator.

19. Medical examination by Factory medical officer.—(1) Every worker employed in the process

specified in Paragraph 1 shall be examined by a Factory medical officer within 15 days of his

first employment. Such examinations shall include pulmonary function tests, tests for detecting

asbestos fibers in sputum and chest X-ray. 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 process referred to in sub-paragraph (1) shall be re-

examined by a Factory medical officer at least once in every twelve calendar months.

Such examinations shall, wherever the factory medical officer considers appropriate

include all the tests specified in sub-paragraph (1) except chest X-ray which will be

carried out once in 3 years.

(3) The Factory medical officer after examining a worker, shall 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, 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 process 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 these documents should also include the period for which he considers

that the said person is unfit to work in the said Processes .

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

employed or permitted to work in the said process unless the Medical Officer, after

further examination, again certifies him fit for employment in that Process .

20. Exemption.—If in respect of any factory, the Chief Inspector-cum Facilitator is satisfied that

owing to the exceptional circumstances or infrequency of the processes for any other reason,

all or any of the provisions of this Schedule is not necessary for protection of the employees in

the factory, the Chief Inspector cum-Facilitator may by a certificate in writing, which he may at

his discretion revoke at any time, exempt such factory from all or any of such provisions subject

to such condition, if any, as he may specify therein.