Schedule H (xxx)

WELDING PROCESS AND ANY WORK INCIDENTAL THERETO OR CONNECTED THEREWITH :

1. Definitions : — For the purposes of this schedule—

(a) "Welding process" means Fusion(liquid state)welding ,Solid/Liquid state joining, Solid

phase welding at elevated temperature or Oxy/fuel gas welding/ cutting/heating;

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

removal of gases, vapours, dust or fumes so as to prevent them from escaping into

air of any workroom. No draught shall be deemed to be efficient if fails to remove smoke

generated at the point where such gases, vapours, dust or fumes originate;

(c) "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 fumes, or any other

approved apparatus;

(d) "qualified welder" means any employed person who possesses the qualification or

experience what the Inspector-cum-Facilitator may decide on basis of Indian Standards /

Conventions.

(e) "first employment" shall mean first employment in any kind of welding processes and

processes incidental thereto to which this Schedule applies and shall also include re-

employment in the said manufacturing process following any cessation of employment

for a continuous period exceeding three calendar months;

2. Exceptions : (1) Nothing in this schedule shall apply to any factory in which welding processes

are carried on occasionally for machinery maintenance purpose only and the welding

processes are not the part of routine activities.

(2) Nothing in this schedule shall apply to any welding process which is unconventional and

generates no dust, fumes, gas or vapour.

(3) Where the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator is satisfied that all or any of the provisions of

this schedule are not necessary for any of the welding processes, he may, by certificate

in writing, exempt any factory or class of factories from any such provisions, subject to

such conditions as he may specify therein.

3. Qualification of welder: No person shall be assigned any core welding process unless he is a

qualified welder for that kind of welding work. Allied work connected with core welding work

may be done by other trained worker with all precautions and protective gears;

Provided that in case of any ambiguity between core welding work and allied work, the

decision of Inspector-cum-Facilitator shall be final.

4. Periodical examination, testing and maintenance of equipments :(1) All parts of every welding

machine ,gas/fuel cylinders and sources of heat shall be properly maintained and thoroughly

examined periodically and the various controls as cylinder valves, pressure gauges, regulators,

flash back arrester and nozzles and their working shall be examined at frequent intervals to

ensure its safe operation by a responsible person designated by the occupier or manager, who

by his experience and knowledge of necessary precautions against risks of explosion is fit to

undertake such works ;

(2) Ventilation system shall be periodically examined or tested by the competent person

after every six months and particulars shall be entered in a For XXXII; and

(3) A register shall be maintained in which the details of the various tests carried out from

time to time under clause (a) shall be entered and every entry made shall be signed by

the competent person making the tests.

5. Breathing apparatus and protective clothing-(1) The occupier shall provide suitable protective

clothing, footwear, goggles, welding helmet, gloves, welding suit, respirators and face shields

as per Indian standard according to the nature of the work for the use of all persons employed

in welding processes and processes incidental thereto and such clothing, footwear, etc. shall

be worn by the persons concerned. Breathing apparatus shall be provided to the persons

employed in confined space and shall also be provided, if required, at other places according to

the nature of welding work.

(2) Suitable accommodation in 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 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 for which breathing apparatus is

necessary 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.

6. Precaution against fire and explosion : (1) Equipments or cylinders carrying Acetylene, LPG

or other fuel gases shall be properly maintained. Proper connections and closing of valves for

no gas leakage shall be ensured by a responsible person designated by the occupier or

manager.

(2) Employer shall ensure the availability and use of ignition lighter for the purpose of gas

welding processes.

(3) Nearby combustible materials during welding shall be removed or protected, if it cannot

be moved.

(4) Workers shall not be allowed to perform any welding work/Process without standard

operating procedure approved by manager or a responsible person.

(5) An adequate number of suitable type of fire extinguishers or other fire-fighting

equipment, depending on the nature of welding work, shall be provided. Such

extinguishers or other equipment shall be regularly tested and refilled. Clear instructions

as to how the extinguishers or other equipment should be used, printed in the language

which majority of the workers employed understand, shall be affixed near each

extinguisher or other equipment.

7. 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.

8. Medical facilities and records of examination and test : (1) The occupier of every factory to

which the schedule applies and wherein more than 50 workers are employed in welding

processes and processes connected to it, shall a maintain Occupational Health Center with

facilities as stipulated in the Rule-78.

(2) The record of medical examinations and appropriate test carried out by the factory

medical officer shall be maintained in a separate health register in Form V, which shall

be kept readily available for inspection by the Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

9. Medical examination by Factory medical officer-(1) Every worker employed in any of the

processes to which this schedule applies shall be examined by a Factory medical officer within

15 days of his first employment. Such examination shall include pulmonary function test, chest

X-ray,fundoscopy and acuity 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 12 calendar months and such re-examination shall,

wherever the Factory medical officer considers appropriate, include all the tests as

specified in sub-paragraph(1) except chest X-ray which will be once in every three years.

If any worker complains of any eye related discomfort or problem, the occupier shall

immediately ensure the eye test and its treatment.

(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 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 the Health Register in Form V.

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

by the Inspector cum-Facilitator.

(5) If at any time Factory 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 Certifying and the Health Register. The entry of his finding 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) The medical examination shall be arranged by the occupier or manager of the factory

and the worker shall not bear any expenses for it.