Schedule H (xxxi)

HOT METALLURGICAL PROCESS AND ANY WORK INCIDENTAL THERETO OR

CONNECTED THEREWITH:

1. Definitions- For the purpose of this schedule-

(a) "Hot metallurgical processes" means melting, refining, smelting, moulding, forging

operations, hot rolling operations, foundry operations, casting; and furthermore it is

applicable to production of iron, steel, ferrous or non-ferrous melting and casting by

moulds of different materials including the process of shall moulding, die casting,

pressure die casting, centrifugal casting, continuous casting and making of ingots, billets,

slabs etc and the stripping thereof.

(b) "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;

(c) "knock-out operations"means all methods of removing castings from mould sand the

following operations, when done in connection therewith, namely, stripping, coring-out

and the removal of runners and risers;

2. General safety measures:

(a) There shall be uncongested machine and process layout, good housekeeping and

ventilation, good draft to furnace and efficient exhaust of gases, water curtains and

reflective or insulating screens for protection against radiant heat and hot air, local

exhaust systems at the furnaces, cold air showers at hot work places, noise absorbent

panels and deep and massive foundations to suppress vibrations.

(b) Rest rooms protected against radiant heat should be provided and equipped with air and

water showers etc.

(c) Protective heat-resistant armlets, gaiters, aprons, safety footwear, eye and face shield,

ear muffs or plugs to workers and safety training shall be provided to all the workers.

(d) adequate safety measures and precautions shall be taken for handling receiving and

storage of raw materials and finished products.

(e) electrical equipment must be earthed and operated safely

3. Preventive maintenance of machines:

(a) treadle guard shall be designed to provide complete coverage and at the same time

enough clearance for operator comfort and control of the treadle action shall be

ensured..

(b) forging furnace should be shielded as much as possible to protect workers from radiant

heat. This can be done by means of asbestos covered screens, metal shield backed by

refractory material and stainless steel or aluminum shells having radiant heat reflective

qualities.

(c) Equipments including hoists, slings, chains, props and catches, tongs should always be

kept in good working order by periodic inspection and preventive maintenance

schedules.

(d) Ventilation system shall be examined and particulars shall be entered in Form XXXII by

a competent person as recognised in schedule 'E'.

4. Dust and fumes.-

(a) Open coal, coke or wood fires shall not be used for heating or drying ladles inside a

workroom unless adequate measures are taken to prevent, so far as practicable, fumes

or other impurities from entering into or remaining in the atmosphere of the workroom.

(b) No open coal, coke or wood fires shall be used for drying moulds except in

circumstances in which the use of such fires is unavoidable.

(c) Mould stoves, core stoves and annealing furnaces shall be so designed constructed,

maintained and worked as to prevent, so far as practicable, offensive or injurious fumes

from entering into any workroom during any period when a person is employed therein.

(d) All knock-out operations shall be carried out -

(i) in a separate part of foundry suitably partitioned off, being a room or part in which,

so far as reasonably practicable, effective and suitable local exhaust ventilation and

a high standard of general ventilation are provided; or

(ii) in an area of the foundry in which, so far as reasonably practicable, effective and

suitable local exhaust ventilation is provided, or where compliance with this

requirement is not reasonably practicable, a high standard of general ventilation is

provided.

5. All dressing or fettling operations shall be carried out -(1) In a separate room or in a separate

part of foundry suitably partitioned off; or

(2) In an area of the foundry set apart for the purpose; and shall, so far as reasonably

practicable, be carried out with effective and suitable local exhaust ventilation or other

equally effective means of suppressing dust, operating as near as possible to the point

of origin of the dust

6. Personal protective Equipment: (1) Personal protective equipment (PPE) for Hot Metallurgical

Processes and processes Incidental thereto shop workers include safety shoes, leather leg

guards, safety helmets, hand and arm protection, leather aprons, etc. Goggles with colored or

clear lenses, face shield or wire mesh face screen should be worn to help prevent face and eye

injuries. Aluminized asbestos cloth overalls should be provided to furnace men to protect them

from radiant heat. Ear muffs or ear plugs should be provided to forging crew to protect them

from noise. No respirator provided for the purpose of this schedule which has been worn by a

person shall be worn by another person if it has not since been thoroughly cleaned and

disinfected.

(2) Training for use of PPE to all the workers shall be ensured.

(3) A register for the allotment of PPEs to the employees shall be maintained. Maintenance

of PPEs shall also be ensured periodically and Occupier shall provide and maintain

suitable accommodation for the storage and make adequate arrangements for cleaning

and maintaining of the protective equipment supplied.

(4) Occupier shall ensure that all the workers wear the appropriate PPEs during the work.

(5) Persons who for any of their time -

(i) work at a spout of or attend to, a cupola or furnace in such circumstances that

material there from may come into contact with the body, being material at such a

temperature that its contact with the body would cause a burn; or

(ii) are engaged in, or in assisting with, the pouring of molten metal; or

(iii) carry by hand or move by manual power any ladle or mould containing molten metal;

or

(iv) are engaged in knocking-out operations involving material at such a temperature

that its contact with the body would cause a burn; Shall be provided with suitable

footwear and gaiters which worn by them prevent, so far as reasonably

practicable, risk of burns to his feet and ankles.

(v) Where appropriate, suitable screens shall be provided for protection against flying

materials (including splashes of molten metal and sparks and chips thrown off in

the course of any process).

7. 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 Hot Metallurgical

processes and processes connected to it, shall 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 health register in Form V.

8. 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 or pulmonary function test and eye 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 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 6 calendar months and such re-examination shall, wherever

the Factory medical officer considers appropriate, include fundoscopy and acuity test,

chest X- ray or pulmonary function test; audiometry test (if required), checking for skin

diseases, CBC test and any other what the Factory medical officer things necessary. If

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

shall immediately ensure the requisite test and its treatment.

(3) The Factory medical officer after examining a worker shall issue a Certifying 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 in Form XXXIII and the Health Register in Form V shall be

readily available for inspection by the Inspector-cum-facilitator.

(5) If at any time 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 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) 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 processes unless the Medical Officer after

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

The medical examination shall be arranged by the occupier or manager of the factory

and the worker shall not bear any expenses for it.

9. Exceptions.-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 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.