Schedule H (xxxii)

MANUFACTURING OR MANIPULATION OF FERTILIZERS

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

the process of manufacturing or manipulation of fertilizers hereinafter referred or as the said

manufacturing process is carried on.

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

(a) "fertilizer" means any substance used or intended to be used as a fertilizer of the soil

and/or crop and specified in Part A of Schedule I of the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985

and includes a mixture of fertilizer and a special mixture of fertilizers and any other

product, as may be notified from time to time by the State Government.

(b) "mixture of fertilizers" means a mixture of fertilizer made by physically mixing two or

more fertilizers, with or without inert material in physical or granular form and includes a

mixture of NPK (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium) fertilizers, a mixture of micronutrient

fertilizers.

(c) "efficient exhaust draught" means localised mechanical ventilation for removal of smoke,

gas vapour, dust, fume or mist so as to prevent them from escaping into the air of any

workroom in which work is carried on. No exhaust draught shall be considered efficient if

it fails to remove smoke generated at the point where such gas, fume, dust, vapour or

mist originates from the process;

(d) “Breathing apparatus” means (1) a helmet or face piece with necessary connections by

means of which a person using it in a poisonous, asphyxiating or irritant atmosphere

breaths ordinary air, or (2) any other suitable apparatus approved in writing by the Chief

Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

(e) "first employment" shall mean first employment in any manufacturing process 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.

(f) "manipulation" including mixing, blending, formulating, filling, emptying, packing or

otherwise handling.

3. Instruction to workers— Every worker on his first employment shall be fully instructed on the

properties including dangerous properties of the chemicals handled in the said manufacturing

process and the hazards involved. The workers shall also be instructed in the measures to be

taken to deal with any emergency, such instructions shall be repeated periodically.

4. Prohibition relating to employment of women or young persons— No women or young person

shall be employed or permitted to work in any room in which the said manufacturing process or

mixing of fertilizers is carried on or in any room in which fertilizer is stored.

5. Instruments— All instruments such as pressure gauges, thermometers, flow meters and

weighing machines shall be tested at regular intervals by a competent person, and records of

these tests shall be kept in a register.

6. Safety valves— Every still and every closed vessels in which gas is produced or into which gas

is passed and in which the pressure is liable to rise to a dangerous degree shall have attached

to it a pressure gauge, and a proper safety valve or other equally efficient means to relieve the

pressure, maintained in good condition and shall be tested at regular intervals by a competent

person, and records of these tests shall be kept in a register.

7. Examination, testing and repair of plant— Examination, testing and repair of pressure vessel or

plant parts which have been in contact with ammonia and other chemicals, or which is above

atmospheric pressure, shall only be carried out under proper supervision. Examination and

testing of pressure vessel or plant parts shall be carried out at regular intervals by a competent

person and records of these tests shall be provided in the prescribed Form meant for the

pressure plant.

8. Leakage detection of ammonia & other chemicals- Leakage of ammonia and other chemicals

through pressure vessel or plant parts shall be detected by chemical vapour detection system.

Leakage of ammonia may also be detected by using sulfur sticks.

9. Alarm system : (a) Plant and Parts of the buildings shall be fitted with alarm systems,

automatic cut-offs or other devices to prevent overcharging or otherwise endangering the plant.

(b) Alarm system shall be activated automatically by receiving signals from chemical vapor

sensors in case of leakage of ammonia and other chemicals through pressure vessel or

plant parts.

(c) The amount of ammonia and other chemicals taken into a building in bulk containers at

any one time shall be kept as low as practicable.

10. Breathing apparatus—

(a) There shall be provided in every factory where dangerous gas or fume is liable to escape

a sufficient supply of—

(i) breathing apparatus of an approved make for the hazards involved ;

(ii) oxygen and suitable means of its administration; and

(iii) life-belts.

The breathing apparatus and other appliances required by this Schedule

shall (i) be maintained in good order and kept in an ambulance room or in some

other place approved in writing by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator, and (ii) be

thoroughly inspected once every month by a competent person, appointed in

writing by the occupier and record of their condition shall be entered in a book

provided for that purpose, which shall be produced when required by an Inspector-

cum-Facilitator.

(b) Workers shall be trained and given a periodic refresher course in the use of breathing

apparatus and respirators.

(c) Respirators shall be kept properly labeled in a clean dry light-proof cabinets, and if liable

to be affected by fumes, shall be protected by suitable containers. Respirators shall be

dried and cleaned after use and shall be periodically disinfected.

11. 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.

12. Food, drinks and smoking prohibited in the workroom— (1) No food, drink, tobacco, pan or

supari shall be brought into or consumed by any worker in any workroom in which the said

manufacturing process is carried out.

(2) Smoking shall be prohibited in any workroom in which the said manufacturing process is

carried out.

13. Protective clothing and protective equipment— (1) Protective clothing consisting of long pants

and shirts or overalls with long sleeves and head coverings shall be provided for all workers

employed in the said manufacturing process.

(2) Protective equipment consisting of rubber gloves, gum boots, rubber apron, chemical

safety goggles shall be provided for all workers employed in the said manufacturing

process.

14. Protective clothing and equipment shall be maintained in good condition. Ventilation— In every

workroom or area whereas fertilizers is manufactured or manipulated, adequate ventilation

shall be provided at all times by the circulation of fresh air.

15. Medical Examination by a Factory Medical Officer — (1) Every worker employed in the

processes mentioned in Paragraph 1 shall be examined by the Factory Medical Officer within

15 days of his first employment. Such examination shall include tests for determination of the

ammonia and other chemicals in the blood and urine, pulmonary function test, EEG test,

memory test and other tests as prescribed by the Factory Medical Officer. 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 the Factory Medical

Officer at least once in every six calendar months. Such examination shall, wherever the

Factory Medical Officer considers appropriate, include tests as specified in sub-paragraph

(1).

(3) The Factory Medical Officer after examining a worker, shall issue a certificate of Fitness

in Form XXXIII. The record of re-examination carried out shall be entered in the health

register Form V shall be kept in the custody of manager of the factory. The record of

each examination carried out under sub-paragraph (1) and (2), including the nature and

the results of the tests, 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.

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

owing to the exceptional circumstances or the infrequency of the said manufacturing process or

for any other reason which he shall record in writing all or any of the provisions of this Schedule

are not necessary for the protection of the workers employed in the factory, he may by a

certificate in writing exempt such factory, from all or any of the provisions on such condition as

he may specify therein, such certificate may at any time be revoked by the Chief Inspector-

cum- Facilitator after recording his reasons therefore.