Schedule VI

MANUFACTURE AND TREATMENT OF LEAD AND CERTAIN COMPOUNDS OF

LEAD

1. Exemption - 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 of such provisions, subject to

such conditions as he may specify.

2. Definitions - For this purpose of this schedule -

(a) "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 paints 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 degree centigrade 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 precipitate as lead sulphate

and weighed as lead sulphate;

(b) "efficient exhaust draught" means localised ventilation effected by 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 gas, vapour, fume, or dusts originate.

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) the handling or mixing of lead tetra-ethyl;

(f) any other operation involving the use of a lead compound; and

(g) The cleaning of workrooms where any of the operations aforesaid are carried on.

4. Prohibition relating to pregnant women and Adolescent - No pregnant women or

adolescent 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 there in are liable to be splashed

with any lead compound in the course of their employment unless the provisions of paragraphs

5 to 13 are complied with.

6. Exhaust draught - (1) 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 to

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

origin.

(2) (i) All equipment for the extraction or suppression of dust shall at least once in every

six months be examined and tested by competent person, and any defect disclosed by such

examination and test shall be rectified as soon as practicable.

(ii) A register containing particulars of such examination and tests shall be kept in Form-42

electronically or otherwise.

7. Medical examination by the Medical officer- (1)every worker employed in the

operations referred to in paragraph 3 shall be examined by a Medical officer within 15 days of

his first employment. Such examination shall include pulmonary function tests for lead in blood

and urine, ALA in urine. haemoglobin content, stippling of cells and steadiness tests. 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 Medical officer.

(2) Every worker employed in the said processes shall be re-examined by a Medical officer

at least once in every 3 calendar months. Such re-examination shall, wherever the Medical

officer considers appropriate, include tests as specified in sub-paragraph (1).

(3) The Medical officer after examining a worker, shall issue a Certificate of Fitness in

Form-40. 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 occupier of the factory. The

record of each examination carried out under subparagraphs(1) and (2), including the nature

and the results of the tests, shalt also be entered by the Medical officer in a health register in

Form-41 electronically or otherwise.

(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 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 record of his findings in the said certificate

and the health register. The entry of his findings in those documents should also include the Page 67 of 27

period for which he considers that the said person is unfit for work in the said processes. The

person so suspended from the process shall be provided with alternate placement facilities

unless he is fully incapacitated in the opinion of the Medical officer, in which case the person

affected shall be suitably rehabilitated.

(5) shall be re-employed or permitted to work in the said processes unless the Medical office

suitably rehabilitated.

(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 those processes.

8. Food, drinks, etc. Prohibited in workroom - No food, drink, pan and supari or tobacco

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

process is carried on and no person shall remain in any such room during intervals for meals

or rest.

9. Protective clothing - Suitable protective overalls and head coverage shall be provided,

maintained and kept clean by the occupier and such overalls and head coverings shall be worn

by the persons employed.

10. Cleanliness of workrooms, 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.

11. 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 of at least two feet for every five such persons employed at any

one time, and having a constant supply of water from taps or jets above the trough at intervals

of not more than 60 centimetres; or

(a) 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 cleansing material and clean towels.

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

be kept clean.

12. 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 workroom which shall be furnished with

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

means of warming the 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.

13. Cloakroom - 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.