Contents of the OSH Rules (Lakshadweep)

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Lakshadweep) Rules, 2025

Schedule XXIII

Chapter IX — Special Provisions for Contract Labour and Inter-state MigrantsPart V — FactoriesPrinted after rule 105Made under The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020F. No. 08/04/2024-LE&T, 27 Apr 2026

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OPERATIONS INVOLVING HIGH NOISE LEVELS AND VIBRATION LEVELS

PART-A High Noise Level

1. Application - This part of schedule shall apply to all operations in any manufacturing

process having high noise level.

2. Definitions - For the purpose of this schedule -

(a) "Noise" means any unwanted sound.

(b) "High noise level" means any noise level measured on the A-weighted scale is 85 Db

or above.

scale used to express the ratio of two specified or implied quantities, the number of "Bels"

denoting such a ratio being the logarithm to the base the of 10 of this ratio. The noise level (or

the sound pressure level) 6 corresponds to a reference pressure of 20 x 10 power(-6) Newton

per square meter or 0.0002 dynes per square centimetre which is the threshold of hearing, that

is, the lowest sound pressure level necessary to produce the sensation of hearing in average

healthy listeners. The decibel in abbreviated form is Db.

(d) "Frequency" is the rate of pressure variations expressed in cycles per second or hertz.

(e) "dBA" refers to sound level in decibels as measured on a sound level meter operating

on the A-weighting network with slow meter response.

(f) "A-weighting" means making graded adjustments in the intensities of sound of various

frequencies for the purpose of noise measurement, so that the sound pressure level measured

by an instrument reflects the actual response of the human ear to the sound measured.

3. Protection against noise –

Table- 1

Permissible Exposure in case of noise

Total time of exposure (Continuous or Sound pressure level in dBA

number of short-term exposures as per day in

hours

8 85

6 87

4 90

3 92

1 ½ 97

1 100

¾ 102

½ 105

¼ 110

Notes: 1. No exposure in excess of 140 dB peak sound pressure level is permitted.

2. For any peak sound pressure level falling in between any figure and the next higher or

lower figure as indicated in column 1, the permitted number of impulses or impacts per day is

to be determined by extrapolation on a proportionate basis.

3. For the purposes of this schedule, if the variations in the noise level involve maximum

at intervals of one second or less, the noise is to be considered as a continuous one and the

criteria given in Table 1 would apply. In other cases, the noise is to be considered as impulsive

or impact noise and the criteria given in Table 2 shall apply.

4. When the daily exposure is composed of two or more periods of noise exposure at

different levels their combined effect should be considered, rather than the individual effect of

each. The mixed exposure should be considered to exceed the limit value if the sum of the

fractions C1/T1 +

C2ff2......+. cnrrn exceeds unity, -

Where the C1, C2 etc. Indicate the total time of actual exposure at a specified noise level and

T1, T2, etc. Denote the time of exposure of less than 90 dBA may be ignored in the above

calculation.

5. Where it 1s not possible to reduce the noise exposure to the levels specified in sub-rule

(1) by reasonably practicable engineering control or administrative measures, the noise

exposure shall be reduced to the greatest extent feasible by such control measures, and each

worker so exposed shall be provided with suitable ear protectors so as to reduce the exposure

to noise to the levels specified in sub-rule (1),

6. Where the ear protectors provided in accordance with sub- paragraph (2) and worn by

a worker cannot still attenuate the noise reaching near his ear, as determined by subtracting the

attenuation value in Oba of the ear protectors concerned from the measured sound pressure

level, to a level permissible under Table 1 or Table2 as the case may be, the noise exposure

period shall be suitably reduced to correspond to the permissible noise exposures specified in

sub- paragraph (1).

7. (a) In all cases where the prevailing sound levels exceed the permissible levels specified

in sub-paragraph (1) there shall be administered an effective hearing conservation programme

which shall include among other hearing conservation measures, pre-employment and

periodical auditory surveys conducted on workers exposed to noise exceeding the permissible

levels, and rehabilitation of such workers either by reducing the exposure to the noise levels or

by transferring them to places where noise levels are relatively less or by any other suitable

means.

8. Medical examination by Medical officer-

(1) The occupier shall ensure that the workers who are likely to be exposed to high

noise at above exposure action value are subjected to periodical medical examination once ln

a year. The medical examination shallinclude tests which the Medical officer may consider

appropriate and shall include determination of auditory thresholds for pure tones of 125, 250,

500, 1000, 2000, 4000 and 8000 cycles per second.

(2) Every worker exposed to high noise level shall be examined by a Medical officer within

15 days of his first employment. 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.

(3) Every worker employed in process involving high noise shall be re- examined by a

Medical officer at least once in every 12 months and such examination shall, wherever the

Medical officer considers appropriate, include all the tests in subparagraph (1).

(4) 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 sub-paragraph (1) and (2), including the nature

and the results of this test, shall also be entered by the Medical officer in a health register in

Form-41 electronically or otherwise.

(5) The Certificate of Fitness and the health register shall be kept readily available for

inspection by the Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

(6) 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 a record of his findings in the said certificate

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

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

(7) 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.

PART-B

HIGH VIBRATION LEVELS

1. Applications-This part of the Schedule shall apply to all operations in a manufacturing

part of the process having high undesired vibrations.

2. Definition:

(a) "daily exposure" means the quantity of mechanical vibration to which a worker is

exposed during a working day, which takes account of the magnitude and duration of the

vibration;

(b) 'Vibration" means a mechanical phenomenon where by oscillations occur about

equilibrium point. The oscillations may be periodic or random.

value specified in clause-3.

(d) "exposure action value" means the level of daily exposure set out in clause-3 for any

worker which, if reached or exceeded, requires specified action to be taken to reduce risk;

(e) "exposure limit value" means the level of daily exposure for any worker which must

not be exceeded, as specified in sub clause-3

(f) "hand-arm vibration" means mechanical vibration which is transmitted into the hands

and arms during a work activity;

(n) '"mechanical vibration" means vibration occurring 1n a

piece of machinery or equipment or in a vehicle as a result of its operation; and

(h) "whole-body vibration" means mechanical vibration which is transmitted into the body,

when seated or standing, through the supporting surface, during a work activity or as described

in sub clause 3(2).

3. Exposure limit values and action values.

(1) For hand-arm vibration

(a) the daily exposure limit value is 5 m/s2 A(8);

(b) the daily exposure action value is 2.5 m/s2A(8),

and daily exposure shall be ascertained on the basis set out in the relevant

National/International Standards specified in table 1 below.

(2) For whole body vibration

(a) the daily exposure limit value is 1.15 m/s2A(8);

(b) the daily exposure action value is 0.5 m/s2A(8),

and daily exposure shall be ascertained on the basis set out in the relevant

National/International Standards

Table-1

Total Daily Exposure Duration (hours) Maximum value of frequency weighted

acceleration (m/s2) in any direction

4 to less than 8 hours 4

2 to less than 4 hours 6

1 to less than 2 hours 8

Less than 1 hour 12

(3) Assessment of vibration exposure shall be made for each applicable direction (X, Y, Z))

since vibration is a vector quantity (magnitude and direction). In each direction, the magnitude

of the vibration during normal operation of the power tool, machine or work piece should be

expressed by the root-mean-square (RMS) value of the frequency --weighted component

acceleration, in units of meter per second squared (m/s2).

4. Assessment of risk to health due to vibration at the work place.

(1) An occupier who carries out work which is liable to expose any worker from vibration

shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk created by that work to the health

and safety of those and the risk assessment shall identify the control measures that need to be

taken.

(2) The risk assessment should be reviewed whenever it is felt the changes in the process

makes the earlier risk assessment no \anger valid.

5. Engineering control measures

1. The occupier shall ensure that risk from the exposure of workers to vibration is either

eliminated at source or, where this is not reasonably practicable, reduced to as low a level as is

reasonably practicable.

(a) Where it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risk at source pursuant to

paragraph.

(b) and an exposure action value is likely to be reached or exceeded, the employer

shall reduce exposure to as low a level as is reasonably practicable by establishing and

implementing a programme of engineering control measures which are appropriate to

this type of activity.

measures:-

(i) work equipment of appropriate ergonomic design which, taking account of

the work to be done, produces the least possible vibration;

(ii) the provision of auxiliary equipment which reduces the risk of injuries

caused by vibration; and install appropriate maintenance programmes for work

equipment, the workplace and workplace systems;

(iii) Subject to sub clause 5, the employer shall ensure that his employees are

not exposed to vibration above an exposure limit value; and shall take necessary

to identify the reasons for the limit being exceeded and take appropriate steps

to reduce the exposure to vibration to below limit value.

Provided that where the exposure of an employee to vibration is usually below the exposure

action value but varies markedly from time to time and may occasionally exceed the exposure

limit value.

provided further that- any exposure to vibration averaged over one week is less than the

exposure limit value and there is evidence to show that the risk from the actual pattern of

exposure is less than the corresponding risk from constant exposure at the exposure limit value;

and that the (b) risk is reduced to as low a \eve\ as is reasonably practicable, taking into account

the special circumstances.

6. Medical examination by Medical officer-

(1) The occupier shall ensure that the workers who are likely to be exposed to vibration at

above exposure action value are subjected to periodical medical examination once 1n a year.

The medical examination shall include general and physical examination as well as special test

for Reynaud's phenomenon.

(2) Every worker employed in the processes specified in paragraph 1 shall be examined by

a Medical officer within 15 days of his first employment. 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.

(3) Every worker employed in a manganese process shall be re-examined by a Medical

officer at least once in every 12 months and such examination shall, wherever the Medical

officer considers appropriate, include all the tests in subparagraph (1).

(4) 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 sub-paragraph (1) and (2), including the nature

and the results of this test. shall also be entered by the Medical officer in a health register 1n