Schedule XXIV

MANUFACTURE OR MANIPULATION OF DANGEROUS PESTICIDES

1. Application -This schedule shall apply in respect of all factories or any part thereof in

which the process of manufacture or manipulation of dangerous pesticide hereinafter referred

to as the said manufacturing process is carried on.

2. Definitions - For the purpose of this Schedule -

(a] "dangerous pesticides" means any product proposed or used for controlling, destroying or

repelling any pest or for preventing growth or mitigating effects of such growth including any

of its formulations which is considered toxic under and is covered by the Insecticides Act,

1968and the rules made there under and any other product, as may be notified from time to

time by the Administration of Lakshadweep;

(b) "manipulation'· includes mixing, blending, formulating, filling, emptying, packing or

otherwise handling;

(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

work room 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.

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 employees shall also be instructed in the

measures to be taken to deal with any emergency. Such instructions shall be repeated

periodically.

4. Cautionary notice and placards - Cautionary notices and placards in the form specified

in appendix to this schedule and printed in the language of the majority of the workers shal\ be

displayed in all work places in which said manufacturing process is carried on so that they can

be easily and conveniently read by the workers. Arrangements shall be made by the occupier

and the manager of the factory to periodically instruct the workers regarding the health hazards

arising to in the said manufacturing process and methods of protection. Such notices shall

include brief instructions regarding the periodical clinical tests required to be undertaken for

projecting health of the workers.

5. Prohibition relating to employment of pregnant women or Adolescent -

No pregnant woman or adolescent shall be employed or permitted to work in any room in

which the said manufacturing process is carried on or in any room in which dangerous pesticide

is stored.

6. Food drinks, and smoking prohibition - (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.

7. Protective clothing and protective equipment - (1) Protective clothing consisting of

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

workers employed in the said manufacturing process.

(2) (a) Protective equipment consisting of rubber gloves, gum boots, rubber aprons,

chemical safety goggles and respirators shall be provided for all workers employed in the said

manufacturing process.

(b) Gloves, boots, aprons shall be made from synthetic rubber where a pesticide contains oil.

(3) Protective clothing and equipment shall be worn by the workers suppliedwith such

clothing and equipment.

(4) Protective clothing and equipment shall be washed daily from inside and outside if the

workers handle pesticides containing nicotine or phosphorous and shall be washed frequently

if handling other pesticides.

(5) Protective clothing and equipment shall be maintained in good condition.

8. Floors and work-benches - (1) Floors in every workroom where dangerous pesticides

are manipulated shall be of cement or other impervious material giving a smooth surface.

(2) Floors shall be maintained in good repair, provided with adequate slope leading to a drain

and thoroughly washed once a day with the hose pipe.

(3) Work-benches where dangerous pesticides are manipulated shall be made of smooth,

non-absorbing material preferably stainless steel and shall becleaned at least once daily.

9. Spillage and waste - (1) If a dangerous pesticide during its manipulation splashes or

spills on the work-bench, floor or on the protective clothing worn by a worker, immediate

action shall be taken for through decontamination of such areas or articles.

(2) Cloth, rags, paper or other material soaked or soiled with a dangerous pesticide shall be

deposited in a suitable receptacle with tight fitting cover. Contaminated waste shall be

destroyed by burning at least once a week.

(1) Suitable deactivating agents, where available, shall be kept in a readily accessible place

for use while attending to a spillage.

(4) Easy means of access shall be provided to all parts of the plant for cleaning,

maintenance and repairs.

10. Empty containers used for dangerous pesticides - Containers used for dangerous

pesticides shall be thoroughly cleaned of their contents and treated with an inactivating agent

before being discarded or destroyed. Manual handling - (1) A dangerous pesticide shall not be

required or allowed to be manipulated by hand except by means of a long handled scoop.

(2) Direct contact of any part of the body with a dangerous pesticide during its manipulation

shall be avoided.

11. Ventilation - (1) In every workroom or area where a dangerous pesticide is manipulated,

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

(2) Unless the process is completely enclosed, the following operations during

manipulation of a dangerous pesticide shall not be undertaken without an efficient exhaust

draught :-

(a) emptying a container holding a dangerous pesticide;

(b) blending a dangerous pesticide;

(c) preparing a liquid or powder formulation containing a dangerous pesticide; and

(d) Changing or filling a dangerous pesticide into a container, tank hopper or machine or

small sized containers_

(3) In the event of a failure of the exhaust draught provided on the above operation, the

said operations shall be stopped forthwith.

(4) (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.

12. Time allowed for washing - (1) Before each meal and before the end of the day's work

at least ten minutes in addition to the regular rest interval shall be allowed for washing to each

worker engaged in the manipulation of dangerous pesticide.

(2) Every worker engaged in the manipulation of dangerous pesticides shall have a

thorough wash before consuming any food and also at the end of the day's work.

13. Washing and bathing facilities - (1) There shall be provided and maintained in a clean

state and in good repair for the use of al\ workers employed in the factory where the said

manufacturing process is carried on, adequate washing and bathing places having a constant

supply of water under cover at the rate of one such place for every 5 persons employed.

(2) The washing places shall have standpipes placed at intervals of not less than one meter.

(3) Not less than one half of the total number of washing places shall be provided with

bathrooms.

(4) Sufficient supply of clean towels made of suitable material shall be provided

Provided that such towels shall be supplied individually for each worker is so ordered by the

lnspector-cum- Facilitator.

(S) Sufficient supply of soap and nail brushes shall be provided.

14. Cloakroom - There shall be provided and maintained for the use of all workers

employed in the factory where the said manufacturing process is carried on -

(a) a cloakroom for clothing put off during working hours with adequate arrangements for

drying clothing, if wet; and

(b) separate and suitable arrangements for the storage of protective clothing provided under

paragraph 7.

15. Mess room - (1) There shall be provided and maintained for the use of all workers

employed in the factory in which the said manufacturing process is carried on and remaining

on the premises during the rest intervals, suitable mess room which shall be furnished with -

(a) sufficient tables and benches with back rest, and

(b) Adequate means for warming food.

(2) The mess room shall be placed under the charge of responsible person and shall be kept

clean.

16. Manipulation not be undertaken - Manufacture or manipulation of a pesticides shall not

be undertaken in any factory unless a certificate regarding its dangerous nature or othef\Nise

is obtained from the Chief Inspector-cum- Facilitator.

17. Medical examination by medical officer - (1) every worker employed in the processes

specified in paragraph 1 shal\ be examined by a Medical officer within15 days of his first

employment. Such examinations in respect of Halogenated Pesticides, shall include tests for

determination of chemical in blood and in fat tissues, E.E.G. abnormalities and memory tests.

In respect of organo phosphate compounds, such examinations shall include tests for

depression of cholinesterase in plasma and red blood cells. 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 process shall be re-examined by a Medical officer

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

officer considers appropriate, include the tests specified in sub-paragraph (1). Further every

worker employed in the said processes shall also be examined once in every three months by

the qualified medical practitioner.

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

and the results of these test, shall 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 there in 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.

(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.

20. 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 shall record in writing al\ or any of the provisions of this schedule

are not necessary for the protection of 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