Schedule XXV

MANUFACTURE OF RAYON BY VISCOSE PROCESS

1. Definitions - For the purpose of this schedule -

(a) ''approved" means approved for the time being in writing by the Chief Inspector-cum-

Facilitator;

(b) "breathing apparatus" means a helmet or face piece with necessary connections by

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

unpolluted air; or any other approved apparatus;

/c) "churn" means the vessel in which alkali cellulose pulp is treated with carbon disulphide;

(d) "dumping'' means transfer of cellulose xanthate from a dry churn to a dissolver;

{e) "efficient exhaust draught" means localised ventilation by mechanical means for the

removal of any gas or vapour, so as to prevent it from escaping into the air of any place in

which work is carried on. No draught shall be deemed to be efficient if it fails to control

effectively

any gas or vapour generated at the point where such gas or fume originates;

(j) "fume process" means any process in which carbon disulphide or hydrogen

sulphide is produced, used or given off;

(g) "life be\t" means a belt made of leather or other suitable material which can be securely

fastened round the body with a suitable length of rope attached to it, each of which is

sufficiently strong to sustain the weig htof a man;

(h) '·protective equipment" means apron, goggles, face shields, footwear, gloves and

overalls made of suitable materials.

2. Ventilation -

(1) In all workrooms where a fume process is carried on, adequate ventilation by natural or

mechanical means shall be provided so as to control, in association with other control measures,

the concentration of carbon-di-sulphide and hydrogen sulphide in the air of every work

environment within the permissible limits.

(2) Notwithstanding the requirements in sub-paragraph (1) an efficient exhaust draught

shall be provided and maintained to control the concentration of carbon- disulphide and

hydrogen sulphide in the air at the following locations :-

(a) dumping hoppers of dry churns;

(b) spinning machines;

(c) trio rollers and cutters used in steple fibre spinning;

(d) gydro-extractors for yarn cakes; (eJ after treatment processes; and (_fl spin baths.

(3) In so far as the spinning machines and trio rollers and cutters used in staple fibre

spinning are concerned, they shall be, for the purpose of ensuring the effectiveness of the

exhaust draft to be provided as required in sub-paragraph (1), enclosed as fully as practicable

and provided with suitable shutters in sections to enable the required operations to be carried

out without giving rise to undue quantities of carbon-di-dulphide escaping to the work

environment.

(4) No dry churn shall be opened after completion of reaction without initially exhausting

the residual vapours of carbon-di-sulphide by operation of a suitable and efficient arrangement

for exhausting the vapours which shall be continued to be operated as long as the churn iskept

opened.

(5) Whenever any ventilation apparatus normally required for the purpose of meeting the

requirements in sub-paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) is ineffective, fails, or is stopped for any

purpose whatsoever, all persons shall be required to leave the work areas where the equipment

or processes specified in the above said sub-paragraphs are in use, as soon as possible, and in

any case not later than 15 minutes after such an occurrence.

(6) (a) All ventilating systems provided for the purposes as required in subparagraphs(2).

(3) and (4) shall be examined and inspected once every week by a responsible person. It shall

be thoroughly examined and tested by a competent person once In every period of 12 months.

Any defects found by such examinations or test shall be rectified forthwith.

(b) A register containing particulars of such examinations and tests, and the state of the

systems and the repairs or alterations (if any) found to be necessary shall be kept and shall be

available for inspection by an Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

3. Waste from spinning machines- Waste yarn from the spinning machines shall be

deposited in suitable containers provided with close fitting covers. Such waste shall be disposed

off as quickly as possible after decontamination.

4. Lining of dry churns - The inside surface of all dry churns shall be coated with a non-

sticky paint so that cellulose xanthate will not stick to the surface of the churn. Such coating

shall be maintained in good condition.

5. Air monitoring -

(1) To ensure the effectiveness of the control measures, monitoring of carbon- disulphide and

hydrogen sulphide in air shall be carried out once at least in every shift and the record of the

results so obtained shall be entered in a register specially maintained for the purposes.

(2) For the purpose ofthe requirement in sub-paragraph (1), instantaneous gas detector tubes

shall not be used. Samples shall be collected over duration of not less than 10 minutes and

analyzed by an approved method. The locations where such monitoring is to be done shall be

as directed by the Inspector-cum- Facilitator.

(3) If the concentration of either carbon disulphide or hydrogen sulphide exceeds the

permissible limits for such vapour or gas as laid down in Rules, suitable steps shall be taken

for controlling the concentrations in air of such contaminants. A report of such occurrences

shall be sent tothe Chief Inspector- cum-Facilitator forthwith.

6. Prohibition to remain \n fume process room - No person during his intervals for meal,

or rest shall remain in any room wherein fume process is carried on.

7. Prohibition relating to employment of pregnant women and Adolescent

No adolescent shall be employed or permitted to work in any fume process or in any room in

which any such process is carried on.

8. Protective equipment - (1) the occupier shall provide and maintain in good condition

protective equipment as specified in the Table for use of persons employed in the processes

referred to therein.

Table

Name of Process Name of Protective equipment

1. Dumping Overalls, face- gloves and footware

shields. All of suitable materials made.

2. Spinning Suitable apron, gloves and footwear

3. Process involving or likely to involve Suitable glove and footwear

contact with viscose solution

4. Handling of sulphur Suitable chemical goggles

5. Any other process involving contact Protective equipment as may be directed by

with hazardous chemical the Inspector -cum facilitator by an order in

writing

(2) A suitable room, rooms or lockers shall be provided exclusively for the storage of all

protective equipment supplied to workers and no such equipment shall be stored at any place

other than the room, rooms or lockers so provided.

9. Breathing apparatus where fume process is apparatus,

(1) There shall be provided in every factory carried on, sufficient supply of - breathing

(a) oxygen and a suitable appliance for its administration, and

(b) life belts.

(2) (a) The breathing apparatus and other appliances referred to in subparagraph (1) shall

be maintained in good condition and kept in appropriate locations so as to be readily available.

(b) The breathing apparatus and other appliances referred to in clauses (a) and

(b) of sub-paragraph (1) shall be cleaned and disinfected at suitable intervals and thoroughly

inspected once every month by a responsible person.

(c) A record of the maintenance of the condition of the breathing apparatus and other

appliances referred to in sub-clause (1) shall be entered in a register provided for that purpose

which shall be readily available for inspection by an Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

(1) Sufficient number of workers shall be trained and periodically retrained in the use of

breathing apparatus and administering artificial respiration so that at least 2such trained persons

would be available during all the working hours in each room in which fume process is carried

on.

(4) Breathing apparatus shall be kept properly labelled in clean, dry. light-proof cabinets

and if liable to be affected by fumes, shall be protected by placing them in suitable containers.

(5) No person shall be employed to perform any work for which breathing apparatus is

necessary to be provided under sub-paragraph (1) unless he has been fully instructed in the

proper use of that equipment.

(6) No breathing apparatus provided in pursuance of sub-paragraph (1) which has been

worn by a person shall be worn by another person shall be worn by another person unless it

has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected since last being worn and the person has been

fully instructed in the proper use of that equipment.

10. Electric fittings - All electric fittings in any room in which carbon-di-sulphide is

produced, used or given off or is likely to be given off into the work environment, other than a

spinning room, shall be of flame-proof construction and all electric conduct or shall either be

enclosed in metal conduits or be lead- sheathed.

11. Prohibition relating to smoking, etc_ - No person shall smoke or carry matches, fire or

naked light or other means of producing a naked light or spark in a room in which fume process

is carried on.

A notice in the language understood by the majority of the workers shallbe posted at prominent

locations in the plant prohibiting smoking and carrying of matches, fire or naked light or other

means of producing naked light or spark into such rooms.

Provided that fire, naked light or other means of producing a naked light of spark maybe carried

on in such room only when required for the purposes of the process itself under the direction

of a responsible person.

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

state and in good repair for the use of all workers employed and, in the processes, covered by

the schedule, adequate washing and bathing places having a constant supply of water under

cover at the rate of one such place for every 25 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 if so ordered by the Inspector-

cum-Facilitator.

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

13. Rest Room -

(1) A rest room shall be provided for the workers engaged in doffing operations of filament

yarn spinning process.

(2) Such rest room shall be provided with fresh air supply and adequate seating

arrangement.

14. Cautionary notice and instructions - (1) the following cautionary notice shall be

prominently displayed in each fume process room.

Cautionary Notice

I. Carbon disulphide (CS2) and Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S}

which may be present in this room are hazardous to health.

II. Follow safety instructions.

III. Use protective equipment and breathing apparatus as and when required.

IV. Smoking is strictly prohibited in this area."

This notice shall be in a language understood by the majority of the workers and

displayed where it can be easily and conveniently read. lf any worker is illiterate,

effective steps shall be taken to explain carefully to him the contents of the notice so

displayed.

(2) Arrangements shall be made to instruct each worker employed in any room in which a

fume process is carried on regarding the health hazards connected with their work and the

preventive measures and methods to protect themselves_ Such instructions shall be given on

his first employment and repeated periodically.

(3) Simple and special instructions shall be framed to ensure that effective measures will

be carried out in case of emergency involving escape of carbon di-sulphide and hydrogen

sulphide. Those instructions shall be displayed in the concerned areas and workers shall be

instructed and trained in the actions to be taken in such emergencies.

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

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

employment. Such examinations shall include skin test for dermatitis and 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 a manganese process shall be re-examined by a Medical

officer at least once in every three calendar months and such examination shall, wherever the

Medical officer considers appropriate, include all the tests 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 sub-paragraph (1) and (2) including the nature

and the results of these test. shall also be entered by the MedicaI 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. 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.

(5) 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.

17. Exemptions - If in respect of any factory. the Chief lnspector-cum-Facilitator is satisfied

that owing to the exceptional circumstances or infrequency of the processes or for any other

reason, all or any of the provisions of this schedule is not necessary for the protection of the

workers in the factory, the Chief lnspector-cum-Facmtator may be a certificate in writing which

he may in his discretion revoke at any time, exempt such factory from all or any of such

provisions subject to such conditions, if any, as he may specify therein.