Schedule XIV

(See rule 84)

HANDLING AND PROCESSING OF ASBESTOS, MANUFACTURE OF ANY ARTICLE OUT OF

ASBESTOS AND ANY OTHER PROCESS OF MANUFCTURE WHEREIN ASBESTOS IS USED IN

ANY FORM.

1. Application:

1) This schedule shall apply to all manufacturing process as defined under of the Code, carried on

in a factory involving exposure of workers to asbestos and/or exposure of workers to product

containing Asbestos.

2) The Government may, at any time, for the purpose of giving effect to any scientifically validated

evidence for a particular disease or cause made out of any research and development by specialized

institutions or experts in the field, notify in the Official Gazette and make suitable changes in the

said Schedule.

3) The provisions of this schedule shall apply to all workers exposed to asbestos in the factory and

it shall be the responsibility of the occupier of the factory to comply with the provisions of the

schedule in true spirit of it and in full;

4) (a) The occupier of the factory wherein asbestos or substances containing asbestos are in use,

shall modify, evolve and adopt newer work procedures and practices generated out of any

scientific research and technological updates and present it for approval by the Chief

Inspector-cum-Facilitator and follow such approved procedures thereafter;

(b) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-paragraph (1) above use of asbestos is prohibited

in the manufacturing process as notified by the Government in this behalf;

(i) Spraying of all forms of asbestos is prohibited in a factory;

(ii) The prohibition in respect of spraying of asbestos referred to in sub- para (i) may

be exempted by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator if the Occupier represents that

such spraying is inevitable owing to the specific nature of the product and that he/

she had taken adequate measures for ensuring the safety and health of workers to the

satisfaction of the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

2. Definitions: For the purpose of this Schedule,-

1) “asbestos” means any fibrous silicate mineral and any admixture containing actinolite, amosite,

anthophyllite, chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite or any mixture thereof, whether crude, crushed

or opened;

2) “Asbestos textiles” means yarn or clothes composed of asbestos or asbestos mixed with any other

materials;

3) “approved” means approved for the time being in writing by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator;

4) “Breathing apparatus” means a helmet or face piece with necessary air connection by means of

which a person using it breath air, free of dust, or any other approved apparatus of the same kind

used for the same purpose;

5) “Efficient exhaust draught” means a localized ventilation by mechanical means for removal of

dust so as to prevent dust from escaping into any place where work is being carried on. No

draught shall be deemed to be efficient that fails to control dust produced at the point where such

dust originates;

6) “preparing” means crushing, disintegrating and any other processes in between or incidental to

the opening of asbestos;

7) “Protective clothing” means overalls and head covering, which (in either case) when worn protect

the worker from harmful asbestos dust;

8) “Asbestos dust” means airborne particles of asbestos or settled particles of asbestos that may

become airborne in the factory;

9) “Airborne asbestos dust”, for the purposes of measurement, means dust particles measured by

gravimetric assessment or other equivalent method;

10) “Respirable asbestos fibres” means asbestos fibres having diameter of less than 3 micro metre and

a length to diameter ratio greater than 3:1;

11) “Exposure to asbestos” means exposure to airborne respirable asbestos fibres or asbestos dust;

whether originating from asbestos or from asbestoses minerals, materials or products containing

asbestos in the factory.

3. Demolition of plants or Structures made of Asbestos: No person or firm shall carry out any demolition

of plants or structures containing asbestos-insulation-material or remove asbestoses material from

building or structures from which asbestos is likely to become air-borne, unless recognized and duly

empowered by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator of Factories as qualified to carry out such work in

accordance with the provisions of this Schedule.

4. Tools and equipment: Any tools or equipment used in processes to which this schedule applies shall

be such that they do not create asbestos dust above the permissible limit or they are equipped with

efficient exhaust draught

5. Exhaust draught:

1) An effective exhaust draught shall be provided and maintained to control dust from the following

processes/machines and structures or fixtures as per the relevant National Standards-

(a) Machines used in the manufacture and conveying, namely:

(i) Preparing, grinding or dry mixing machines;

(ii) Carding, card waste and ring spinning machines and looms;

(iii) Machines or other plant fed with asbestos;

(iv) Machines used for the cutting, grinding, turning, drilling, abrading or polishing, in the

dry state, of articles composed wholly or partly of asbestos;

(b) Cleaning and grinding of the cylinders or other parts of a carding machine;

(c) Chambers, hoppers or other structures into which loose asbestos is delivered or passed in

between.

(d) Work-benches for asbestos waste sorting or for other manipulation or whereas bestos is

handled manually.

(e) Workplaces at which the filling or emptying of sacks, shipments or other Portable containers

or weighing or other process incidental thereto are carried on manually;

(f) Sack cleaning machines;

(g) Mixing and blending of asbestos by hand; and

(h) Any other process in which dust is given off into the work environment.

2) Exhaust ventilation equipment provided in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) above shall, while

any work of maintenance or repair of the machinery, apparatus or other plant or equipment for

which it is provided is being carried on, be provided an exhaust draught which prevents the entry

of asbestos dust into the air of any workplace.

3) Arrangements shall be made to prevent asbestos dust discharged from exhaust apparatus being

drawn into the air of any workroom.

4) The asbestos bearing dust removed from any workroom by the exhaust system shall be collected

in suitable receptacles or filter bags and shall be isolated from all work areas.

i. Testing and examination of ventilating system:

6. All ventilating systems used for the purpose of extracting or suppressing dust as required by this

schedule shall be as per the relevant International/Indian Standards, kept 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 with such examinations or test shall be

rectified forthwith.

7. A register containing particulars of such examination and tests and the state of the plant and the

repairs or alternations (if any) found to be necessary shall be kept and shall be made available for

inspection on demand by an Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

1) Segregation in case of certain process:

2) Mixing or blending of asbestos by hand, or making or repairing of insulating mattresses

composed wholly or partly of asbestos shall not be carried on in any room in which some other

work is done.

3) Storage and distribution of loose asbestos: All loose asbestos shall, while not in use, be kept

insuitable closed receptacles capable of preventing the escape of asbestos dust there from. Such

asbestos shall not be distributed within a factory except in closed receptacles or in a totally

enclosed conveyance system.

4) Asbestos sacks:

(a) All sacks used as receptacles for the purpose of transport of asbestos within the factory

shall be constructed of impermeable materials and shall be kept in good repair.

(b) A sack is which asbestos has been kept shall not be cleaned by beating with hand. This

shall be done with a machine, complying with requirements of an exhaust draught system

detailed under paragraph 5.

(c) Asbestos sacks or receptacles which contain asbestos shall be disposed of in a safe manner.

5) Maintenance of floors and workplaces:

(a) In every room in which any of the requirements of this schedule apply-

(i) The floors, work-benches, machinery and plant shall be kept in a clean state and free

from asbestos debris. Suitable arrangements shall be made for the storage of asbestos not

immediately meant for use; and

(ii) The floors shall be kept free from any materials, plant or other articles not immediately

required for the work carried on in the room, that would obstruct the proper cleaning of the

floor.

(b) The cleaning as mentioned in sub-rule (1) shall in so far as is practicable, be carried out by

means of vacuum cleaning equipment so designed and constructed and so used that, asbestos

dust neither escape nor discharge into the air of any workplace.

(c) When the cleaning is done by any method other than that mentioned in sub-paragraph (2), the

persons doing cleaning work, and any other person employed in that room shall be provided

with respiratory protective equipment and protective clothing.

(d) The vacuum cleaning equipment used in accordance with provisions of sub-paragraph (2), shall

be properly maintained and after each cleaning kept in a clean state free from asbestos waste and

dust.

(e) Asbestos waste shall not be permitted to remain on the floors or other surfaces at the work place

at the end of the working shift and shall be transferred without delay to suitable receptacles. Any

spillage of asbestos waste occurring during the course of the work at any time shall be removed

and transferred to the receptacles maintained for the purpose without delay by proper means

avoiding direct handling.

(f) (i) The occupier shall as far as possible, better replace asbestos or certain types of asbestos or

products containing asbestos with other alternative materials or products or shall use

alternative technology, scientifically validated as harmless or less harmful, wherever or

whichever possible.

(ii) The occupier should take all the measures to prevent or control the release of asbestos in

to the air and ensure that the exposure limits or other exposure criteria are complied with

and reduce exposure to as low to the manner

(iii) Breathing Apparatus, Personnel Protective Equipment and Clothing:

(a) The occupier of every factory to which this schedule applies shall provide the workers with

personnel protective equipment such as hand gloves, shoes, helmets, goggles, earplug,

aprons, safety belt, overall suits, etc. as per the relevant National or International Standards

as required. The breathing apparatus and appropriate clothing as per the relevant National

or International standards shall be decided in consultation with the workers representatives

and the same shall be maintained in good condition for use with immediate replacements

as and when needed for use:

(i) in chambers containing loose asbestos;

(ii) in cleaning, dust settling or filtering chambers of apparatus;

(iii) in cleaning the cylinders, including the defer cylinders, or other parts of a carding

machine by means of hand-stickles;

(iv) in filling, beating, or levelling in the manufacture or repair of insulating mattresses; and

in any other operation or circumstances in which it is impracticable to adopt technical

means to control asbestos dust in the work environment within the permissible limit.

(b) Suitable accommodation in easily accessible location shall be provided for the use of

workers for wearing breathing apparatus and protective clothing provided in accordance

with this rule and for the storage of such apparatus and clothing when not in use.

(c) All breathing apparatus and protective clothing that are not in use shall be stored in the

accommodation provided in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) above.

(d) All protective clothing in use shall be de-dusted under an efficient exhaust draught or

by vacuum cleaning and shall be washed at suitable intervals. The cleaning schedule and

procedure should be such as to ensure the efficiency of the equipment intact while in use.

(e) All breathing apparatus shall be cleaned and disinfected at suitable intervals and thoroughly

inspected once every month by a responsible person.

(f) A record of the cleaning, maintenance and condition of the breathing apparatus shall be

maintained in a register and shall be readily made available for inspection by an Inspector-

cum-Facilitator.

(g) No person shall be employed to perform any work specified in sub-paragraph (1) above

for which breathing apparatus is to be compulsorily provided unless he/she has been fully

instructed and is aware of the proper use of that equipment.

(h) No breathing apparatus which has been worn by a person shall be worn by another person

unless it has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and the person has been instructed

of the proper use of the equipment.

(i) No worker shall take home any work clothing or special protective clothing or personal

protective equipment provided to him.

(g) Separate accommodation for personal clothing: A separate accommodation shall be provided in

a conveniently accessible position for all persons employed in operations to which this schedule

applies for storing of personal clothing. This should be separated from the accommodation

provided under sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 10 to 11 prevent contamination of personal

clothing.

(h) Washing and bathing facilities:

(i) There shall be provided and maintained in a clean state and in good repair, for the use of

all workers, employed in the processes covered under the schedule, adequate washing and

bathing places having sufficient supply of water ensuring privacy at the rate of one location

for every 15 persons employed.

(ii) The washing places shall have stand-pipes positioned at intervals of not less than one meter.

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

(iv) Sufficient supply of clean towels shall be provided:

(v) Provided that such towels shall be supplied for each worker if ordered by the Inspector-cum-

Facilitator.

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

(i) Mess Room:

There shall be provided and maintained for the use of all workers employed in the factory covered

by this schedule, remaining on the premises during the rest intervals, a suitable messroom which

shall be furnished with sufficient tables and benches with backrest,

(j) Prohibition of employment of young persons:- No young person shall be employed in any of the

process covered by this schedule.

(k) Prohibition relating to Smoking: - No person shall smoke in any area where processes covered by

this schedule are carried on. A notice in the language understood by majority of the workers shall

be placed in the plant prohibiting smoking in such areas.

(l) Pictorial Cautionary Notices: Cautionary notices in the form specified in appendix and printed

in the language easily understood by majority of workers shall be displayed in prominent places

in the workers where asbestos or substances containing asbestos are manufactured, handled or

used.

(m) Air monitoring: To ensure the effectiveness of control measures in continuous or repetitive

processes, the monitoring of asbestos fibres in air shall be carried out and monitored at least once

in every shift. Individual examination of workers shall be carried out when they leave after every

shift and the result so obtained shall be entered in a register and ensure that

(i) there is not any substantial change in the workplace conditions harmful to the workers;

(ii) the results of last two consecutive measurements have not exceeded half the value of the

relevant control limit; and

(iii) all such factories shall adopt membrane filter test as per the relevant National Standards

without fail.

(n) Medical Control Measures:

(i) The occupier of every factory wherein a worker is employed in the processes specified in

clause I of paragraph 1 shall ensure that every worker employed be examined by a Medical

Officer as advised by the Inspector-cum-Facilitator within 15 days of his first employment.

Such medical examination shall include sputum examination for asbestos, toxicity, followed

with pulmonary function test and chest X Ray – Posterior – Anterior (PA) and, the X-Rays

shall be compared with standard ILO Radiographs on Pneumoconiosis. 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 again.

(ii) Every worker employed in the said processes shall be re-examined by a Medical Officer at

least once in every twelve months. Such re-examination shall, wherever the Medical Officer

considers appropriate, include all the tests as specified in sub-paragraph (1) above except

chest X-ray which shall be read by a radiologist specialized/trained in the field of reading

ILO Radiographs on Pneumoconiosis and in suspected cases the chest X-ray which shall be

repeated at least once in 3 years.

(iii) Every worker employed in any of the aforesaid processes shall be radiologically examined by

a qualified Radiologist at the cost of the occupier. The report of such X-ray shall be placed

before the Medical Officer/Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator within three months.

(iv) If at any time the Factory Medical Officer/Medical Officer is of the opinion that a worker

is no longer fit for employment in the said process on the ground that continuance therein

would involve special danger to the health of the worker he/she shall make a record of his

findings in Certificate and the health register. The entry of his findings in these documents

shall also include the period for which he/she considers the said person unfit for work in

such processes. The person so suspended from the process shall be provided with alternate

placement facilities unless he/she fully is incapacitated in the opinion of the Medical Officer,

in which case the person affected shall be suitably rehabilitated.

(v) No person who has been found unfit to work as said in sub-paragraph (4) above 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.

(vi) A worker already in employment and declared unfit by the Factory Medical Officer/

Medical Officer shall not be allowed to work on any of the processes specified in clause I

of the paragraph I, unless he/she has been examined again along with X-ray by a qualified

Radiologist, at the cost of the occupier and certified to be fit to work in the said processes

again.

(vii) For conducting medical examination, the Factory Medical Officer or Medical Officer

appointed by the Occupier shall be provided an exclusive room in the factory premises

maintained properly cleaned, adequately lighted ventilated and furnished with a screen, a

table with office stationery, chairs and other facilities and other instruments including X-ray

arrangements for such examinations and such other equipment as may be prescribed by

the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator for time to time. The Factory Medical Officer so

appointed shall perform the following duties, namely:-

(a) undertake medical supervision of persons employed in the factory;

(b) look after health and rehabilitation of sick, injured or affected workers;

(c) carry out inspection of work rooms where dangerous operations are being carried out

and advise the management of the measures to be adopted for the protection of health

of the workers employed therein.

(d) maintain a health register of workers in the prescribed format

8. The Health Records of the workers exposed to asbestos, shall be kept up to a minimum period of

40 years from the beginning of the employment or 15 years after retirement or cessation of the

employment, whichever is later and shall be accessible to workers concerned or their representatives.

9. For the record of medical examinations and appropriate test carried out by the Factory Medical Officer,

a certificate of fitness and health register shall be maintained separately approved by the Chief

Inspector-cum-Facilitator of Factories, and shall be kept readily available for inspection by the

Inspector-cum-Facilitator on demand.

(a) Exemptions:-

(i) If in respect of any factory, the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator is satisfied that owing to the

exceptional circumstances or infrequent nature of the processes or for any other reason, all

orany of the provisions of this Schedule is not necessary for protection of the workers in

the factory, the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may by a certificate in writing, which he/

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

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

(ii) The Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may permit temporary derogation, through a

notification in an Official Gazette, from the measures prescribed in this schedule under

conditions and within limits of time determined after consultation with the representative

organizations of employers and workers concerned.

PICTORIAL CAUTIONARY NOTICE

DANGER

1. Asbestos/asbestos dust which is used, handled or manipulated in the factory is highly hazardous to

health.

2. Prolonged exposure to asbestos dust may lead to serious diseases like lung fibrosis (Asbestosis) and

lung cancer.

3. Entry is prohibited without protective equipment.

4. Wear the protective equipment to safeguard your health.

5. No food stuffs or drinks shall be brought into thisarea.

6. Smoking, eating food or drinking and chewing tobacco in this area is prohibited.

7. The area shall be maintained cleanly.

8. Dry sweeping in this area is prohibited. Any spillage of asbestos shall be cleaned by vacuum cleaning

only.

9. Asack or container contaminated with asbestos shall not be cleaned by hand whilst disposed of by an

appropriate method.

10. All protective equipment and clothing shall be de-dusted by vacuum cleaning and stored in appropriate

place provided for the purpose.

11. Entry of unauthorized persons or authorized persons without proper protective equipment is

prohibited.

12. Report for the prescribed medical examinations and tests regularly for your own health.

13. Report to your doctor immediately if you have persistent breathlessness, chest tightness, or cough.