Schedule XX

(See rule 84)

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 pesticides herein after referred to as the said

manufacturing process is carried on.

2. Definitions – For the purpose of the 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, 1968 and

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

State Government.

(b) “Manipulation” includes mixing, blending, formulating, filling, emptying, packing or otherwise

handling;

(c) “efficient exhaust draught” means localized mechanical ventilation for removal of smoke, gas,

vapour, dust, fume or mist so as the prevent them from escaping into the air of any workroom

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, vapor or mist originates from the process.

3. Instruction to worker – Every worker on his first employment shall be fully instructed on the properties

including dangerous properties of the chemical 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 notice and placards in the form specified in appendix to

this schedule and printed in the language of the majority of the workers shall 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 in the said manufacturing process

and methods of protection. Such notices shall include brief instructions regarding the periodical clinical

test required to be undertaken for protecting health of the workers.

5. Prohibition relating to employment of women or young persons – No pregnant woman or any young

person 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 prohibited- No food, drink, tobacco, pan or supari shall be brought into or

consumed by any worker in any work room in which the said manufacturing process is carried out.

7. Protective clothing and protective equipment

(a) Protective clothing consisting of long pants and shirts or overalls with long sleeves and head

coverings shall be provided for all workers employed in the said manufacturing process.

(b) 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.

(c) Protective clothing and equipment shall be worn by the workers supplied with such clothing and

equipment.

(d) 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.

(e) Protective clothing and equipment shall be maintained in good repair;

8. Floors and workbenches

(a) Floors in every workroom where dangerous pesticides are manipulated shall be of cement or other

impervious material giving a smooth a surface.

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

thorough washed once a day with hose pipe.

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

absorbing material preferably stainless steel and shall be cleaned at least once daily.

9. Spillage and waste

(a) 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 thorough

decontamination of such area or articles.

(b) 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

least once a week.

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

while attending to a spillage.

(d) 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.

11. Manual handling

(a) A dangerous pesticide shall not be required or allowed to be manipulated by hand except by means

of a long-handled scoop.

(b) Director contact of any part of the body with dangerous pesticide during its manipulation shall be

avoided.

12. Ventilation

(a) 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.

(b) Unless the process is completely enclosed, the following operations during manipulation of

dangerous pesticides shall not be undertaken without an efficient exhaust draught.

(i) emptying a container holding a dangerous pesticide

(ii) blending a dangerous pesticide;

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

(iv) changing or filling a dangerous pesticide into a container, tank hoper or machine or small

sized containers.

(c) In the event of failure of the exhaust draught provided on the above operation, the said operations

shall be stopped forthwith.

13. Time allowed for washing

(a) 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.

(b) Every worker engaged in the manipulation of dangerous pesticides shall have a through wash

before consuming any food and also at the end of the day’s work.

14. Washing and bathing facilities

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

(b) The washing places shall have stand pipes placed at intervals of not less than one meter.

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

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

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

15. Cloak room – There shall be provided and maintain for the use of all workers employed in the factory

where the said manufacturing process is carried on –

(a) a cloakroom for the 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.

16. Messroom

(a) 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 reaming on the premises during the rest

intervals, a suitable mess room which shall be furnished with –

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

(ii) adequate means for warming food

(b) The mess room shall be placed under the charge of a responsible person and shall be kept clean.

17. 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 otherwise is obtained from the

Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

18. Medical facilities and records of examinations and tests

(a) The occupier of every factory to which the schedule applies, shall–

(i) employ a qualified Factory Medical Officer for medical surveillance of the workers employed

therein whose employment shall be subject to the approval of the Chief Inspector-cum-

Facilitator of Factories; and

(ii) provide to the said Factory Medical Officer at the necessary facilities for the purpose referred

to in clause (a)

(b) The record of medical examinations and appropriate tests carried out by the said Factory Medical

Officer shall be maintained in a separate register approved by the Chief Inspector- cum-Facilitator

of Factories which shall be kept readily available for inspection by the Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

19. Medical examination by Medical Officer

(a) Every worker employed in the process mentioned in paragraph 1 shall be examined by the Medical

Officer with 15 days of his first employment. Such examination in respect of halogenated pesticides

shall include tests for determination of the chemical in blood and in fat tissues, EEG abnormalities

and memory tests. In respect of organophosphorus compound, such examinations shall include

test 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.

(b) 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 very three months by the Factory Medical

Officer.

(c) The Medical Officer after examining a worker shall issue a Certificate of Fitness in FORM VI.

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 manager of the factory. The record of each

examination carried out under sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) including the nature and the results of

these tests shall also be entered by the Medical Officer in a health register in FORM-V.

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

the Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

(e) 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/she 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/she considers that the said person is unfit to work in the said process. The person so

suspended from the process shall be provided with alternate placement facilities unless he/she is

fully incapacitated in the opinion of the Medical Officer, in which case the person affected shall be

suitably rehabilitated.

(f) 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 he/she shall record in writing all or any of the provisions of this schedule are not necessary

for the protection of the workers employed in the factory, he/she may by a certificate in writing exempt

such factory, from all or any of the provisions on such condition as he/she may specify therein. Such

certificate may at any time be revoked by the Chief Inspector- cum-Facilitator after recording his

reasons therefore.

CAUTIONARYNOTICE

Insecticides and pesticides

1. Chemical handled in this plant are poisonous substances

2. Smoking, eating food or drinking, chewing tobacco in this area is prohibited. No food stuff or drink

shall be brought in this area

3. Some of these chemicals may be absorbed through skin and many cause poisoning

4. A good wash shall be taken before meals.

5. A good bath shall be taken at the end of the shift.

6. Protective clothing and equipment supplied shall be used while working in this area.

7. Containers of pesticides shall be used for keeping foodstuffs.

8. Spillage of the chemicals on any part of the body or on the floor or work bench shall be immediately

washed away with water.

9. Clothing contaminated due to splashing shall be removed immediately.

10. Scrupulous cleanliness shall be maintained in this area.

11. Do not handle pesticides with bare hands, use scoops provided with handle.

12. In case of sickness like nausea, vomiting, giddiness, the manager should be informed who will make

necessary arrangements for treatment.

13. All workers shall report for the prescribed medical tests regularly to protect their own health.