Rule 92. Occupational Health Centres

(1) In respect of any factory carrying on ‘hazardous process’, there shall be provided and maintained in good order an Occupational Health Centre with the services and facilities as per scale laid down hereunder, namely,-

a) For factories employing up to fifty workers-i. the services of a Factory Medical Officer on retainer-ship basis, in his clinic to be notified by the occupier. He will carry out the pre-employment and periodical medical examination as stipulated in rules and render medical assistance during emergency; ii. a minimum of 5 persons trained in first-aid procedures amongst whom at least one shall always be available during the working period; iii. a fully equipped first-aid box.

b) For factories employing fifty one to two hundred workers-i. An Occupational Health Centre having a room with a minimum floor area of fifteen square metre with floors and walls made of smooth and impervious surface and with adequate illumination and ventilation as well as equipment; ii. a part-time Factory Medical Officer shall be in overall charge of the Centre who shall visit the factory at least twice a week and whose services shall be readily available during medical emergencies; iii. One qualified and trained Pharmacist on duty throughout the working period; iv. a fully equipped first aid box in all the departments.

c) For factories employing above two hundred workers-(i) one full-time Factory Medical Officer for factories employing up to 500 workers and one more Medical Officer for every additional one thousand workers or part thereof;

(ii) an Occupational Health Centre having at least two rooms each with a minimum floor area of 15 sq. meters with floors and walls made of smooth and impervious surface and adequate illumination and ventilation as well as equipment as per the schedule annexed to this Rule;

(iii) there shall be one nurse, Pharmacist, and one sweeper-cum-ward boy throughout the working period;

(iv) the Occupational Health Centre shall be suitably equipped to manage medical emergencies.

(2) The Factory Medical Officer required to be appointed under sub-rule (1) shall have qualifications included in Schedules to the Indian Medical Degree Act of 1916 or in the Schedules to the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, and possess a Certificate of Training in Industrial Health of minimum three months duration recognized by the State Government:

Provided that-

(a) a person possessing a Diploma in Industrial Health or equivalent shall not be required to possess the certificate of training as aforesaid;

(b) the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may, subject to such conditions as he/she may specify, grant exemption from the requirement of this sub-rule, if in his opinion a suitable person possessing the necessary qualification is not available for appointment;

(c) in case of a person who has been working as a Factory Medical Officer for a period of not less than three years on the date of commencement of this rule, the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may, subject to the condition that the said person shall obtain the aforesaid certificate of training within a period of three years; relax the qualification.

(3) The syllabus of the course leading to the above certificate, and the organizations conducting the Course shall be approved by the Director General of Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes or the State Government in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Director General of Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes.

(4) Within one month of the appointment of a Factory Medical Officer, the occupier of the Factory shall furnish to the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator the following particulars -

(a) name and address of the Factory Medical Officer,

(b) qualification;

(c) experience, if any; and

(d) the rules under which appointed.

(5) The following equipment shall be provided for the occupational health centre in factories-i. A glazed sink with hot and cold water always available. ii. A table with a smooth top at least 180cm X 105cm. iii. Means for sterilizing instruments. iv. A couch. v. Two buckets or containers with close-fitting lids. vi. A kettle and spirit stove or other suitable means of boiling water. vii. One bottle of spirits ammoniac aromaticus (120ml). viii. Two medium-size sponges. ix. Two ‘kidney’ trays. x. Four cakes of toilet, preferably antiseptic soap. xi. Two glass tumblers and two wine glasses. xii. Two clinical thermometers. xiii. Two tea spoons. xiv. Two graduated(120ml) measuring glasses. xv. One wash bottle(1000cc) for washing eyes. xvi. One bottle(one liter) carbolic lotion 1 in 20. xvii. Three chairs. xviii. One screen. xix. One electric hand torch. xx. An adequate supply of tetanus toxoid. xxi. Coramine liquid (60ml). xxii. Tablets-antihistaminic, antispasmodic.(25each). xxiii. Syringes with needles-2cc, 5cc and 10cc. xxiv. Two needle holders, big and small. xxv. Suturing needles and materials. xxvi. One dissecting forceps. xxvii. One dressing forceps. xxviii. One scalpel. xxix. One stethoscope. xxx. Rubber bandage-pressure bandage. xxxi. Oxygen cylinder with necessary attachments. xxxii. One Blood Pressure apparatus. xxxiii. One Patellar Hammer. xxxiv. One peak-flow meter for lung function measurement. xxxv. One stomach wash set. xxxvi. Any other equipment recommended by the Factory Medical Officer according to specific need relating to manufacturing process.

(b) In addition-

(A) For factories employing 51 to 200 workers-(i) Four plain wooden splints 900mm X 100mm X 6mm.

(ii) Four plain wooden splints 350mm X 75mm X 6mm.

(iii) Two plain wooden splints 250mm X 50mm X 12mm.

(iv) One pair artery forceps

(v) Injections-morphine,pethidine, atropine, adrenaline,coramine, novocan(2each)

(vi) One surgical scissors.

(B) For factories employing above 200 workers-

(i) Eight plain wooden splints 900mm X 100mm X 6mm.

(ii) Eight plain wooden splints 350mm X 75mm X 6mm.

(iii) Four plain wooden splints 250mm X 50mm X12mm.

(iv) Two pairs artery forceps.

(v) Injections-morphine, pethidine, stropine, adrenaline, cerramine, novocan(4 each).

(vi) Two surgical scissors.