Schedule XV

Handling and Processing of Asbestos, Manufacture of any Article or Substance of

Asbestos and any other Processes of manufacture or otherwise in which Asbestos

is used in any form

1. Application.-

(1) This schedule shall apply to all manufacturing processes as defined under clause (zi) of

sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Code, carried on in a factory involving exposure of

workers to asbestos and/or product containing Asbestos.

(2) The Government may, at any time, for the purpose of giving effect to any scientific proof

obtained from specialised institutions or experts in the field, notification in the Office

Gazette, 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 respect of the workers.

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

use, shall prepare work procedures and practices, in the light of scientific research and

technological progress for approval by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator and shall follow

only such approved procedures.

(b) Notwithstanding anything mentioned in sub-clause (1) use of asbestos is

prohibited in the manufacturing process as may be notified by the Government in

this behalf.

(c) (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-item (i)

may be exempted by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator if the Occupier

represents that such spraying is inevitable certain purposes provided

adequate measures for ensuring the safety and health of workers are

undertaken by the occupier to the satisfaction of the Chief Inspector-cum-

Facilitator .

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

(a) “asbestos” means any fibrous silicate mineral and any admixture containing

actionlite, amosite, anthophyllite, chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite or any mixture

thereof, whether crude, crushed or opened;

(b) “asbestos textiles” means yarn or clothes composed of asbestos or asbestos mixed

with any other materials;

(c) “approved” means approved for the time being in writing by the Chief Inspector-

cum-Facilitator ;

(d) “breathing apparatus” means a helmet or face piece with necessary connection by

means of which a person using it breathes air free from dust, or any other

approved apparatus;

(e) “efficient exhaust draught” means a localised ventilation by mechanical means for

the removal of dust so as to prevent dust from escaping into air of any place in

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

to control dust produced at the point where such dust originates;

(f) “preparing” means crushing, disintegrating, and any other processes in or

incidental to the opening of asbestos;

(g) “protective clothing” means overalls and head covering, which (in either case) will

when worn exclude asbestos dust;

(h) “asbestos dust” means airborne particles of asbestos or settled particles of asbestos

which are liable to become airborne in the factory;

(i) “airborne asbestos dust” means, for the purposes of measurement, dust particles

measured by gravimetric assessment or other equivalent method;

(j) “respirable asbestos fibers” means asbestos fibers having diameter of less than 3

micrometer and a length to diameter ratio greater than 3:1; and

(k) “exposure to asbestos” means exposure to airborne respirable asbestos fibers or

asbestos dust; whether originating from asbestos or from minerals, materials or

products containing asbestos in the factory.

3. Demolition of plants or structures.-

No person shall carry out any demolition of plants or structures containing friable

asbestos insulation material and removal of asbestos from building or structures in which

asbestos is liable to become air-borne, unless he is 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 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 and machines as per the relevant National Standards–

(a) manufacture and conveying machinery 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 sawing, 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

passes;

(d) work-benches for asbestos waste sorting or for other manipulation or

asbestos by hand;

(e) workplaces at which the filling or emptying of sacks, skips or other portable

containers, weighing or other process incidental thereto which is effected by hand,

is carried on;

(f) scale 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-clause (1) shall, while

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

connection with which it is provided is being carried on, be kept in use so as to produce an

exhaust draught which prevents the entry of asbestos dust into the air of any work place.

(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 which shall be isolated from all work areas.

6. Testing and examination of ventilating systems.-

(1) All ventilating systems used for the purpose of extracting or suppressing dust as required

by this schedule shall be as per the relevant Indian Standards, 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.

(2) 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

available for inspection by an Inspector-cum-Facilitator .

7. Segregation in case of certain process.-

Mixing or blending of asbestos by the hand, or making or repairing of insulating

mattresses composed wholly or partly of asbestos shall not be carried on in any room in

which any other work is done.

8. Storage and distribution of loose asbestos. -

All loose asbestos shall, while not in use, be kept in suitable closed receptacles which

prevent 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 system of conveyance.

9. Asbestos sacks. –

(1) 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.

(2) A sack which has contained asbestos shall not be cleaned by hand beating but by a

machine, complying with clause 4.

(3) Asbestos sacks or receptacles which contain asbestos shall be disposed off in a safe

manner.

10. Maintenance of floors and workplaces-

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

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

free from asbestos debris and suitable arrangements shall be made for the storage

of asbestos not immediately required for use; and

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(b) the floors shall be kept free from any materials, plant or other articles not

immediately required for the work carried on in the room, which would construct

the proper cleaning of the floor.

(2) The cleaning as mentioned in sub-clause (1) above shall so far as is practicable, as carried

out by means of vacuum cleaning equipment so designed and constructed and so used that

asbestos dust neither escapes nor is discharged into the air of any work place.

(3) When the cleaning is done by any method other than that mentioned in sub-clause (2)

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

provided with respiratory protective equipment and protective clothing.

(4) The vacuum cleaning equipment used in accordance with provisions of sub-clause (2)

above, shall be properly maintained and after each cleaning operation, its surfaces kept in a

clean state and free from asbestos waste and dust.

(5) 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.

(6) The occupier shall replace asbestos or of certain types of asbestos or products containing

asbestos by other materials or products or shall use alternative technology, scientifically

evaluated as harmless or less harmful, wherever this is possible.

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

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

and also reduce exposure to as low as a level as is reasonably practicable.

11. Breathing apparatus and personal protective equipment and clothing.-

(1) The occupier of every factory to which this schedule applies shall provide to workers

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

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

may be required.

The approved breathing apparatus and appropriate work clothing as per the relevant

National or international standards in consultation with the workers representatives and

maintained in good conditions for use of every person employed –

(a) in chambers containing loose asbestos;

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

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

machine by means of hand-stickles;

(d) in filling, beating, or levelling in the manufacture or repair of insulating

mattresses; and

(e) 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.

(2) Suitable accommodation in conveniently accessible position shall be provided for the use

of persons when putting on or taking off breathing apparatus and protective clothing provided

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

use.

(3) All breathing apparatus and protective clothing not in use shall be stored in the

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

(4) 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 in protective the wearer.

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

thoroughly inspected once every month by a responsible person.

(6) A record of the cleaning and maintenance and of the condition of the breathing apparatus

shall be maintained in a register provided for that purpose which shall be readily available for

inspection by an Inspector-cum-Facilitator .

(7) No person shall be employed to perform any work specified in sub-clause (1) above for

which breathing apparatus is necessary to be provided under that sub-clause unless he has

been fully instructed in the proper use of that equipment.

(8) No breathing apparatus provided in pursuance of sub-clause (1) above which has been

worn by a 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.

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

protective equipment provided to him for protection against exposure to asbestos.

12. 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-clause (2) of

clause 10 to prevent contamination of personal clothing.

13. 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 posted in the

plant prohibiting smoking at such areas.

14. Pictorial Cautionary notices. -

Cautionary notices in the form specified in appendix and printed in the language easily

read and understood by the majority of the workers shall be displayed in prominent places in

the workrooms where asbestos or substances containing asbestos are manufactured, handled

or used.

15. Air monitoring.-

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To ensure the effectiveness of control measures in continuous or repetitive processes, the

monitoring of asbestos fibres in air as well as personal monitoring of workers shall be carried

out at least once in every shift and the result so obtained shall be entered in register and

(a) There should be no substantial change in workplace conditions.

(b) The results of the two (2) preceding measurements have not exceeded half the

relevant control limit.

(c) All factories should adopt membrane filter test as per BIS standard… without fail.

16. Medical control measures. -

(1) The occupier of every factory in which a worker employed in the processes specified in

clause 1 of this schedule, shall ensure that every worker employed be examined by a Medical

Inspector-cum-Facilitator of Factories/ Medical Officer within 15 days of his first

employment. Such medical examination shall include sputum examination for asbestos

bodies, pulmonary function test and chest X-ray –Posterior Anterior (PA) view to be

compared with standard ILO Radiographs or 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.

(2) Every worker employed in the 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-clause (1) above except

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

ILO Radiographs or Pneumoconiosis and the chest x-ray which shall be carried out at least

once in 3 years.

(3) Every worker employed in any of the aforesaid processes on the date on which the

schedule comes into force shall be radiologically examined by the qualified Radiologist at the

cost of the occupier using a standard size x-ray plates and the power of the x-ray machine

shall be more than 300 milliampere (mA). The report of such x-ray shall be submitted to the

Medical Inspector-cum-Facilitator of Factories / Medical Officer/ Chief Inspector-cum-

Facilitator within three months of the said date.

(4) If at any time the Medical Inspector-cum-Facilitator/ 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 shall make a

record of his findings in the said Certificate and the health register. The entry of his findings

in these documents should also include the period for which he considers that the said person

is unfit for work in the said processes. The person so suspended from the process shall be

provided with alternate placement facilities unless he fully is 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-clause (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.

(6) If a worker already in employment and declared unfit by the Medical Inspector-cum-

Facilitator of Factories / Medical Officer shall not be allowed to work on any of the

processes specified in clause 1 of this schedule, unless he has been examined again along

with standard size chest x-ray plate from a qualified Radiologist, at the cost of the occupier

and has been certified to be fit to work on the said processes again.

(7) For the purpose of medical supervision by the medical practitioner/ Medical Officer so

appointed by the occupier shall be provided for his exclusive use a room in the factory

premises which shall be properly cleaned, adequately lighted ventilated and furnished with a

screen, a table with office stationary, 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 from time to time. The Factory Medical

Practitioner so appointed shall perform the following duties,-

(a) maintain health register;

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

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

and

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

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

health of the workers employed therein.

(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) The record of Medical Examinations and appropriate tests carried out by the said medical

practitioner, a certificate of fitness and health 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 and produced on demand.

17. Exemptions.-

(1) If in respect of any factory, the Chief Inspector-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 protection of the workers in

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

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 may specify therein.

(2) 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.

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