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 exonthate 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;

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

sulphide is produced, used or given off;

(g) "life belt" 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 weight of a man; and

(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-disulphide and hydrogen sulphide

in the air of every work environment within the permissible limits.

(2) Notwithstanding the requirements in sub-clause (1) an efficient exhaust draught shall be

provided and maintained to control the concentration of Carbon-di-sulphide and hydrogen

sulphide in the air at the following locations:—

(a) dumping hoppers of dry churns,

(b) Spinning machines,

(c) hydro-extractors for yarn cakes,

(d) after treatment processes,

(e) trick rollers and cutters used in staple fibre spinning, and

(f) 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

draught to be provided as required in sub- clause (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-sulphide and hydrogen sulphide

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 suitable and efficient arrangement for

exhausting the vapours which shall be continued to be operated as long as the churn is kept

opened.

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

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

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

process specified in the above said sub-clause are in used as soon as possible and in any case

not later than 15 minutes after such as occurrence.

(6) (a) All ventilating systems provided for the purposes as required in sub-clause (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 dis

posited 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 anthate 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 of the requirement in sub-clause (1), instantaneous gas detector tubes

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

analysed 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 Concentrations of either carbon disulphide or hydrogen sulphide exceeds the

permissible limits for such vapour or gas as laid down in rule 111, suitable steps shall be

taken for controlling the concentration in air of such contaminants. A report of such

occurrences shall sent to the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator forthwith.

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

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

7. 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

Process Protective equipment

1. Dumping overalls, face shields gloves and footwear all made of

suitable material.

2. Spinning Suitable aprons gloves and footwear.

3. Process involving or likely to Suitable gloves and footwear.

involve contact with viscose

solution

4. Handling of Sulphur Suitable chemical goggles.

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

contact with hazardous Inspector-cum-Facilitator by an order in writing.

chemicals

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

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

other than the room, rooms or lockers so provided.

8. Breathing apparatus.- (1) There shall be provided in every factory where fume process is

carried on sufficient supply of.—

(a) breathing apparatus;

(b) Oxygen and suitable appliances for its administration. and

(c) life belts.

(2) (a) The breathing apparatus and other appliances referred to in sub-clause (1) shall be

maintained in good condition and kept in appropriate location so as to be readily

available.

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

sub- clause (1) shall be cleaned and disinfected at suitable intervals and

thoroughly inspected once every month by 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 .

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

breathing apparatus and administering artificial respiration so that at least 2 such 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, specified in sub-clause (1) for which

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

instructed in the proper use of the equipment.

(6) No breathing apparatus provided in pursuance of sub-clause (1) 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 duly instructed in the proper use of that

equipment.

9. Electric fittings.- All electric fitting in any room in which carbon-disulphide is produced,

used or given off or is likely to be given off into work environment, other than electric

conductors shall either be enclosed in metal conducts spinning room shall be flame proof

construction and all or be lead- sheathed.

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10. 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

shall be pasted at prominent locations in 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 or spark may

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

direction of a responsible person.

11. Cautionary notice and instructions.- (1) The following cautionary notice shall be

prominently displayed in each fume process room:-

Cautionary Notice

1. Carbon disulphide (CS ) and Hydrogen sulphide (H S) which may be present in

2 2

this room are hazardous to health.

2. Follow safety instructions.

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

4. 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. If 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 workers employed in any room in which a

fume process is carried on regarding the health hazard 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 disulphide and hydrogen

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

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

12. Medical examination.- Every worker employed in the fume process shall be examined

within 15 days of his first employment such examination shall include test for examination of

exposure co- efficient (iodine azide test for urine), and cholesterol, as well as

electrocardiogram (ECG) and Central Nervous System (CNS) test.

13. Exemptions.- 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

reasons, 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.