Schedule XXVIII

Fire Works Manufactories and Match Factories

1. Application.- The provisions of this Schedule shall apply to all manufactories and

processes incidental thereto carried on in any Fire Works Manufactory or a match works and

shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any provisions of the Code or of any other Act

or Rules that are applicable to fire works manufactories and match factories.

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

(a) "Fire Works Manufactory" means any factory or such parts of any factory wherein the

following chemicals or combination of chemicals and materials are being used for the

manufacture of crackers, sparklers, caps, fuses, blasting powder and fire works.

Saltpetre,

Pyrotechnic Aluminium (sic Aluminium) Powder,

Barium Nitrate,

Charcoal,

Potassium Chloride,

Red Phosphorus,

Gum,

Dextrine,

Strontium Nitrate,

Magnesium Powder,

Copper Coated Wires,

Steel filings or iron filings,

G.I. Wire.

Gun Powder (Black Powder).

(b) "Match works" means any factory or establishment which manufactures safety matches

or colour matches by the use of chemicals mentioned in sub-clause (a).

(c) "Breathing apparatus" means a device covering mouth or nose with necessary

connections by means of which a person using it in a poisonous asphyxiating or irritant

atmosphere breathes ordinary air or any other suitable apparatus approved in writing by the

Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator in this behalf.

3. Building.-

(a) The building of any fire works manufactory or match factory shall conform to the

standards prescribed under the Indian Explosives Act, 1884 (Central Act No. IV of 1884),

and the height of such buildings shall at no time be less than 3 meters.

(b) No building inside a fire works manufactory shall have a first floor at any time.

(c) In Match works, provided with a first floor, there shall be 2 staircases leading from the

first floor to the ground floor irrespective of the number of persons employed in the first floor

and one of he staircases shall be of masonry construction or non-inflammable materials.

(d) All doors shall open outwards and all the doorways shall be kept free from obstructions.

(e) All doors of workrooms shall not be less than 1.2 meters in width or less than 2 meters in

height.

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(f) The floors of all work rooms including mixing sheds shall be completely covered by a

rubber sheet having a smooth surface and having a thickness of at least 3 mm. If the floor

cannot be covered by a single rubber sheet, more than one rubber sheet maybe used, so that

each sheet is over lapped by the other at least 150 mm, and

(g) Mixing sheds shall be 30.5 meters away from all other sheds and be separated by baffle

walls opposite each exit of the mixing shed.

4. House-Keeping.-

(a) Every part of ways, work, machinery and plant shall be maintained in a clean and tidy

condition.

(b) Any spillage of materials shall be cleaned without delay.

(c) Close platforms, passages and gang ways shall be kept free of temporary obstructions.

5. Electrical Equipment.-

(a) If at any time use of electricity is allowed in the factory, all leads, etc., shall be in conduits

with flame-proof junctions.

(b) Electrical supply shall never be through a lamp even with a non-conducting handle.

6. Protective clothing.-

(a) Under no circumstances clothes made of artificial fibre like terelene, etc. be allowed

inside the factory.

(b) All workers shall be supplied with asbestos aprons especially to cover the chest, gonads

and thighs.

(c) Breathing apparatus shall be used in mixing sheds to avoid workers inhaling poisonous

fumes in the event of an untoward reaction.

(d) In mixing sheds where aluminium and magnesium powders are used "anti-stat" footwear

to combat static electricity shall be supplied.

(e) All protective equipments shall be maintained in an efficient condition and also shall be

maintained in a clean and hygienic condition.

7. Match Factories.- In match factories.-

(a) the residue of the head composition shall not in any way be mixed with the residue of the

friction composition.

(b) The rooms comprising the two mixing departments namely, (i) head composition and (ii)

friction composition shall be entirely separate from each other and the drains from these two

departments shall be kept entirely separate.

(c) Rubbish containing the residues of the head composition and friction composition shall be

kept and burnt separately.

(d) Department in which completed matches (matches with heads on) are stored shall be

separated from all other departments by means of fire-proof walls and doors providing

adequate means of escape in case of fire:

(e) Splints, veneers and other materials in excess of the quantity required for the day's

manufacture shall be kept in separate rooms of the factory where no manufacturing process is

carried on. No manufactured material shall be stored anywhere in the factory compound for

more than five days after the manufacture except in the storage godowns:

Provided that nothing contained in this clause shall apply to splints and veneers in cases

stored in peeling and box making departments.

(f) Store room for matches shall be entirely separated by fire-proof walls from the building

used for manufacture.

(g) The racks in the dipped splints room shall have sides top and the rear part provided with

non-inflammable materials.

(h) The process of packing shall be done in an area away from the place of manufacture to the

satisfaction of the Inspector-cum-Facilitator ; and

(i) No child shall be employed or permitted to work directly connected with the

manufacturing process up to final production of match sticks.

8. Precaution to be taken in connection with manufacture of fuses used in crackers, etc.-

(a) Bundles of fuses shall be handled by carrying and not dragging them on the floor;

(b) drying of fuses after wrapping shall be carried out on platforms away from workrooms;

(c) cutting shall be done by experienced workers employed only for this purpose and under

proper supervision;

(d) cutting shall be done on a large masonry platform covered with a tarpaulin and kept free

from grit and pebbles;

(e) cutting shall be done on a raised platform so that workers can work standing. Cutting must

be done by placing the fuse on wooden sleepers kept over blocks of wood. Brick shall not be

used beneath the wooden reapers; and

(f) workers, while on dangerous operations, shall not wear clothing sewn with ferrous or steel

buttons, buckles or attachments. They shall not carry on their persons, iron knives, keys, etc.

9. General.-

(a) No person other than a factory worker and/or an inspecting officer or others connected

with the manufacturing process shall be allowed to enter the working area.

(b) Cardboard containers and trays without steel mails shall be used for storage and day-to-

day working purposes.

(c) During the manufacture of fuses only brass or non-ferrous knives shall be used and drying

of fuses shall be away from all workrooms.

(d) Door mats shall be provided outside the workroom and near all drying platforms and

where fuses are cut for the workers to clean their feet.

(e) At no time, mixing materials shall exceed the quantity that is required for the manufacture

of mixing for half an hour operation only.

(f) For filiing up chemicals in the inner tubs of crackers, only aluminium or plastic rings shall

be used and not galvanised iron rings.

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(g) Buckets, containers, hoops, locks, nails, screws, bolts, nuts, Knives, scissors, etc. made up

of iron shall not be used within the factory premises.

(h) Wooden racks without iron nails shall be used for drying paper cap sheets, in amrocess

factories.

(i) Wooden racks used for drying paper cap sheets shall be provided with asbestos or other

fire resistant sheets on the three sides leaving the front side open.

(j) Dried paper cap sheets shall be carried in wooden trays with four compartments

(partitions) each compartment (partition) carrying a single sheet.

(k) Each manufacturing shed of a fire works shall have at least two doors facing each other.

The doors provided to the work sheds of adjacent rows shall not face each other.

(l) Not more than four persons shall be employed or allowed at any one time in any one

building in which explosive is being manufactured.

10. Display of notices.- The following notices in the local language understood by the

majority of workers shall be displayed at a conspicuous place in the factory.

(a) Smoking is strictly prohibited.

(b) No one shall carry matches or other igniting materials into the factory.

(c) No worker shall be in a workroom or area where no work has been assigned to

him.

(d) If anything untoward happens in any shed all workers shall dash to the gates

which serve as out gates of the factory and in no circumstances be curious to see

what has happened in the affected shed.

(e) Any spillage of materials should be cleaned without any delay.

(f) Wearing of clothes made of artificial fibre like terrene, terelene, etc., is prohibited,

clothing's sewn with ferrous or steel buttons or buckles or attachments should not

be worn.

(g) Foot wears with iron nails should not be used.

(h) Workers should not carry with themselves iron knives and iron keys, etc.

11. Exemption.- If the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator is satisfied in respect of any factory

or any process that, owing to the special conditions or special methods of work or by reason

of the frequency of the processes or for other reason the application of all or any of the

provisions of the schedule to the factory or process, or for the persons employed in such

factory or process is not necessary, he may by order in writing exempt such factory or part of

the factory or process or any part of the process or person from all or any of these provisions

subject to such conditions as he may deem expedient to ensure safety and health of the

workers. The Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may at any time in his discretion revoke such

order without assigning any reason.