Schedule XVII

Manufacture of pottery:

1. Savings.—These provisions shall not apply to a factory in which any of the following articles,

but no other pottery, are made—

(a) unglazed or salt glazed bricks and tiles; and

(b) architectural terracotta made from plastic clay and either unglazed or glazed with

a leadless glaze only.

2. Definitions.—For the purposes of this Schedule—

(a) "Efficient exhaust draught" means localised ventilation affected by mechanical or

other means for removal of dust or fume so as to prevent it from escaping into air of any

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

remove effectively dust or fume generated at the point where dust or fume originates;

(b) "fettling" includes scalloping, towing, sand peppering, sand sticking, brushing or any

other process of cleaning of pottery ware in which dust is given off;

(c) "first employment" shall mean first employment in any process mentioned under

Paragraph 3 and shall also include re-employment in the said process following any

cessation of employment for a continuous period exceeding three calendar months;

(d) "ground or powdered flint or quartz" does not include natural sands;

(e) "leadless glaze" means a glaze which does not contain more than one per cent of its

dry weight of a lead compound calculated as lead monoxide;

(f) "low solubility glaze" means a glaze which does not yield to dilute hydrochloric acid

more than five per cent of its dry weight, of a soluble lead compound calculated as lead

monoxide when determined in the manner described below—

A weighed quantity of the material which has been dried at 100 degrees centigrade and

thoroughly mixed shall be continuously shaken for one hour at the common temperature

with 1000 times its weight of an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid containing 0.25

per cent by weight of hydrogen chloride. This solution shall thereafter be allowed to stand

for one hour and then filtered. The lead salt contained in the clear filtrate shall then be

precipitated as lead sulphide and weighed as lead sulphate;

(g) "potter's shop" includes all places where pottery is formed by pressing or by any other

processes and all places whereby pressing or by any other process and all places where

shaping, fettling or other treatment of pottery article prior to placing for the biscuit fire is

carried on; and

(h) "Pottery" includes earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, chinatiles, and any other articles

made from such clay or from a mixture containing clay and other materials such as

quartz, flint, feldspar, and gypsum.

3. Efficient exhaust draughts.—The following process shall not be carried on without the use of an

efficient exhaust draught:

(a) all processes involving the manipulation or use of a dry and unfritted lead compound;

(b) fettling operations of any kind, whether on greenware or biscuit, provided that this

shall not apply to the wet fettling, and to the occasional finishing of pottery articles

without the aid of mechanical power;

(c) sifting of clay dust or any other material for making tiles or other articles by pressure,

except where—

(i) this is done in machine so enclosed as to effectually prevent the escape of dust; or

(ii) the material to be shifted is so damp that no dust can be given off;

(d) pressing of tiles from clay dust, an exhaust opening being connected with each press,

and pressing from clay dust of articles other than tiles, unless the material is so damp that

no dust is given off;

(e) fettling of tiles made from clay dust by pressure, except where the fettling is done

wholly on or with, damp material, and fettling of other articles made from clay dust,

unless the material is so damp that no dust is given off;

(f) process of loading and unloading of saggers where handling and manipulation of

ground and powdered flint, quartz, alumina or other materials are involved;

(g) brushing of earthenware biscuit, unless the process is carried on in a room provided

with efficient general mechanical ventilation or other ventilation which is certified by the

Inspector cum-Facilitator as adequate having regard to all the circumstances of the case;

(h) fettling of biscuit ware which has been fired in powdered flint or quartz except where

this is done in machine so enclosed as to effectively prevent the escape of dust;

(i) ware cleaning after the application of glaze by dipping or other process ;

(j) crushing and dry grinding of materials for pottery bodies and saggars, unless carried on

in machines so enclosed as to effectively prevent the escape of dust or is so damp that no

dust can be given off;

(k) sieving or manipulation of powdered flint, quartz, clay grog or mixture of these

materials unless it is so damp that no dust can be given off;

(l) grinding of tiles on a power driven wheel unless an efficient water spray is used on the

wheel;

(m) lifting and conveying of materials by elevators and conveyers unless they are

effectively enclosed and so arranged as to prevent escape of dust into the air in or near to

any place in which persons are employed;

(n) preparation or weighing out of flow material, lawning of dry colours, colour dusting

and colour blowing;

(o) mould making unless the bins or similar receptacles used for holding plaster of paris

are provided with suitable covers; and

(p) manipulation of calcined material unless the material has been made and remains so

wet that no dust is given off.

4. Separation of process.—Each of the following processes shall be carried on in such a manner

and under such conditions as to secure effectual separation from one another and from other wet Process

—

(a) crushing and dry grinding or sieving of materials, fettling, pressing of tiles, drying of

clay and greenware, loading and unloading of saggars, and the use of a dry lead

compound,

(b) all Process involving the use of a dry lead compound.

5. Prohibition on use of glaze.—No glaze which is not a leadless glaze or a low solubility glaze

shall be used in a factory in which pottery is manufactured.

6. Prohibition relating to women and young persons.—No pregnant women or young person shall

be employed or permitted to work in any of the operations specified in Paragraph 4, or at any place where

such operations are carried on.

Provided that women workers may be employed with their consent to work subject to the

following conditions :-

(1) International Safety standards shall be adopted by the occupier for providing Occupational

Safety and Health (OSH).

(2) The occupier shall, as far as possible, modernise the above processes/places from time to time

and will use modern equipments.

(3) Women workers who are feeding mothers shall be exempted from the Employment.

7. Provisions of screen to potter's wheel.—The potter's wheel (jolly and jigger) shall be provided

with screens or so constructed as to prevent clay scrapings being thrown off beyond the wheel.

8.Control of dust during cleaning.—(1) All practical measures shall be taken by dampening or

otherwise to prevent dust arising during cleaning of floors.

(2) Damp sawdust or other suitable material shall be used to render the moist method effective in

preventing dust rising into the air during the cleaning process which shall be carried out after work has

ceased.

9. Floor of certain workrooms.—The floors of potter's shops, slip houses, dipping houses and ware

cleaning rooms shall be hard, smooth and impervious and shall be thoroughly cleaned daily by an adult

male using a moist method.

10.Protective equipment.—(1) The occupier shall provide and maintain suitable overalls and head

coverings for all persons employed in process included under Paragraph 3.

(2) The occupier shall provide and maintain suitable aprons of a waterproof or similar material

which can be sponged daily, for the use of the dippers, dippers' assistants, throwers, jolly workers, casters,

mould makers and filter press and pug mill workers.

(3) Aprons provided in pursuance of sub-paragraph (2) shall be thoroughly cleaned daily by the

wearers by sponging or other wet Process. All overalls and head coverings shall be washed, cleaned arid

mended at least once a week, and this washing, cleaning or mending shall be provided for by the occupier.

(4) No person shall be allowed to work in emptying sacks of dusty materials, weighing out and

mixing of dusty materials, and charging of ball mills and plungers without wearing a suitable and efficient

dust respirator.

11. Washing facilities.—(1) The occupier shall provide and maintain, in a clean state and in good

repair for the use of all persons employed in any of the Process specified in Paragraph 8—

(a) a wash place under cover with either—

(i) a trough with smooth impervious surface fitted with a waste pipe without

plug, and of sufficient length to allow at least 60 centimetres for every five such

persons employed at any one time, and having a constant supply of clean water

from taps or jets above the trough at intervals of not more than 60 centimetres; or

(ii) at least one tap or standpipe for every five such persons employed at any one

time, and having a constant supply of clean water, the tap or standpipe being

spaced not less than 120 centimetres apart; and

(b) a sufficient supply of clean towels made of suitable material changed daily, with

sufficient supply of nail brushes and soap.

12. Time allowed for washing.—Before each meal and before the end of the day's work, at least ten

minutes, in addition to the regular meal times, shall be allowed for washing to each person employed in any

of the process mentioned in Paragraph-3.

13. Mess-room.—(1) There shall be provided and maintained for use of all persons remaining

within the premises during the rest intervals, a suitable mess-room providing accommodation of 0.93 square

metre per head and furnished with—

(a) a sufficient number of tables and chairs or benches with back rest;

(b) arrangements for washing utensils;

(c) adequate means for warming food; and

(d) adequate quantity of drinking water.

(2) The room shall be adequately ventilated by the circulation of fresh air and placed under the

charge of a responsible person and shall be kept clean.

14. Food, drinks, etc. prohibited in workrooms.—No food, drink, pan, supari and tobacco shall be

brought into or consumed by any worker in any workroom in which any of the processes mentioned in

Paragraph 3 are carried on and no person shall remain in any such room during interval for meals or rest.

15. Cloak-room, etc.—There shall be provided and maintained for the use of all persons employed

in any of the process mentioned in Paragraph 3,—

(a) a cloak-room for clothing put off during working hours and such accommodation

shall be separate from any mess-room; and

(b) separate and suitable arrangements for the storage of protective equipment provided

under Paragraph 10.

16. Medical facilities and records of examinations and tests.—(1) The occupier of every factory in

which manufacturing of pottery is carried on, shall—

(a) employ a Factory medical officer for medical surveillance of the workers employed

therein where number of workers exceed 50; and

(b) provide to the said Factory medical officer all the necessary facilities for the purpose

referred to in clause (a).

(2) The record of medical examination and appropriate tests carried out by the said medical

practitioner shall be maintained in a separate Health register Form-7, which shall be kept readily available

for inspection by the Inspector cum Facilitator.

17. Medical examination by Factory medical officer.—(1) Every worker employed in any process

mentioned under Paragraph 3, shall be examined by a Factory medical officer within 15 days of his first

employment. Such examination shall include tests for lead in urine and blood, ALA in urine, haemoglobin

content, stippling of cells and pulmonary function tests and chest X-ray for workers engaged in process

mentioned in clauses (a) and (n) of Paragraph 3 and pulmonary function test and chest X-rays for the others.

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 Factory medical officer.

(2) All persons employed in any of the Process mentioned in clauses (a) and (n) of Paragraph 3

shall be examined by a Factory medical officer once in every 3 calendar months. Those employed in any

other Process mentioned in the remaining clauses of Paragraph 3 shall be examined by a Factory medical

officer once in every twelve calendar months. Such examinations in respect of all the employees shall

include all the tests as specified in sub-paragraph (1) except chest X-ray which will be once in 3 years.

(3) The Factory medical officer after examining a worker shall issue Certificate of Fitness in

Form-8. The record of examination and re-examination 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 the tests, shall also be entered

by the Factory medical officer in a Health Register in Form-7.

(4) The Certificate of Fitness and the Health Register shall be kept readily available for inspection

by the Inspector cum facilitator.

(5) If at any time the Factory Medical Officer or 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 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.

(6) No person who has been found unfit to work as said in sub-paragraph (5) above shall be re-

employed or permitted to work in the said process unless the Medical Officer, after further examination

again certifies him fit for employment in those Processes.

18. Exemption.—If in respect of any factory the Chief Inspector cum Facilitator is satisfied that all

or any of the provisions of this Schedule are not necessary for the protection of the persons employed in

such factory, he may by a certificate in writing exempt such factory from all or any of such provisions

subject to such conditions as he may specify therein. Such certificate may at any time be revoked by the

Chief Inspector cum-Facilitator without assigning any reasons.