Rule 141. Occupational Health Centres under sub-section (c) of section 85

(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:

(a) For factories employing up to 50 employees,-(i) the services of a Factory Medical Officer on retainership basis in his clinic which shall be notified by the occupier who shall carry out pre employment and periodical medical examinations as stipulated in rule 145 and render medical assistance during an emergency;

(ii) a minimum of 5 persons trained in first aid procedures of whom at least one shall always be available during the working period; and

(iii) a fully equipped first aid box in all the departments;

(b) For factories employing 51 to 200 employees:

(i) an Occupational Health Center having a room with a minimum floor area of 15 square metre with floors and walls made of smooth and impervious surface and with adequate illumination and ventilation as well as equipment as per the Schedule annexed to these rules;

(ii) a part time Factory Medical Officer shall be in overall charge of the Center who shall visit the factory at least twice in a week and whose services shall be readily available during medical emergencies;

(iii) one qualified and trained Dresser-cum-Compounder on duty throughout the working period; and

(iv) a fully equipped first aid box in all departments.

(c) For factories employing above 200 employees:

(i) one full-time Factory Medical Officer for factories employing up to 500 employees and one more Medical Officer for every additional 1000 employees or part thereof;

(ii) an occupational Health Center having at least two rooms each with a minimum floor area of 15 square metre 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) one nurse, one dresser-cum-compounder and one sweeper-cum-ward boy throughout the working period; and

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

(2) The Factory Medical Officer required to be appointed under sub-rule (1) shall have qualifications as specified in rule 73 of these rules:

Provided that a person possessing a Diploma in Industrial Health or its equivalent shall not be required to possess the certificate of training as aforesaid:

Provided further that the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may, subject to such conditions as he 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:

Provided also that 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 organisations conducting the course shall be approved by the Directorate General, Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI), Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India or the State Government in accordance with the guidelines issued by the DGFASLI.

(4) Within one month of the appointment of 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) qualifications;

(c) experience, if any; and

(d) sub-rule under which the Factory Medical Officer has been appointed.

(5) Equipment for Occupational Health Centre in Factories shall include:-

(a) a glazed sink with hot and cold water (must be always available);

(b) a table with a smooth top of at least 180 cm x 105 cm;

(c) means for sterilizing instruments;

(d) a couch;

(e) two buckets or containers with closely fitting lids;

(f) a kettle and spirit stove or other suitable means of boiling water;

(g) one bottle of spiritus ammonia aromaticus (120 ml.);

(h) two medium sizes sponges;

(i) two 'Kidney' trays;

(j) four cakes of toilet soap, preferably antiseptic, soap;

(k) two glass tumblers and two wine glasses;

(l) two clinical thermometers;

(m) two tea spoons;

(n) two graduated (120 ml.) measuring glasses;

(o) one wash bottle (1000 cc) for washing eyes;

(p) one bottle (one litre) carbolic lotion in 20;

(q) three chairs;

(r) one screen;

(s) one electric hand torch;

(t) an adequate supply of tetanus toxoid;

(u) coramine liquid (60 ml.);

(v) tablets -antihistamine, antispasmodic (25 each);

(w) syringes with needles-2 cc and 10 cc;

(x) two needle holders, big and small;

(u) suturing needles and materials;

(z) one pair of dressing forceps;

(za) one pair of dressing forceps;

(zb) one scalpel;

(zc) one stethoscope;

(zd) rubber bandage-pressure bandage;

(ze) oxygen cylinder with necessary attachments;

(zf) one blood pressure apparatus;

(zg) one patella hammer;

(zh) one Peak-flow meter for lung function measurement;

(zi) one stomach wash set; and

(zj) any other equipment recommended by the Factory Medical Officer relating to the specific manufacturing process.

(6) In addition to the equipments specified in sub-rule (5), an Occupational Health Centre of:

(a) Factories employing 51 to 200 employees, equipments shall include :-(i) four plain wooden splints of 900 mmx100mmx6mm;

(ii) four plain wooden splints of 350 mmx75mmx6mm;

(iii) two plain wooden splints of 250 mmx50mmx12mm;

(iv) one pair of artery forceps ;

(v) injections-morphia, pethidine, atropine, adrenaline, coramine, novacan (2 each): and

(vi) one pair of surgical scissors;

(b) For factories employing above 200 workers, equipments shall include :-(i) eight plain wooden splints of 900mmx100mmx6mm;

(ii) eight plain wooden splints of 350 mmx75mmx6mm;

(iii) four plain wooden splints of 250mmx50mmx12mm;

(iv) two pairs of artery forceps ;

(v) injection-morphia, pethidine, atropine, adrenaline, coramine, novocan (2 each) ; and

(vi) two pairs of surgical scissors.