No. 19/1941:

ELECTRIC ACCUMULATOR REGULATIONS, 1941.

ELECTRIC ACCUMULATOR REGULATIONS, 1941.

WHEREAS it is enacted by section 79 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, as adapted by subsequent enactments, that where the Minister for Industry and Commerce is satisfied that any manufacture, machinery, plant, process or description of manual labour, used in factories or workshops, is dangerous or injurious to health or dangerous to life or limb, either generally or in the case of women, children or any other class of persons, he may certify that manufacture, machinery, plant, process or description of manual labour to be dangerous, and that thereupon the said Minister may, subject to the provisions of the said Act, make such regulations as appear to him to be reasonably practicable and to meet the necessity of the case :

AND WHEREAS on the 11th day of July, 1938, the said Minister, in pursuance of the said section 79, certified the manufacture or assembly or repair of electric accumulators or parts thereof to be dangerous :

NOW, the Minister for Industry and Commerce, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 79 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, as adapted by subsequent enactments, and of every and any other power him in this behalf enabling, hereby makes the following regulations :

PART I. GENERAL.

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Electric Accumulator Regulations, 1941.

(2) These Regulations shall come into operation on the 30th day of April, 1941.

2. The Interpretation Act, 1937 (No. 38 of 1937), applies to these Regulations.

3. In these Regulations—

the expression " the Minister " means the Minister for Industry and Commerce,

the expression " lead process " means the melting of lead or any material containing lead, casting, pasting, lead burning or any other work, including trimming or any other abrading or cutting of pasted plates, involving the use, movement or manipulation of or contact with any oxide of lead,

the expression " manipulation of raw oxide of lead " means any lead process involving any manipulation or movement of raw oxide of lead other than its conveyance in a receptacle or by means of an implement from one operation to another,

the expression " the Surgeon " means the Certifying Surgeon for the district or a duly qualified medical practitioner appointed by certificate of the Minister to be the Surgeon for the purposes of these Regulations.

4.—(1) These Regulations shall apply in relation to any factory or workshop in which the manufacture or assembly or repair of electric accumulators or parts thereof is carried on.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the preceding paragraph of this Article, these Regulations shall not apply in respect of the manufacture or assembly or repair of electric accumulators or parts thereof not containing lead or any compound thereof nor in respect of the repair on the premises of any accumulator forming part of a stationary battery.

5.—The Regulations for the Manufacture of Electric Accumulators made on the 21st day of November, 1903, under section 79 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, are hereby revoked.

6. Part II of these Regulations shall be observed by every occupier of a factory or workshop in relation to which these Regulations apply and Part III thereof by every person employed in such a factory or workshop.

PART II. REGULATIONS TO BE OBSERVED BY OCCUPIERS.

7.—(1) A person under eighteen years of age shall not be employed in any lead process unless such person is a male person who—

(a) is employed in—

(i) washing of formed pasted or planté plates and subsequent brushing or racking thereof while in a wet state, or

(ii) casting of small accessory parts, and

(b) was so employed immediately before the commencement of these Regulations.

(2) A woman or a person under eighteen years of age shall not be employed in any room in which the manipulation of raw oxide of lead or pasting is carded on.

8. Each of the following processes shall be so carried on as to secure effective separation from one another and from any other process, that is to say :—

(a) manipulation of raw oxide of lead,

(b) pasting,

(c) drying of pasted plates,

(d) formation with lead burning or tacking necessarily carried on in connection therewith,

(e) melting down of pasted plates.

9. In every room in which a lead process is carried on there shall be at least five hundred cubic feet of air space for each person employed therein and in computing air space for the purposes of this Article no height over twelve feet shall be taken into account.

10. Every workroom shall be provided with inlets and outlets of such size and so placed and maintained as to ventilate all parts of such room.

11. In every pasting room the distance between the working position of any paster and that of the paster working nearest to him shall not be less than five feet.

12. The following provisions shall have effect in respect of the floor of every room in which a lead process is carried on, that is to say :—

(a) the floor shall be of cement or similar material so as to be smooth and impervious to water,

(b) the floor shall be maintained in sound condition,

(c) the floor shall be kept free from materials, plant, or other obstruction not required for or produced in such process,

(d) the floor shall be cleansed throughout daily and such cleansing shall, except in a grid casting shop, be carried out immediately after the floor has been thoroughly sprayed with water at a time when no other work is being carried on in such room,

(e) where manipulation of raw oxide of lead or pasting is carried on in such room, the floor shall be—

(i) kept constantly moist while work is being done,

(ii) provided with suitable and adequate arrangements for drainage,

(iii) thoroughly washed daily by means of a hosepipe.

13. The following provisions shall have effect in respect of every work-bench at which a lead process is carried on, that is to say :—

(a) the work-bench shall have a smooth surface and be maintained in sound condition,

(b) the work-bench shall be kept free from materials, plant or other obstruction not required for or produced in such process,

(c) the work-bench shall be cleansed daily and such cleaning shall, except in a grid casting shop, be carried out either immediately after the work-bench has been thoroughly damped or by means of a suction cleaning apparatus at a time when no other work is being carried on at such work-bench,

(d) where the work-bench is used for pasting, it shall—

(i) be covered throughout with sheet lead or other impervious material,

(ii) be provided with raised edges,

(iii) be kept constantly moist while pasting is being carried on.

14.—(1) The following processes shall not be carried on without the use of an efficient exhaust draught, that is to say—

(a) melting of lead or materials containing lead,

(b) manipulation of raw oxide of lead except where such manipulation is done in an enclosed apparatus preventing the escape of dust into the room where such manipulation is carried on,

(c) pasting,

(d) trimming, brushing, filing or any other abrading or cutting of pasted plates giving rise to dust,

(e) lead burning other than—

(i) tacking in a formation room,

(ii) chemical burning for the making of lead linings for cell cases where necessarily carried on in such a manner that the application of efficient exhaust is impracticable.

(2) An exhaust draught used in pursuance of this Article shall have effect by mechanical means and shall operate on the dust or fume which it removes as nearly as possible at the point of origin of such dust or fume and so as to prevent such dust or fume from entering any room in which persons work.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in the next preceding paragraph of this Article, an exhaust draught may be effected by natural means in the case of a pot containing molten lead provided that there is produced through the working opening over the pot an average inward air velocity, measured across the plane of the opening, of at least one hundred and twenty linear feet per minute.

15. The products of combustion produced in the heating of any melting pot shall not be allowed to escape into any room in which persons work.

16. A suitable receptacle with a tightly fitting cover shall be provided for dross removed from every melting pot and, except when dross is being deposited therein, such receptacle shall be kept covered while it is in any workroom.

17. A suitable receptacle shall be provided in every workroom for old plates and waste material likely to produce dust.

18.—(1) The racks or shelves provided in any drying room shall not be more than eight feet from the floor nor more than two feet in width and, as regards racks or shelves set or drawn from both sides, the total width shall not exceed four feet.

(2) The racks or shelves provided in any drying room shall be cleansed only after being thoroughly damped unless an efficient suction cleaning apparatus is used for this purpose.

19.—(1) Arrangements shall be made so that every person employed in a lead process shall be examined by the surgeon within the seven days preceding or following the date of his first employment in such process and thereafter once in every calendar month or at such intervals as may be directed by the Minister.

(2) Due notice shall be given to the person concerned of the day and time on which an examination in pursuance of this Article has been arranged for such person.

(3) In this Article references to first employment shall be construed as including re-employment following cessation of employment for a period exceeding three calendar months.

20. A register (in these Regulations referred to as the health register) containing the names of all persons employed in any lead process shall be kept in a form approved of by the Minister.

21. No person in respect of whom the surgeon has certified in the health register or otherwise that his employment in lead processes should be suspended shall be employed in any lead process until the sanction thereto of the surgeon has been entered in or attached to the health register.

22.—(1) Protective clothing shall be provided and maintained in good repair for every person employed in—

(a) manipulation of raw oxide of lead,

(b) pasting, or

(c) a formation room.

(2) The protective clothing provided in pursuance of this Article shall consist of an overall, an apron made of material impervious to water, clogs or other suitable footwear and, in the case of a person employed in the manipulation of raw oxide of lead or pasting, a head covering.

(3) Every overall and head covering provided in pursuance of this Article for a person employed in the manipulation of raw oxide of lead shall be washed or renewed weekly.

23.—(1) A suitable mess-room shall be provided and maintained for the use of the persons who are employed in any lead process and remain on the premises during meal intervals.

(2) A mess-room provided in pursuance of this Article shall be—

(a) furnished with sufficient tables and chairs or benches with back rests,

(b) provided with adequate means for warming food and boiling water,

(c) placed under the charge of a responsible person, and

(d) kept clean.

24. There shall be provided and maintained for the use of the persons employed in any lead process—

(a) a cloakroom (separate from any mess-room) for clothing put off during working hours with adequate arrangements for drying such clothing if wet, and

(b) separate and suitable arrangements for the storage of protective clothing provided in pursuance of Article 22 of these Regulations.

25.—(1) A lavatory shall be provided and maintained in a cleanly state and in good repair for the use of the persons employed in any lead process.

(2) A lavatory provided in pursuance of this Article for persons employed in lead processes shall—

(a) be under cover,

(b) be provided with either—

(i) a trough with a smooth impervious surface fitted with a waste pipe, without plug, and of sufficient length to allow two feet for every five such persons employed at any one time, and having a constant supply of warm water from taps or jets above the trough at intervals of not more than two feet, or

(ii) at least one lavatory basin for every five such persons employed at any one time fitted with a waste pipe and plug and having either a constant supply of hot and cold water or warm water laid on or, if a constant supply of heated water is not reasonably practicable, a constant supply of cold water laid on and a supply of hot water always at hand when required for use by such persons,

(c) be provided with a sufficient supply of clean towels made of suitable material renewed daily including, in respect of pasters and persons employed in the manipulation of raw oxide of lead, a separate marked towel for each person,

(d) be provided with a sufficient supply of soap or other suitable cleaning material and of nail brushes.

(3) In addition to the lavatory accommodation specified in this Article, there shall also be provided, where the Minister by notice in writing so requires, means of washing in close proximity to any rooms in which manipulation of raw oxide of lead or pasting is carried on.

26. Before each meal and before the end of the day's work at least ten minutes, in addition to the regular meal intervals, shall be allowed for washing to each person who has been employed in the manipulation of raw oxide of lead or pasting unless one basin or two feet of trough has been provided in pursuance of the immediately preceding Article of these Regulations for each such person.

27. Sufficient bath accommodation shall be provided for all persons engaged in the manipulation of raw oxide of lead or pasting, with hot and cold water laid on and a sufficient supply of soap and clean towels, unless the Minister has, in consideration of the special circumstances of the particular case, approved (whether with or without conditions) of the use of local public baths.

PART III. REGULATIONS TO BE OBSERVED BY PERSONS EMPLOYED.

28. Every person employed in a lead process shall from time to time present himself for the examinations by the surgeon arranged in pursuance of Article 19 of these Regulations.

29. No person in respect of whom the surgeon has certified in the health register or otherwise that his employment in lead processes should be suspended shall work in any lead process until the sanction thereto of the surgeon has been entered in or attached to the health register.

30. Every person employed in a lead process shall deposit in the cloakroom provided in pursuance of Article 24 of these Regulations all clothing put off during working hours.

31. Every person employed in the manipulation of raw oxide of lead, in pasting or in a formation room shall wear the protective clothing provided in pursuance of Article 22 of these Regulations and shall deposit such clothing after use in the place provided in pursuance of Article 24 of these Regulations.

32. No person shall introduce, keep, prepare or partake of any food or drink nor make use of any tobacco in any place in which a lead process is carried on.

33.—(1) Every person employed in a lead process shall before partaking of food or drink or making use of tobacco or leaving the premises wash the hands and every such person employed in the manipulation of raw oxide of lead or pasting shall, in addition, wash the face.

(2) Every person employed in the manipulation of raw oxide of lead or pasting shall take a bath at least once a week.

34. Every person who is drossing shall immediately deposit the dross in the receptacle provided in pursuance of Article 16 of these Regulations.

35.—(1) Every person employed in a lead process shall make full and proper use of the appliances provided in pursuance of these Regulations.

(2) No person shall misuse or, without the concurrence of the occupier or manager, in any way interfere with any appliance provided in pursuance of these Regulations.

Given under the Seal of Office of the Minister for Industry and Commerce this 17th day of April, 1941.

R. C. FERGUSON,

Secretary,

Department of Industry and Commerce.