S.I. No. 14/1923 - Chemical Works Regulations, 1923.
Table of Provisions (29)
Statutory Text (29 Provisions)
1. The manufacture or recovery of any of the following is carried on:—
(
a
) Carbonates, chromates, chlorates, oxides, or hydroxides of potassium, sodium, iron, aluminium, cobalt, nickel, arsenic, antimony, zinc or magnesium.
(
b
) Ammonia and the hydroxide and salts of ammonium.
(
c
) Sulphurous, sulphuric, nitric, hydrochloric, hydrofluoric, hydriodic, hydrosulphuric, boric, phosphoric, arsenious, arsenic, lactic, acetic, oxalic, tartaric or citric acids and their metallic or organic salts, and
(
d
) Cyanogen compounds.
2. A wet process is carried on—
(
a
) For the extraction of metal from ore or from any by-product or residual material; or
(
b
) In which electrical energy is used in any process of chemical manufacture.
3. Alkali waste or the drainage therefrom is subjected to any chemical process for the recovery of sulphur, or for the utilisation of any constituent of such waste or drainage.
4. Carbon bisulphide is made or hydrogen sulphide is evolved by the decomposition of metallic sulphides, or hydrogen sulphide is used in the production of such sulphides.
5.
Bleaching powder
is manufactured or chlorine gas is made or is used in any process of chemical manufacture.
6.—(
a
) Gas tar or coal tar or any compound product or residue of such tars is distilled or is used in any process of chemical manufacture.
(
b
) Synthetic colouring matters or their intermediates are made.
5. Every still and every closed vessel in which gas is evolved or into which gas is passed, and in which the pressure is liable to rise to a dangerous degree, shall have attached to it, and maintained in proper condition, a proper safety valve or other equally efficient means to relieve the pressure.
Nothing in this Regulation shall apply to metal bottles or cylinders used for the transport of compressed gases.
6. There shall be provided in every works where dangerous gas or fume is liable to escape a sufficient supply of:—
(
a
)
Breathing apparatus.
(
b
) Oxygen and suitable means for its administration.
(
c
)
Life-belts.
The
breathing apparatus
and other appliances required by this Regulation shall be maintained in good order and kept in an ambulance room or in some other place approved in writing by the Inspector of Factories, which shall be conveniently situated. In every such room or place and wherever required in writing by the Inspector of Factories there shall be affixed the official cautionary notice regarding gassing and burns.
Such apparatus and appliances shall be inspected once every month by a competent person, conversant with their use, appointed by the occupier, and a record of their condition shall be entered in a book provided for that purpose, which shall be produced when required by an Inspector.
7. The refining of crude shale oil or processes incidental thereto are carried on.
8. Nitric acid is used in the manufacture of nitro compounds.
9. Explosives are made with the use of nitro compounds.
10. In all places where strong acids or dangerous corrosive liquids are used—
(
a
) there shall be provided, for use in case of emergency:—
(
i
) Adequate and readily accessible means of drenching with cold water persons, and the clothing of persons, who have become splashed with such liquid;
(ii) A sufficient number of eye-wash bottles, filled with distilled water or other suitable liquid, kept in boxes or cupboards conveniently situated and clearly indicated by a distinctive sign which shall be visible at all times,
(
b
) Except where the manipulation of such acids and liquids is so carried on as to prevent risk of personal injury from splashing or otherwise, there shall be provided for those who have to manipulate such acids or liquids, sufficient and suitable goggles and gloves or other suitable protection for the eyes and hands. If gloves are provided they shall be collected, examined and cleaned at the close of the day's work and shall be repaired or renewed when necessary.
(
c
) There shall be kept affixed the official cautionary notice regarding gassing and burns.
11. There shall be provided in readily accessible positions a sufficient number of "First Aid" boxes or cupboards.
Each "First Aid" box or cupboard shall be distinctively marked, and if newly provided after the date of these Regulations shall be marked plainly with a white cross on a red ground, and shall contain, besides any other medical appliances or requisites:—
(i) A supply of suitable sterilised dressings for fingers, hands, feet, or other injured parts.
(ii) A supply of sterilised cotton-wool.
(iii) A supply of sterilised burn dressings (large and small) .
(iv) Plaster—waterproofed on the outside.
(v) Ointment, a 2 per cent. alcoholic solution of iodine and a bottle of sal volatile.
(vi) A copy of the First Aid leaflet.
Nothing except appliances or requisites for First Aid shall be kept in a "First Aid" box or cupboard.
Each "First Aid" box shall be kept stocked and in good order, and shall be placed in the charge of a responsible person, who shall always be readily available during working hours.
A notice or notices shall be affixed in every workplace stating the name of the person in charge of the "First Aid" box or cupboard provided in respect of that place.
12. There shall be provided and maintained in good order in every works in which the total number of persons employed in the processes to which these Regulations apply at any one time is 250 or more, an Ambulance room.
The Ambulance room shall be a separate room used only for the purpose of treatment and rest. It shall have a floor space of not less than 100 square feet and smooth, hard and impervious walls and floor, and shall be provided with ample means of natural and artificial lighting. It shall contain at least:—
(i) A glazed sink with hot and cold water always available.
(ii) A table with a smooth top.
(iii) Means for sterilising instruments.
(iv) A supply of suitable dressings, bandages and splints.
(v) A couch.
(vi) A stretcher.
Where persons of both sexes are employed, arrangements shall be made at the Ambulance room for their separate treatment.
The Ambulance room shall be placed under the charge of a qualified nurse, or other person trained in First Aid, who shall always be readily available during working hours and shall keep a record of all cases of accidents or sickness treated in the room.
13. At every works there shall be provided and maintained in good condition a suitably constructed ambulance carriage, for the purpose of the removal of serious cases of accident or sickness, unless arrangements have been made for obtaining such a carriage when required from a hospital or other place in telephonic communication with the works.
14. Arrangements shall be made to the satisfaction of the Inspector of Factories for the effective training and practising of a sufficient number of persons in the use of the appliances required by Regulation 6 and in administering First Aid.
15. There shall be provided for all female persons employed whose work is done standing, facilities for sitting, so as to enable them to take advantage of any opportunities for resting which may occur in the course of their employment.
16. There shall be provided and maintained at suitable points, conveniently accessible at all times to all persons employed:—
(
a
) An adequate supply of wholesome drinking water from a public main or from some other source of supply approved in writing by the local authority of the district in which the factory is situated, which shall be either laid on, or contained in a suitable vessel;
(
b
) (except where the water is delivered in an upward jet from which the workers can conveniently drink) at least one suitable cup or drinking vessel at each point of supply, with facilities for rinsing it in drinking water.
Each drinking water supply shall be clearly marked "Drinking Water."
All practicable steps shall be taken to preserve the water and vessels from contamination.
17.—(1) Every person employed shall—
(
a
) report to his foreman any defect in any fencing,
breathing apparatus
, appliance or other requisite provided in pursuance of these Regulations, as soon as he becomes aware of such defect;
(
b
) use the articles, appliances or accommodation required by these Regulations for the purpose for which they are provided;
(
c
) wear the
breathing apparatus
and
life-belt
where required under Regulations 7 and 8.
(2) No person shall—
(
a
) remove any fencing provided in pursuance of Regulation 1 unless duly authorised; or
(
b
) stand on the edge or on the side of any vessel to which Regulation 1 applies;
(
c
) pass or attempt to pass any barrier erected in pursuance of Regulation 1 (
c
);
(
d
) place across or inside any vessel to which Regulation 1 applies any plank or gangway which does not comply with Regulation 1 (
b
), or make use of any such plank or gangway while in such position;
(
e
) take a naked light or any lamp or matches or any apparatus for producing a naked light or spark into, or smoke in, any part of the works where there is liability to explosion from inflammable gas, vapour or dust;
(
f
) use a metal spade, scraper or pail when cleaning out or removing the residues from any chamber, still, tank, or other vessel which has contained sulphuric acid or hydrochloric acid or other substance which may cause evolution of arseniuretted hydrogen;
(
g
) remove from a First Aid box or cupboard or from the Ambulance room any First Aid appliance or dressing except for the treatment of injuries in the works.
PART II. APPLYING TO WORKS OR PARTS THEREOF IN WHICH—
I.
Caustic pots
are used; or
II.
Chlorate
or
bleaching powder
is manufactured; or
III—(
a
) Gas tar or coal tar is distilled or is used in any process of chemical manufacture; or
(
b
) A
nitro or amido process
is carried on; or
(
c
) A
chrome process
is carried on; or
IV. Crude shale oil is refined or processes incidental thereto are carried on; or
V. Nitric acid is used in the manufacture of nitro compounds.
18. Every
caustic pot
shall be of such construction that there shall be no foothold on the top or sides of the brickwork or flues; and the edge of every such pot constructed, rebuilt or replaced after these Regulations come into force shall be at least 3 feet in height above the adjoining ground or platform.
19. Before any person enters a gas tar or coal tar still for any purpose except that of rescue, it shall be completely isolated from adjoining tar stills, either by disconnecting—
(
a
) the pipe leading from the swan neck to the condenser worm , or
(
b
) the waste gas pipe fixed to the worm end or receiver; and
in addition, blank flanges shall be inserted between the disconnected parts, and the pitch discharge pipe or cock at the bottom of the still shall be disconnected.
20. No person shall enter a chamber for the purpose of withdrawing the charge of
bleaching powder
unless and until
(i) The chamber is efficiently ventilated, and
(ii) The air in the chamber has been tested and found to contain not more than 2-5 grains of free chlorine gas per cubic foot.
A register containing details of all such tests shall be kept in a form approved by the Inspector of Factories.
21. In a
nitro or amido process
:—
(
a
) If crystallised substances are broken or any liquor agitated by hand, means shall be taken to prevent, as far as practicable, the escape of dust or fume into the air of any place in which any person is employed. The handles of all implements used in the operations shall be cleansed daily.
(
b
) Cartridges shall not be filled by hand except by means of a suitable scoop.
(
c
) Every drying stove shall be efficiently ventilated to the outside air in such a manner that hot air from the stove shall not be drawn into any workroom.
(
d
) No person shall enter a stove to remove the contents until a free current of air has been passed through it.
(
e
) Every vessel containing nitro or amido derivatives of phenol or of benzene or its homologues shall, if steam is passed into or around it, or if the temperature of the contents be at or above the temperature of boiling water, be covered in such a way that steam or vapour shall be discharged into the open air at a height of not less than 25 feet from the ground or the working platform, and at a point where it cannot be blown back again into the workroom.
(
f
) In every room in which dust is generated or fume is evolved an
efficient exhaust draught
shall be provided.
22.—(
a
) Every machine used for grinding or crushing
caustic
shall be enclosed, and
(
b
) Where any of the following processes are carried on:—
(i) Grinding or crushing of
caustic
;
(ii) Packing of ground
caustic
;
(iii) Grinding, sieving, evaporating or packing in a
chrome process
;
(iv) Crushing, grinding or mixing of material or cartridge filling in a
nitro or amido process;
an
efficient exhaust draught
shall be provided.
23. (
a
)
Chlorate
shall not be crystallised, ground or packed except in a room or place not used for any other purpose, the floor of which room or place shall be of cement or other smooth, impervious and incombustible material, and shall be thoroughly cleansed daily.
(
b
) Wooden vessels shall not be used for the crystallisation of
chlorate
, or to contain crystallised or ground
chlorate
; provided that this Regulation shall not prohibit the packing of
chlorate
for sale into wooden casks or other wooden vessels.
24. No person under 18 years of age shall be employed in a
chrome process
or in a
nitro or amido process
.
25.—(
a
) There shall be provided and maintained for the use of all persons employed in:—
(i) A
nitro or amido process
, sufficient and suitable overalls or suits of working clothes and sufficient and suitable protective footwear; *
(ii) grinding raw materials in a
chrome process
, sufficient and suitable overall suits;
(iii) the crystal department and in packing in a
chrome process
, sufficient and suitable protective coverings;
(iv) packing in a
chrome process
, sufficient and suitable respirators;
(v) any room or place in which
chlorate
is crystallised, ground or packed, clothing of woollen material and boots or over-shoes, the soles of which shall have no metal on them;
(vi) any room or place in which
caustic
is ground or crushed by machinery, sufficient and suitable goggles and gloves, or other suitable protection for the eyes and hands;
(vii)
bleaching powder
chambers, or in packing charges drawn from such chambers, a supply of flannel or other suitable respirators.
(
b
) (i) The overalls or suits of working clothes required to be provided by (
a
) (i) and (ii) of this Regulation shall be washed, cleansed or renewed at least once every week;
(ii) the filtering material of the respirators required to be provided by (
a
) (iv) of this Regulation shall be washed or renewed daily;
(iii) the woollen clothing required to be provided by (
a
) (v) of this Regulation shall not be removed from the works for any purpose, but shall be washed daily after use and thoroughly dried before being worn again; all such clothing when worn out shall be destroyed;
*In those places to which the Explosives Act, 1875, applies, the provision made must conform to the requirements of that Act,
(iv) if gloves are provided to comply with (
a
) (vi) of this Regulation, they shall be collected, examined and cleaned at the close of the day's work, and shall be repaired or renewed when necessary.
26. There shall be provided and maintained for the use of all persons for whom overalls or suits of working clothes are required to be provided under Regulation 25 (
a
):—
(
a
) A suitable cloakroom for clothing put off during working hours, with adequate arrangements for drying the clothing if wet; and
(
b
) a suitable place, or places, separate from the cloakroom and from the meal room provided in pursuance of Regulation 27, for the storage of overalls or working suits.
The accommodation so provided shall be placed under the charge of a responsible person, and shall be kept clean.
27. There shall be provided and maintained for the use of all persons remaining on the premises during the meal intervals, who are employed in (
a
) any
nitro or amido process,
(
b
) any
chrome process
, (
c
) grinding or crushing
caustic
by machinery or packing of ground
caustic
, (
d
) making or packing of
bleaching powder
, including the drawing of the charges from the chambers, (
e
) crystallising, grinding or packing of
chlorate
, (
f
) distilling gas tar or coal tar (other than blast furnace tar), or in any process of chemical manufacture in which gas or coal tar (other than blast furnace tar) is used, or (
g
) refining of crude shale oil, suitable and adequate messroom or canteen accommodation, which shall be furnished with—
(i) sufficient tables and chairs or benches with back rests;
(ii) adequate means for cooking or warming food and for boiling water; and
(iii) arrangements for washing crockery and utensils.
The messroom shall be sufficiently warmed for use during meal intervals, be placed under the charge of a responsible person and be kept clean and well ventilated.
28. There shall be provided and maintained in a cleanly state and in good repair for the use of all persons employed in (
a
) any
nitro or amido process
; (
b
) any
chrome process
; (
c
) grinding or crushing
caustic
by machinery or packing of ground
caustic
; (
d
) making or packing of
bleaching powder
, including the drawing of the charges from the chambers; (
e
) crystallising, grinding or packing of
chlorate
; (
f
) distilling gas tar or coal tar (other than blast furnace tar), or in any process of chemical manufacture in which gas or coal tar (other than blast furnace tar) is used; (
g
) the manipulation of pitch (other than blast furnace pitch); or (
h
) refining of crude shale oil:—
A lavatory, under cover, with a sufficient supply of clean towels, renewed daily, and of soap and nail brushes, and with either—
(
a
) a trough with a smooth impervious surface, fitted with a waste pipe without plug, and of such length as to allow at least two feet for every five such persons, and having a constant supply of warm water from taps or jets above the trough at intervals of not more than two feet; or
(
b
) at least one lavatory basin for every five such persons, fitted with a waste pipe and plug or placed in a trough having a waste pipe, and having either a constant supply of hot and cold water or warm water laid on, or (if a constant supply of heated water be 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 persons employed.
29. There shall be provided for the use of all persons employed in (
a
) a
nitro or amido process
, (
b
) the crystal department and the packing room in a
chrome process
, (
c
) the process of distilling gas or coal tar (other than blast furnace tar) and any process of chemical manufacture in which such tar is used and (
d
) refining of crude shale oil:—
Sufficient and suitable bath accommodation (douche or other), with hot and cold water laid on and a sufficient supply of soap and towels.
A bath register shall be kept containing a list of all persons employed in the above processes and an entry of the date when each person takes a bath.
30. In a
chrome process
and in a
nitro or amido process
:—
(
a
) A Health Register, containing the names of all persons employed, shall be kept in a form approved by the Inspector of Factories.
(
b
) No person shall be newly employed for more than fourteen days without a certificate of fitness granted after examination by the
Surgeon
by signed entry in the Health Register.
(
c
) Every person employed shall be examined by the
Surgeon
once in each calendar month (or at such other intervals as may be prescribed in writing by the Inspector of Factories) on a date or dates of which due notice shall be given to all concerned.
(
d
) Every person employed shall present himself at the appointed time for examination by the
Surgeon
as provided in (
b
) and (
c
) of this Regulation.
(
e
) The
Surgeon
shall have power of
suspension
as regards all persons employed, and no person after
suspension
shall be employed without written sanction from the
Surgeon
entered in the Health Register.
(
f
) No person shall introduce, keep, prepare or partake of any food, drink or tobacco in any room or place in which a
nitro or amido process
is carried on, or in the crystal department of a
chrome process
.
31. Every person employed—
(
a
) in a process to which Regulation 25 (
a
) applies shall wear the protective clothing, footwear, respirators, goggles or gloves provided under Regulation 25 (
a
) and shall deposit overalls or suits of working clothing so provided, as well as clothing put off during working hours, in the places provided under Regulations 26 (
a
) and (
b
);
(
b
) in processes to which Regulation 28 applies shall carefully wash the hands and face before partaking of any food or leaving the premises;
(
c
) in any processes to which Part 11. of these Regulations apply shall use the protective appliances supplied in respect of any process in which he is engaged.
S. MACGRAITH,
Aire um Tiúscal agus Tráchtáil
(Minister of Industry and Commerce
).
BAILE ÁTHA CLIATH,
1
st May
, 1923.
Schedule.
Chemical works
means any works or that part of a works in which:—
THE CHEMICAL WORKS REGULATIONS, 1923, DATED 1ST MAY, 1923, MADE BY THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE UNDER SECTION 79 OF THE FACTORY AND WORKSHOP ACT, 1901, TO APPLY TO THE MANUFACTURES AND PROCESSES INCIDENTAL THERETO CARRIED ON IN CHEMICAL WORKS.
In pursuance of Section 79 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, and of every other power me hereunto enabling, I hereby make the following Regulations and direct that they shall apply to the manufactures and processes incidental thereto carried on in chemical works as hereinafter defined.
Provided that nothing in these Regulations shall apply to (
a
) the manufacture of certain compounds of lead, namely, any carbonate, sulphate, nitrate, or acetate of lead; (
b
) the manufacture of red or orange lead or of flaked litharge; (
c
) the manufacture and necessary purification of coal gas, water gas, and producer gas for lighting, heating, and power purposes; (
d
) the processes of textile printing, bleaching, dyeing, mercerising, tanning and brewing; (
e
) the distillation of alcohol, of wood (except where acetic acid is isolated or manufactured), and of shale in the manufacture of crude shale oil; (
f
) processes carried on by way of experiment.
Regulations 2 (
b
) and 12, and, so far as concerns the processes of grinding or crushing caustic by machinery or packing ground caustic, making or packing of bleaching powder, distillation of gas or coal tar or any process in chemical manufacture in which gas or coal tar is used, the refining of crude shale oil and the manipulation of pitch, Regulations 26, 27, and 28 shall not come into force till 1st January, 1924, or such later date or dates as the Minister of Industry and Commerce may appoint, but save as aforesaid, all the Regulations shall take effect on 1st June, 1923. From that date the Regulations dated 30th December, 1908, (
a
) for the manufacture of nitro and amido derivatives of benzene, and the Regulations dated 9th August, 1913, (
b
) for the manufacture of chromate and bichromate of potassium or sodium shall be revoked.
These Regulations may be cited as the Chemical Works Regulations, 1923.
(
a
) S.R. & O., 1908, No, 1310.
(
b
) S.R. & O. 1913, No. 844.
*Definitions.
In these Regulations:—
Chemical works
means any works or such parts of any works as are named in the Schedule of this Order.
Bleaching powder
means the bleaching powder commonly called chloride of lime.
Chlorate
means chlorate or perchlorate.
Caustic
means hydroxide of potassium or sodium.
Caustic pot
means a metal pot fixed over a furnace or flue and surrounded by brickwork, such as is commonly used for concentrating caustic liquor, whether such pot be used for concentrating or boiling caustic or other liquor.
Chrome process
means the manufacture of chromate or bicromate of potassium or sodium, or the manipulation, movement or other treatment of these substances in connection with their manufacture.
Nitro or amido process
means the manufacture of nitro or amido derivatives of phenol and of benzene or its homologues, and the making of explosives with the use of any of these substances.
Breathing apparatus
means (1) a helmet or face-piece with necessary connections by means of which a person using it in a poisonous, asphyxiating, or irritant atmosphere breathes ordinary air, or (2) my other suitable apparatus approved in writing by the Inspector of Factories.
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.
Efficient exhaust draught
means localised ventilation effected by mechanical or other means for the removal of gas, vapour, fume, or dust, which prevents it from escaping into the air of any place in which work is carried on.†
Surgeon
means the Certifying Factory Surgeon of the District, or a duly qualified medical practitioner appointed by written certificate of, or on behalf of, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, which appointment shall be subject to such conditions as may be specified in that certificate.
* Terms to which defined meanings are given are printed throughout in italics.
† Care must be taken that the means provided do not cause a contravention of the provisions of the Alkali, &c., Works Regulation Act, 1906.
Suspension
means suspension by written certificate in the Health Register, signed by the
Surgeon
, from employment in any process mentioned in the certificate.
Exceptions.
Where it is proved to the satisfaction of the Inspector of Factories that by reason of exceptional circumstances in any works subject to these Regulations, or by reason of the infrequency of the process, or for other reasons, all or any of the requirements of the Regulations are not necessary for the protection of persons employed in such works, he may by certificate in writing (which he may in his discretion revoke) exempt such works from all or any of the provisions of the same, subject to such conditions as he may by such certificate prescribe.
Duties.
It shall be the duty of the occupier to comply with these Regulations, and it shall be the duty of all agents, foremen, and persons employed to conduct their work in accordance with these Regulations.
Part I. APPLYING TO ALL CHEMICAL WORKS.