Last Updated on: February 16, 2024

PROVISIONS OF TO SAFETY:

1. In every plantation, effective arrangements shall be made by the employer to provide for the safety of workers in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of insecticides, chemicals and toxic substances.
2. The State Government may make rules for prohibiting or, restricting employment of women or adolescents in using or handling hazardous chemicals.
3. The employer shall appoint persons possessing the prescribed qualifications to supervise the use, handling, storage and transportation of insecticides, chemicals and toxic substances in his plantation.
4. Every employer shall ensure that every worker in plantation employed for handling, mixing, blending and applying insecticides, chemicals and toxic substances, is trained about the hazards involved in different operations in which he is engaged, the various safety measures and safe work practices to be adopted in emergencies arising from spillage of such insecticides chemicals and toxic substances and such other matters as may be prescribed by the State Government.
5. The employer shall appoint persons possessing the prescribed qualifications to supervise the use, handling, storage and transportation of insecticides, chemicals and toxic substances in his plantation.
6. Every employer shall ensure that every worker in plantation employed for handling, mixing, blending and applying insecticides, chemicals and toxic substances, is trained about the hazards involved in different operations in which he is engaged, the various safety measures and safe work practices to be adopted in emergencies arising from spillage of such insecticides chemicals and toxic substances and such other matters as may be prescribed by the State Government.
7. Every worker who is exposed to insecticides, chemicals and toxic substances shall be medically examined periodically, in such manner as may be prescribed, by the State Government.
8. Every employer shall maintain health record of every worker who is exposed to insecticides, chemicals and toxic substances which are used, handled, stored or transported in a plantation, and every such worker shall have access to such record.
9. Every employer shall provide-
10. Washing, bathing and clock room facilities; and
11. Protective clothing and equipment,

To every worker engaged in handling insecticides, chemicals or toxic substances in such manner as may be prescribed by the State Government.

1. Every employer shall display in the plantation, a list of permissible concentrations of insecticides, chemicals and toxic substances in the breathing zone of the workers engaged in the handling and application of such insecticides chemicals and toxic substances
2. Every employer shall exhibit such precautionary notices as may be prescribed by the State Government indicating the hazards of insecticides, chemicals and toxic substances.

 

Eligibility for employment in spraying works:

No persons who has not attained 18 years of age and no women shall be employed or permitted to be employed in use, handling, spraying, storage and transport of insecticides, chemicals and toxic substances in the tea gardens.

 

Medical examination

1. Every person who is to be engaged in connection with the works of use, handling, spraying, storage and transportation of insecticides, chemicals and toxic substances shall be examined by a qualified medical practitioner before his engagement and within 15 days by a certifying surgeon appointed under the Plantations Labour Act, 1951. Such medical examination shall include appropriate tests that is necessary for assessment of his health status.
2. The employers of a tea estate shall appoint at least one person designated as Chemical Supervisor and having minimum qualification of Higher Secondary (pass) with Chemistry as one of the subjects and duly trained in handling, use and storage of insecticides, chemicals and toxic substances with additional qualification on first aid measures to supervise the use of such substances in the plantations.
3. There shall be compulsory medical check-up of each workers engaged for the purpose at an interval of not more than 90 day's by a certifying surgeon appointed under the Plantation Labour Act, 1951.
4. Every employer shall ensure that every worker in the plantation employed for handling, mixing, blending and applying insecticides, chemicals and toxic substances is trained thoroughly about the possible hazards involved in the operation in which he is engaged, the various safety measures and safe works practices to be adopted in emergencies arising from spillage of such insecticides, chemicals and toxic substances which may lead to contamination of lungs, skin, eyes, and other parts of the body through inhalation, swallowing etc. The employeis shall also through repeated periodic instruction for safety measures and safe working practices in words related to use, handling, mixing blending, storage and applying of such substances.
5. Any worker showing symptom of poisoning shall be immediately examined and given proper medical treatment.
6. The employers shall report immediately to the certifying surgeon declared under the Plantations Labour Act, 1951 of any accident caused due to use, handling, mixing, blending, storage and transportation of such substances immediately.
7. Every employer shall maintain health record of every worker who is exposed to insecticides, chemicals and toxic substances in Form No. 20 and every affected worker shall have access to the record. The record shall also be presented before Certifying Surgeon notified under the Plantations Labour Act, 1951, as well as before the Asstt. Labour Commissioner of the area. The same also be presented before any Inspector declared under the Act having jurisdiction over the area where the Plantation is located if asked for either orally or in writing on his visit to the plantation or within 3 months at his office whichever is earlier.

 

Washing Facilities and Cloak Room.-

The washing, bathing and cloakroom facilities prescribed under sub-section (7)(a) of Section 18A shall be provided in the following manner :

There shall be provided and maintained in a cleanly state and in good repair for the use of all persons employed:-

1. A through with a smooth impervious surface fitted with a waste pipe with plug, and of sufficient length to allow at least two feet for every ten persons employed at any one time, and having a constant supply of water from taps or jets above the through at intervals of not more than two feet; or
2. At least one wash basin doe every ten such persons employed at any one time fitted with a waste pipe and plug and having a constant supply of water together with, in either case, a sufficient supply of nail brushes, soap or other suitable cleansing material and clean towels changed daily;
3. Suitable accommodation for clothing not worn during working hours with adequate arrangement for drying the clothing if wet. The accommodation so provided shall be placed under the charge of a responsible person.
4. No food, drink or eatables including pan, supari or tobacco shall be brought into or consumed by any worker either at the work place or at the washrooms.

 

Precautionary Notice.-

Every employer shall exhibit precautionary notices indicating the hazards of insecticides, chemicals and toxic substances in the vicinity of the work place, printed/ typed in the language of the majority of the workers and shall be affixed in a prominent place where it could be easily seen and conveniently read by the workers.

 

First Aid measures.-

In all cases of poisoning first-aid treatment shall always be given before the physician is called. The Indian Standard Guide for handling cases of pesticide poisoning Part 1, First Aid Measure [I.S.4015 (part II)-1967] shall be consulted for such first-aid treatment in addition to any other book on the subject. The workers shall also be educated on the effects on poisoning and the first-aid treatment to be given.

1. Every worker handling, insecticides during transport or application shall be adequately protected with appropriate clothing.
2. The protective clothing shall be used wherever necessary I Conjunction with appropriate respiratory devices for preventing inhalation of toxic dusts, vapours or gases.
3. No worker shall be allowed to dilute chemical solutions to be used for spraying nor allowed to spray without using gauntlets, dust-proof hats, hood, goggles, knee length polythene apron, rubber gloves, rubber boots (gum boots) with socks, nose-mask or bleached kerchief to cover nose and mouth.
4. Lenses of goggles shall be of good quality.
5. Rubber or rag-pad shall be used on the back to minimize the jerking of spraying machine.
6. Every worker engaged in spraying shall be provided with a bar of washing soap every fortnight
7. The equipment used for spraying as well as protective clothing and other equipment shall be maintained properly and replaced whenever necessary immediately.

 

Provision of change of batch used in spraying:-

Workers engaged in spraying work shall be changed and replace by other batches or workers after they have worked for a period of three months. Disposal of used packaged surplus materials and washing of insecticides:

1. It shall be duty of employers and operators to dispose packages or surplus materials and washings of insecticides, chemicals and other toxic substances in a safe manner so as to prevent environmental or water pollution.
2. The used packages shall not be left outside to prevent their re-use.
3. The packages shall be broken and buried away from human habitation.