SCHEDULE XIII Manufacture of articles from refractory materials 1. Application and exemption.- This schedule shall apply to the following Processes- (a) Handling, moving, breaking, crushing, grinding or sieving of an refractory materials, containing not less than 25 per cent total silica for purpose of manufacture- (i) of articles used in the construction of furnaces and flues; (ii) of crucibles; and (iii) of compositions of other materials used in the preparation moulds in which metals are cast; or (b) any process in the manufacture of refractory brick as hereinafter defined. Provided that nothing this schedule shall apply___ (i) to handling, moving, mixing or sieving of natural sand; or (ii) to the manipulation of rotten rock in the preparation of moul used in metal foundries. Provided further that if the Chief Inspector of Factories is satisfied in respect of any factory or part thereof that owing to the special conditions of work otherwise, that any of the requirements of this schedule can be suspended relaxed without any danger to the health of tl1e persons employed therein, may by an order in writing grant such suspension or relaxation for such period and on such conditions as he may think fit. Any such order may be revoked any time. 2. Definition.- For the purpose of this schedule- (a) "refractory material" means any refractory material containing and less than 25 per cent total silica; (b) "refractory brick" means any brick or article composed of refractor material and containing not less than 25 per cent total silica; and (c) "efficient exhaust draught" means localised ventilation by mechanic means for the removal of dust, so as to prevent dust from escaping into the air or any place in which work is carried on. No draugll shall be deemed to be efficient which fails to remove the dues produced at the point where such dust originates. 3. Refractory material not to be broken.- No refractory material shall be broken in pieces by manual labour unless the process is carried out in the open air. Provided that where it is not practicable to carry out this process in open air the process shall be carried out under an efficient exhaust draught. 4. Crushing or grinding of refractory material.- No refractory material unless it is so wet that dust will not be produced, shall be crushed or ground in a stone crushing or a grinding machine unless such machine is provided with- (a) an efficient exhaust draught and efficient dust collecting appliances; or (b) an efficient water or steam spray; Provided that every grinding machine wherein any refractory material is ground in dry state, shall be, totally enclosed and connected to a mechanical exhaust system so as to prevent effectively any escape of dust outside the casing of the machine by maintaining a pressure below the atmospheric pressure within the casing of the machine. Provided further that all processes of crushing and grinding shall be effectively isolated from other processes. 5. Refractory material handling equipment to be enclosed.- All chutes, conveyors, elevators, screens, sieves and mixers used for manipulating refractory material shall, unless the material is so wet that the dust will not be produced, be enclosed and be provided with an efficient exhaust draught. 6. Precautions in handling refractory material.- No refractory material so dry as to produce dust shall- (a) be loaded into any wagon or other receptacle for transport unless it has been placed in a suitable dust proof container or damped as to preclude dust; (b) be unloaded from any wagon on other receptacle for transport unless it has been so damped as to preclude dust or unless the work is done under an efficient exhaust draught; or (c) be shoveled or raked or otherwise manipulated by means of hand tools in any manufacturing process unless it has been so damped as to preclude dust or unless the work is done under an efficient exhaust draught. Provided that sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph shall not apply to refractory material in the form of rock or pebbles before it is manipulated in any manufacturing process. 7. Maintenance of floors.- (1) The floors of all places where refractory bricks -are dried, other than the floors of tunnel ovens or chamber dries not normally entered by persons employed shall, after each lot of refractory bricks has been removed, be carefully cleaned of all debris and the part being cleaned shall be kept damp while the cleaning is being done. (2) There shall be provided in every such place a constant supply of water laid on under adequate pressure with sufficient connections and a flexible branch pipe and sprinkler to enable water to be supplied direct to every part of the floor. 8. Prohibition of use of drying stove..- No drying stove in which refractory bricks are baked by fires before being placed in the kilns shall be used. 9. Cleaning of floors and suppression of refractory dust.- The surface of every floor or place where persons are liable to pass shall be cleaned of debris of refractory material once at least during each daily period of employment or where shifts are worked, once during each shift. Such debris unless it is immediately required for use in the processes, shall be effectively damped and either be placed in covered receptacles, or be otherwise stored in such a manner as to prevent the escape of dust into the air in or near to any place where any person is employed. 10. Suppression of refractory dust while drying.- Where plates are used, whether portable or forming part of the floor, on which refractory bricks are dried, such plates shall be freed from adherent material only by a wet method or by such other method as well prevent the escape of dust into the air. 11. Prohibition of use of refractory dust for moulding.- The dust powder of refractory materials shall hot be used for sprinkling the moulds refractory brick-making. Provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to prevent the us of natural sand for the purpose of sprinkling the moulds. 12. Workers not to work in refractory dust atmosphere..- No work shall be allowed to work on any dust process or at any place where dust of an refractory material is present in the atmosphere. Provided that in an emergency a worker may be allowed to work at such process or places if he wears a suitable and efficient dust mask or breathing apparatus. 13. Medical examination.- (1) Every worker employed on any of the processes specified in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph 1 shall be medically examined in such manner and at such intervals as may be specified by any rules made under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923 or it no such rules have been framed under the said Act. Every such worker shall be medically examined by the Certifying Surgeon before employment on any of the aforesaid I processes and at an interval not exceeding six months thereafter. (2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), an X-ray examination of the chest of every workers referred to in sub-paragraph (1) shall be carried out- (a) if he is already in employment on the date of coming into force of the sub-paragraph, within six months of such date and at an interval of every three years thereafter; (b) if he is employed after such date within one month of the date of his employment and at an interval of every three years thereafter, the result of every such X-ray examination shall be produced before the Certifying Surgeon within a month of the examination. (3) If the Certifying Surgeon, during the course of medical examination of any worker under sub-paragraph (1) has reason to suspect onset of any chest disease, he may direct the manager or the occupier to get an X-ray examination of the worker done and to produce the X-ray plate before him within a specified time and on receipt of such direction the manager or the occupier, as the case may be, shall carry out the direction. (4) The Certifying Surgeon shall grant to each worker examined a certificate specifying therein whether or not the worker was considered fit to be employed on any of the aforesaid processes. (5) The manager shall maintain a register in which the findings and recommendations of the Certifying Surgeon in respect of every medical examination shall be maintained duly signed by the Certifying Surgeon. (6) A worker not declared fit shall not be employed on any of the aforesaid of processes and he shall be employed on only such other process or he shall be subjected to such other examination or treatment as may be directed by the Certifying Surgeon. (7) No fees shall be charged from any worker for the medical examination and it shall be the responsibility of the occupier and the manager to comply with the provisions of this schedule. 14. Time limit for compliance in respect of existing plants.- In case any existing plant or machinery needs alteration, modification or replacement or in case any new plant is required to be installed, to comply with the requirements of this schedule, such alteration, modification, replacement or installation of the plant or machinery shall be carried on within a period not exceeding one year from the date of publication of this schedule: Provided that the Chief Inspector of Factories in consideration of special and exceptional circumstances by an order in writing may extend this period for such reasonable length of time as he may think fit. | 
