No. 7/1942:

HIDE AND SKIN REGULATIONS, 1942.

HIDE AND SKIN REGULATIONS, 1942.

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 15th day of September, 1938, the said Minister, in pursuance of the said section 79, certified—

(a) the handling of imported hides or skins, whether dry or salted, and

(b) the liming and tanning of raw hides and skins (including the re-tanning of tanned or partly tanned hides or skins) and processes incidental thereto,

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. These Regulations may be cited as the Hide and Skin Regulations, 1942.

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on the 16th day of March, 1942.

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

4. In these Regulations the expression "the Minister" means the Minister for Industry and Commerce.

5. These Regulations apply in relation to any factory or workshop in which either or both of the following are carried on, that is to say :—

(a) the handling of imported hides or skins, whether dry or salted, and

(b) the liming and tanning of raw hides and skins (including the re-tanning of tanned or partly tanned hides and skins) and processes incidental thereto.

6. Articles 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 18 of these Regulations shall not apply in respect of persons employed in the process of unloading any ship in any dock, harbour, or canal or in moving or handling hides or skins in or at any dock, wharf, or quay or in any warehouse other than a warehouse used wholly or mainly for the storage of hides or skins.

7.—(1) When the Minister is satisfied in respect of any warehouse to which Articles 12 and 13 of these Regulations apply that the relaxation of any of the requirements of those Articles which involve the provision of means of heating is necessary for the safety of such warehouse, he may by certificate authorise such relaxation to such extent and subject to such conditions as may be specified in such certificate.

(2) Every certificate issued under this Article shall have effect in accordance with the terms thereof but shall be revocable at any time by the Minister.

8. The Hides and Skins Regulations, 1921, made on the 29th day of December, 1921, under Section 79 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, are hereby revoked.

9. 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.

10.—(1) There shall be provided and maintained in good condition for the use of all persons employed in the processes set out in the First Schedule to these Regulations the protective clothing indicated in respect of such processes in the said Schedule.

(2) Aprons and leg coverings provided in accordance with this Article shall be such as to afford effective protection from the wet or damp of the processes for which they are worn.

(3) Leg coverings provided in accordance with this Article shall include vamps, spats, or other efficient means of preventing water entering the uppers of the wearer's footwear.

11.—(1) The provisions set out in the Second Schedule to these Regulations in relation to first-aid boxes and cupboards shall be observed.

(2) Where an ambulance room is provided in respect of any particular factory or workshop and such arrangements are made as to ensure the immediate treatment therein of injuries, the Minister may by certificate exempt the occupier from observing in relation to such factory or workshop the requirements of the immediately preceding paragraph of this Article to such extent and subject to such conditions as may be specified in such certificate.

(3) Every certificate issued under this Article shall have effect in accordance with the terms thereof but shall be revocable at any time by the Minister.

12.—(1) There shall be provided and maintained for the use of all persons employed—

(a) suitable accommodation for clothing put off during working hours,

(b) suitable and separate accommodation for protective clothing provided under these Regulations, and

(c) adequate arrangements for drying such protective and other clothing.

(2) Accommodation provided in pursuance of this Article shall be kept clean and be placed under the charge of a responsible person.

13.—(1) A suitable mess-room shall be provided and maintained for the use of all persons employed who remain on the premises during meal intervals.

(2) Where the Minister is satisfied in respect of any factory or workshop that some other suitable arrangement is made in lieu of providing a mess-room, he may by certificate exempt the occupier from observing in relation to such factory or workshop the requirements of the immediately preceding paragraph of this Article.

(3) Every certificate issued under this Article shall have effect in accordance with the terms thereof but shall be revocable at any time by the Minister.

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

(a) outside any room or shed in which bales or skins are opened or hides or skins are handled after the bales are opened,

(b) separate from the accommodation provided in pursuance of the immediately preceding Article of these Regulations,

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

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

(e) kept clean and sufficiently warm, and

(f) be placed under the charge of a responsible person.

14.—(1) Suitable facilities for washing, including a sufficient supply of clean towels, renewed daily, nail brushes, soap and warm water, shall be provided and maintained for all persons employed.

(2) Facilities provided in pursuance of this Article shall be kept clean and be placed under the charge of a responsible person.

15. In every tannery all wrapping material in which hides or skins have been packed shall be destroyed by burning unless such wrapping material is disinfected either by exposure to steam at a temperature of not less than 212° F. for at least thirty minutes in a properly constructed steam disinfecting apparatus or by boiling for at least one hour.

16. Where solutions containing chromates or salts of chromium with free acid are used, arrangements shall be made for an inspection of the fingers of all persons coming into contact with such solutions to be made twice in every week by a person in charge of a first-aid box or cupboard provided in pursuance of these Regulations.

PART III. REGULATIONS TO BE OBSERVED BY PERSONS EMPLOYED.

17. Every person employed shall—

(a) report to his foreman any cut or sore and, until it has been treated, abstain from handling hides or skins, and

(b) if he is employed in breaking open the bales of hides or skins or in handling hides or skins after the bales have been opened, wash the hands, clean the nails, and leave off the protective clothing before partaking of food or leaving the premises.

18. No person employed shall keep or partake of food or keep any article of clothing other than those he is wearing in any room or shed in which bales of hides or skins are opened or hides or skins are handled after the bales have been opened or in any place in which any of the processes set out in the First Schedule to these Regulations are carried on.

FIRST SCHEDULE.

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING.

SECOND SCHEDULE.

FIRST-AID BOXES AND CUPBOARDS.

1. There shall be provided and maintained, so as to be readily accessible, a first-aid box or cupboard of the standard set out in paragraph 6 or paragraph 7 (whichever is appropriate) of this Schedule and, where more than one hundred and fifty persons are employed, an additional such first-aid box or cupboard for every one hundred and fifty persons.

2. The number of first-aid boxes or cupboards required under this Schedule shall be calculated by reference to the largest number of persons employed at any one time, a fraction of one hundred and fifty being reckoned as one hundred and fifty and, where the persons employed are employed in shifts, the calculation of the number employed shall be by reference to the largest number at work at any one time.

3. Nothing except appliances or requisites for first-aid shall be kept in a first-aid box or cupboard provided in pursuance of this Schedule and every such box or cupboard shall be distinctively marked with the words " First Aid. "

4. All materials for dressings contained in a first-aid box or cupboard provided in pursuance of this Schedule shall be those designed in and of a grade or quality not lower than the standard prescribed by the Irish Pharmacopoeia.

5. Each first-aid box or cupboard provided in pursuance of this Schedule shall be placed in the charge of a responsible person who shall be readily available during all working hours and a notice shall be affixed in every workroom stating the name of the person in charge of the nearest first-aid box or cupboard.

6. In the case of a factory or workshop in which not more than fifty persons are employed, a first-aid box or cupboard provided in pursuance of this Schedule shall, contain at least—

(a) a copy of the first-aid leaflet (Form F.I. 923) issued by the Department of Industry and Commerce,

(b) a sufficient number (not less than twelve) of small sterilised dressings for injured fingers,

(c) a sufficient number (not less than six) of large sterilised dressings for other injured parts,

(d) a sufficient number of sterilised burn dressings (small and large),

(e) a sufficient supply of sterilised cotton wool in ½ oz. packets,

(f) a two per cent. alcoholic solution of iodine,

(g) a bottle of sal volatile having the dose and mode of administration indicated on a label thereon, and

(h) eye drops prepared as described in the said first-aid leaflet (Form F.I. 923).

7. In the case of a factory or workshop in which more than fifty persons are employed, a first-aid box or cupboard provided in pursuance of this Schedule shall contain at least—

(a) a copy of the first-aid leaflet (Form F. I. 923) issued by the Department of Industry and Commerce,

(b) a sufficient number (not less than twenty-four) of small sterilised dressings for injured fingers,

(c) a sufficient number (not less than twelve) of medium size sterilised dressings for injured hands or feet,

(d) a sufficient number (not less than twelve) of large sterilised dressings for other injured parts,

(e) a sufficient number of sterilised burn dressings (small and large),

(f) a sufficient supply of sterilised cotton wool in ½ oz. packets,

(g) a two per cent. alcoholic solution of iodine,

(h) a bottle of sal-volatile having the dose and mode of administration indicated on a label thereon,

(i) eye drops prepared as described in the said first-aid leaflet (Form F.I. 923),

(j) a supply of suitable splints and cotton wool or other material for padding,

(k) a supply of adhesive plaster,

(l) a tourniquet,

(m) twelve roller bandages,

(n) six triangular bandages, and

(o) safety pins,

The foregoing items (j) to (o) inclusive need not be included where a properly equipped ambulance room is provided or where at least one box is separately provided which contains the said items and is placed and maintained in like manner as a first-aid box provided in pursuance of this Schedule.

Given under the Seal of Office of the Minister for Industry and Commerce this 16th day of February, 1942.

R. C. FERGUSON,

Secretary,

Department of Industry and Commerce.