S.I. No. 108/1975:

FACTORIES (OIL CAKE MILLS) (WELFARE) REGULATIONS, 1975.

FACTORIES (OIL CAKE MILLS) (WELFARE) REGULATIONS, 1975.

I, MICHAEL O'LEARY, Minister for Labour, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 6 , 8 , 53 , 54 , 57 and 71 of the Factories Act, 1955 (No. 10 of 1955), and the Labour (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 1966 ( S.I. No. 164 of 1966 ), after consultation with the Minister for Health, and after due compliance with the provisions of the Third Schedule of that Act, hereby make the following regulations :

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Factories (Oil Cake Mills) (Welfare) Regulations, 1975, and shall come into operation on the 1st day of July, 1975.

2. The Oil Cake Mills Welfare Order, 1919 (S.R. & O., No. 959 of 1919), is hereby revoked.

3. These Regulations shall apply in all factories or parts of factories in which the manufacture of oil cake and meal, including the refining of vegetable oils and the manufacture of animal fats and grease, is carried on.

4. Suitable protective clothing shall be provided and maintained by the occupier of a factory to which these Regulations apply for the use of all persons employed therein.

5. Whenever the occupier of a factory to which these Regulations apply provides, pursuant to section 54 of the Factories Act, 1955 (No. 10 of 1955), accommodation for clothing not worn by persons employed therein during working hours, the accommodation so provided shall be placed under the charge of a responsible person and shall be kept clean.

6. (1) The occupier of a factory to which these Regulations apply shall provide and maintain for the use of all persons employed therein and remaining on the premises during meal intervals a suitable and adequate messroom which shall be furnished with--

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

( b ) unless a canteen serving hot meals is provided adequate means of heating food and boiling water.

(2) The messroom provided pursuant to paragraph (1) of this regulation shall be

( a ) sufficiently heated for use during meal intervals,

( b ) separate from the accommodation for clothing provided pursuant to section 54 of the Factories Act, 1955 ,

( c ) kept clean and placed under the charge of a responsible person.

7. (1) In relation to a factory to which these Regulations apply, washing facilities provided pursuant to section 53 of the Factories Act, 1955 , for the use of persons employed therein shall be washing facilities which are adequate and suitable for the use of all the persons so employed.

(2) The facilities to be provided pursuant to paragraph (l) of this regulation shall be kept in a clean and orderly condition and shall be conveniently accessible from the place in the factory where work is carried on. The said facilities shall include clean running hot and cold or warm water together with soap and clean towels.

(3) In addition to the requirements specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this regulation, there shall be provided and maintained adequate and suitable shower bath accommodation. The shower bath accommodation so provided shall be suitably constructed and supplied with clean hot and cold water and a sufficient supply of clean towels and soap. Every shower bath so provided shall be partitioned off so as to secure privacy and shall have a proper door and fastenings.

(4) ( a ) At least one shower bath shall be provided pursuant to paragraph (3) of this regulation for every twenty persons employed.

( b ) In a factory to which these Regulations apply where both male and female persons are employed, at least one shower bath shall be provided pursuant to paragraph (3) of this regulation for every twenty persons of each sex employed therein.

( c ) Where the number of persons employed in a factory to which these Regulations apply is not a multiple of twenty, the number of persons so employed shall, for the purposes of this regulation, be regarded as being the next higher number which is a multiple of twenty.

8. (1) In every factory to which these Regulations apply in which the total number of persons employed is 500 or more, the occupier of the factory shall provide and maintain in good order an Ambulance Room.

(2) ( a ) 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 nine square metres 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 running hot and cold water always available,

(ii) a table with a smooth top,

(iii) means for sterilizing instruments,

(iv) a supply of suitable dressings, bandages and splints,

(v) a couch, and

(vi) a stretcher

( b ) In a factory where both male and female persons are employed, arrangements shall be made at the Ambulance Room for their separate treatment.

(3) A responsible person trained in first aid shall be placed in charge of each first aid box provided pursuant to the Factories Act, 1955 , and each Ambulance Room provided pursuant to these Regulations.

(4) For the purpose of this regulation, a person shall not be deemed as being trained in first aid treatment unless he--

( a ) is a nurse registered by An Bord Altranais or by a corresponding body, or

( b ) is the holder of a certificate in first aid treatment issued within the immediately preceding three years or is otherwise recognised as being qualified in first aid treatment by a training organisation, or

( c ) he has held a grade not lower than two star private in the Army Medical Corps.

(5) In this regulation "training organisation" means the Irish Red Cross Society, the St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland. The Sovereign Military Order of Malta, The Consultative Council of Ambulance Services, The Civil Defence Authority, or any other body approved for the purposes of this regulation.

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 22nd day of May, 1975.

MICHAEL O'LEARY,

Minister for Labour.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These Regulations require protective clothing to be provided for the protection of the safety, health and welfare of persons employed in factories where the manufacture of oil cake, meal or animal fats is carried on. They prescribe minimum standards for messrooms and washing facilities and require an ambulance room to be provided in factories where more than 500 persons are employed.