Subchapter C. DRY COLOR INDUSTRY
Sec.
47.81. Scope.
47.82. Place.
47.83. Employes.
47.84. Male employes.
47.85. Habits of employes.
47.86. Safety standards.
47.87. Sanitation.
47.88. Physical examination.
47.89. Tank processes.
47.90. Filter pressing and straining.
47.91. Dry grinding, sieving and packing.
47.92. Lead poisoning law.
47.93. Penalty.
Authority The provisions of this Subchapter C issued under act of July 26, 1913 (P. L. 1363, No. 851) (43 P. S. § § 471—480); and act of May 18, 1937 (P. L. 654, No. 174) (43 P. S. § § 25-1—25-15), unless otherwise noted.
Source The provisions of this Subchapter C adopted August 1, 1917, amended through July 1, 1968, unless otherwise noted.
Cross References This subchapter cited in 34 Pa. Code § 11.85 (relating to applicable provisions of other regulations).
GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 47.81. Scope.
This subchapter sets forth rules to safeguard the lives, limbs and health of workers in the dry color industry, and places the responsibility of complying with such rules upon both employer and employe.
§ 47.82. Place.
(a) Each employer shall, without cost to his employes, provide and maintain workrooms which are adequately lighted and so ventilated and arranged that there is a continuous and sufficient change of air for the protection of his employes who are engaged in any work or process in which is used, in dry form, carbonate of lead, red lead, litharge, orange mineral, basic lead sulphate (sublimed white lead), chromate of lead, arsenate of lead, sugar of lead, fluosilicate of lead, lead nitrate or any other form or compound containing lead in excess of 10% entering into the composition of any dry color or other compound sold as such. All rooms shall have a smooth floor permitting an easy removal of dust by vacuum cleaning, by flushing the floor with water or by sweeping after the floor has been sprinkled with a sufficient quantity of wet sawdust to lay all dust. The walls of the room shall be smooth and it is recommended that they be either painted or whitewashed at frequent intervals permitting an easy removal of dust by vacuum cleaning or by flushing the walls with water. Dry sweeping of the floors and walls is prohibited.
(b) The daily removal of all dust from floors and walls by vacuum cleaning is recommended as the best and most economical method of cleaning.
Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 47.84 (relating to male employes); and 34 Pa. Code § 47.88 (relating to physical examination).
§ 47.83. Employes.
Persons engaged in occupations involving exposure to lead dusts, lead fumes or lead solutions in any form shall be at least 18 years of age and shall be physically examined at the expense of the employer by a licensed physician at least once every 30 days. Records of the examination shall be kept on file and available to inspectors of the Department.
Source The provisions of this § 47.83 amended June 10, 1977, 7 Pa.B. 1592. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (9200).
§ 47.84. Male employes.
No male employes less than 18 years of age shall engage in any work or process in § 47.82 (relating to place).
§ 47.85. Habits of employes.
Since the use of alcoholic liquors and chewing tobacco undermines the health and predisposes to lead poisoning and industrial accidents, it is recommended that the employment of anyone who habitually uses alcoholic liquors or who chews tobacco be discouraged. Employers are urged to exclude the persons from employment in any capacity in the dry color industry.
§ 47.86. Safety standards.
(a) Other provisions. All power transmission machinery, railings and toeboards, stationary steam engines, boilers, ladders, fire prevention, elevators and artificial lighting shall conform to the requirements of the appropriate chapter and subchapter of Part I (relating to Department of Labor and Industry).
(b) Respirators. When this subchapter requires it, the employer shall provide and renew when necessary, without cost to the employe, at least one reasonably effective respirator for each employe, and the employe shall keep it clean and use it at all times while at work.
(c) Efficiency. A respirator shall be considered efficient only when it fits the contour of the face and allows no air to enter the mouth or nose except air which has passed through the respirator. At least three thicknesses of gauze or cheesecloth shall be considered an efficient respirator if the gauze or cheesecloth is thoroughly washed every day.
§ 47.87. Sanitation.
(a) Scope. This section sets forth sanitary requirements for employes handling dry lead or dry compounds containing lead in excess of 10%.
(b) Washing facilities. The employer shall provide washrooms which shall be separate and apart from the workrooms, kept clean and equipped with any of the following:
(1) At least one lavatory basin for every five employes, fitted with waste pipes and two spigots conveying hot and cold water.
(2) Basins placed in troughs fitted with waste pipes and for each basin two spigots conveying hot and cold water, and at least one basin for every five employes.
(3) Troughs of enamel or similar smooth, impervious material, fitted with waste pipes and for every 2 feet of trough length two spigots conveying hot and cold water, and at least 2 feet of trough length for every five employes.
(4) Troughs of enamel or similar smooth, impervious material, fitted with waste pipes without plugs, but with a continuous spray of warm water.
(c) Nail brushes, towels and soap. The employer shall furnish nail brushes and soap, and at least three clean fabric towels each week for each employe, or a sufficient number of sanitary paper towels.
(d) Time allowance. A time allowance of 10 minutes at the expense of the employer shall be made to each employe for the use of such washrooms before the lunch hour and at the close of each work day.
(e) Shower bath. The employer shall provide at least one shower bath for every ten employes. The baths shall be approached by wooden runways, with movable wooden floor gratings, and with hot and cold water controlled within each individual bath. The baths shall be kept clean.
(f) Use of shower baths. The employer shall provide at least two clean fabric bath towels per week for each employe. An additional time allowance of ten minutes at the expense of the employer shall be made to each employe for the use of such baths at least twice a week at the close of the work day. It shall be the duty of all employes to use the washing facilities furnished by the employer.
(g) Urinals. Urinals and water closets shall be furnished in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 41 (relating to sanitation).
(h) Locker rooms. The employer shall provide dressing rooms which shall be adequately heated when necessary and separate from the workrooms and be furnished with a double sanitary locker or two single sanitary lockers for each employe. The room and the lockers shall be kept clean and sanitary. In lieu of lockers, wire baskets for clothes may be provided, which shall be attached to a rope passed through a pulley and pulled up to the ceiling when containing clothing.
(i) Eating rooms. The employer shall furnish and keep clean eating rooms with a sufficient number of tables and seats. The eating rooms shall be separate from the workrooms.
(j) Eating in workrooms. No employe or other person shall take or be permitted to take any food or drink of any kind into any workroom, nor shall any employe remain or be permitted to remain in any workroom during the time allowed for meals.
(k) Drinking fountains. The employer shall provide and maintain either a sufficient number of sanitary drinking fountains readily accessible for the use of all employes, or individual drinking cups.
(l) Overalls. The employer shall provide without cost to the employe, at least one pair of overalls and one jumper for each employe, repair and renew such clothing when necessary, and wash them at least once each week.
(m) Notice. The employer shall post in a conspicuous place in each workroom, washroom, dressing room, and eating room the following notice:
DANGERS OF LEAD
Lead is a poison.
With proper care you can handle it with no danger.
If handled carelessly it will almost without fail cause sickness.
This sickness, commonly called lead poisoning, may be only slight or it may be very severe.
It may show itself as headaches, cramps, constipation, loss in weight, paralysis, disease of the heart, blood vessels, or kidneys, insanity, and may cause death.
AVOID LEAD POISONING
Keep Lead Dust Out of Your Nose
Wear a respirator when working in lead dust.
Do no dry sweeping. Clean floors and walls with a vacuum cleaner, wash them with water, or sweep only when dust has been laid with wet sawdust or similar material.Keep Lead Dust Out of Your Mouth
Before eating and before leaving work wash hands, arms, and face with soap and warm water, and rinse mouth thoroughly.
Keep fingernails short and clean, scrub hands with a brush, soap, and warm water.
Keep beard and moustache cut short, or better still be clean shaven as it is hard to wash dust from hair.
Bathe often, every day if possible.
Take no food into the workroom; it will gather dust that you will eat later on.
Chew no tobacco while at work; lead is sure to reach your mouth when you handle your tobacco with unwashed hands.Keep Yourself In Good Health
Eat a hearty meal before starting work.
Drink plenty of milk.
Use no alcoholic drinks.
Have a good bowel movement every day; take an occasional dose of Epsom or Glauber’s salts or other laxative if necessary.
If not feeling well consult your plant doctor or your family physician at once. Every case of lead poisoning can be cured if treated early.
By taking home remedies or by depending on the advice of fellow workers or friends you lose valuable time, causing your sickness to last longer and to be more severe.
Additional copies of this notice, suitable for posting, will be furnished without charge, upon written request to the Department of Labor and Industry, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Ask for Form I-117.§ 47.88. Physical examination.
(a) Generally. The employer shall cause every employe who is exposed to lead dusts, lead fumes or lead solutions, to be physically examined at least once a month by a licensed physician to ascertain if symptoms of lead poisoning appear in any employe. The employe shall submit himself to the monthly examination, and to examination at other times and places as he may reasonably be requested by the employer, and he shall fully and truly answer all questions in regard to his physical condition asked by the examining physician. These examinations shall be made by a licensed physician, designated and paid by the employer, and shall be made during the working hours. A time allowance at the expense of the employer shall be made to each employe so examined.
(b) Record. Each physician making an examination as required by subsection (a) and finding what he believes to be symptoms of lead poisoning, shall enter, in a book kept for that purpose in the office of the employer, a record of such examination, containing the name and address of the employe so examined, the particular work or process in which he is engaged, the date, place, and finding of such examination, and the directions given in each case by the physician. The record shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times by inspectors of the Department.
(c) Report. If the examining physician believes that lead poisoning is present, he shall send a report in duplicate within 48 hours to the Department, and a report to the Department of Health. The examining physician shall also, within 48 hours, report the examination and finding in writing to the employer, and upon receipt of the report the employer shall discontinue the employe in any work or processes where he may be exposed to lead dust, lead fumes or lead solutions included in § 47.82 (relating to place).
§ 47.89. Tank processes.
(a) Handrails and toeboards. All tanks shall be protected by handrailings and toeboards in accordance with the requirements of Subchapter G (relating to railings, toeboards, open-sided floors, platforms and runways).
(b) Gloves and respirators. Chromates shall only be handled by employes wearing suitable gloves furnished by the employer without charge. When material is handled dry, employes shall wear an efficient respirator furnished by the employer.
(c) Goggles. The employer shall provide suitable goggles for all employes handling oil of vitriol, nitric acid, nitrous iron liquor and muriatic acid. All employes shall wear such goggles at all times when handling the acids.
(d) Caustic soda. Fused caustic soda may be used in processes where the entire contents of the drum are dissolved without breaking up. When lesser quantities are used, only granulated caustic soda is permitted, and the granulated caustic soda may be handled only by men wearing a suitable type of head covering.
(e) Paranitraniline. It is recommended that weighing and dissolving of dry paranitraniline be done under a hood connected with an efficient air exhaust. Employes engaged in the work shall protect their bodies with suitable clothing, suitable gloves and an efficient respirator furnished by the employer without expense to the employe.
(f) Nitrous fumes. All oxidizing tanks for blues within the building which subject employes to the danger of either chlorine or nitrous fumes shall have either tight fitting covers or proper hoods connected with an efficient mechanical air exhaust.
(g) Nitrous iron liquor. All tanks for the manufacture of nitrous iron liquor shall be placed in a building or room separate and apart from other workwooms, and all tanks shall be covered with tight fitting covers connected with an efficient air exhaust.
(h) Lead salts. All vats in which solutions of soluble lead salts are boiled shall be protected by suitable hoods.
(i) Lead solutions. It is recommended that lead solutions be made in large quantities and from either metallic lead or litharge. If litharge is used it shall be dampened.
(j) Pulp lead. It is recommended that pulp lead be used instead of dry carbonate of lead whenever possible.
§ 47.90. Filter pressing and straining.
(a) Mechanisms. In the manufacture of parareds the diazotised solution shall be run through double cheesecloth or other filtering medium when going to the precipitating tanks.
(b) Gloves. All workers engaged in filter-pressing compounds containing either lead or arsenic shall wear suitable gloves furnished by the employer for their protection.
(c) Respiration and gloves. Employes handling dry color cakes containing lead or arsenic shall wear suitable gloves and respirators furnished by the employer and such substances shall not be emptied in the dry room.
(d) Dry room. Dry rooms constructed after 1917 shall not require entering by employes to remove their contents.
§ 47.91. Dry grinding, sieving and packing.
(a) Exhaust system. Crushing mills, grinding mills and sieving machines, operating on material in a dry state if containing lead in excess of 10% shall be connected with an efficient air exhaust and dust collecting system, plans for which shall be submitted to and approved by the Department.
(b) Packing. Dry packing of material containing lead in excess of 10% or arsenic, shall be carried on by an approved type of packing machine. If material is packed by hand, employes shall wear approved respirators.
(c) Mixing and shading. Mixing and shading of dry materials containing lead in excess of 10% or arsenic, shall be performed in a room with mechanical exhaust ventilation, plans for which will be approved by the Department.
§ 47.92. Lead poisoning law.
The act of July 26, 1913 (P. L. 1363, No. 851) (43 P. S. § § 471—480) requires that whenever employes are exposed to lead dust, lead fumes and lead solutions in the manufacture of white lead, red lead, litharge, sugar of lead, arsenic of lead, lead chromate, lead sulphate, lead nitrate and fluosilicate of lead, the employer shall post an abstract of the lead poisoning law. The abstracts are printed in several languages and are available upon application to the Department.
§ 47.93. Penalty.
A person who violates this subchapter or regulations of the Department or who interferes with the Department or its authorized representative in the enforcement of these regulations or this subchapter shall be penalized under section 15 of act of May 18, 1937 (P. L. 654, No. 174) (43 P. S. § 25-15).
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