1. Subject to the provisions of subregulation (2), no employer shall require or permit an employee to work in an environment in which the time-weighted average dry-bulb temperature taken over a period of four hours is less than 6°C, unless the employer takes reasonable measures to protect such employee against the cold and further takes all precautions necessary for the safety of such employee: Provided that, where outdoor work is performed, the employer shall take such measures and such precautions in an environment in which the actual dry-bulb temperature is less than 6°C at any time.
2. No employer shall require or permit an employee to work in a refrigerated environment in which the actual dry-bulb temperature is below 0°C unless -
a. the maximum exposure of the employee does not exceed the periods as indicated in the following table :
|
Temperature °C |
Maximum exposure |
|
0° to -18° |
No limit. |
|
Lower than -18° but not lower than -34° degrees |
Maximum continuous exposure during each hour = 50 minutes. After every exposure in a low-temperature area at least 10 minutes must be spent, under supervisions, in a comfortably warm environment. |
|
Lower than -34° but not lower lower than -57° |
Two periods of 30 minutes each, at least 4 hours apart.Total low- temperature exposure: 1 hour per day. |
|
Lower than -57° |
Maximum permissible exposure = 5 minutes during any 8-hour period.
|
b. the employee is provided with the following protective clothing:
i. A nylon freezer suit or equivalent and, where the said temperature is below -34°C, such suit or equivalent shall be of double layer;
ii. a woollen Balaclava or equivalent;
iii. fur-lined leather gloves or equivalent;
iv. waterproof outer gloves with knitted woollen or equivalent inners as well as a waterproof apron where wet or thawing substances are handled;
v. woollen socks; and
vi. waterproof industrial boots or equivalent;
Provided that an employee who works in a low-temperature area in which the temperature is not lower than - 18°C for periods not exceeding five minutes in every hour need only be provided with an ordinary overall, gloves shoes, or equivalent;
c) the employee is, beforehand and thereafter, at intervals not exceeding one year, certified fit to work in such environment by a registered medical practitioner or a registered nurse according to a protocol prescribed by such practitioner, and such employee is issued with a certificate to that effect; and
d) all the clothing worn by the employee is dry prior to entering the low-temperature area.
3) Where hand-held tools which vibrate at a frequency of vibration of less than 1 000 Hz are used at an actual dry-bulb temperature below 6°C, the employer shall provide an employee operating such tools with lined gloves, and ensure that he wears them.
4) Where the time-weighted average WBGT index, determined over a period of one hour, exceeds 30 in the environment in which an employee works, the employer of such employee shall -
a. if practicable, take steps to reduce the said index to below 30; or
b. where it is not practicable to reduce the said index to below 30 and where hard manual labour is performed-
i. have every such employee beforehand and thereafter, at intervals not exceeding one year, certified fit to work in such environment by a registered medical practitioner or a registered nurse according to a protocol prescribed by such practitioner, and every such employee shall, if found fit to work in such environment, be issued with a certificate to that effect by such practitioner or nurse;
ii. ensure that every such employee is acclimatised to such working environment before he is required or permitted to work in such environment;
iii. inform every such employee of the need to partake of at least 600 millilitres of water every hour;
iv. train every such employee in the precautions to be taken to avoid heatstroke; and
v. provide the means whereby every such employee can receive prompt first-aid treatment in the event of heatstroke:
Provided that, where the question arises as to whether any particular type of work does in fact constitute hard manual labour, the decision of an inspector shall be decisive.