Factories Act, 1934 — section 33K

33K. Precautions against dangerous fumes..—_(1) In any factory no person shall enter or be permitted to enter any chamber, tank, vat, pit, pipe, flue or other confined space in which dangerous fumes are likely to be present to such an extent as to involve risk of persons being overcome thereby, unless it is provided with a manhole of adequate size or other effective means of egress.

(2)No portable electric light of voltage exceeding twenty-four volts shall be permitted in any factory for use inside any confined space such as is referred to in sub-section (1) and, where the fumes present are likely to be inflammable, a lamp or light other than of flame proof construction shall not be permitted to be used in such confined space.

(3)No person in any factory shall enter or be permitted to enter any confined space such as is referred to in sub-section (1) until all practicable measures have been taken to remove any fumes which may be present and to prevent ingress of fumes and unless either

(a)a certificate in writing has been given by a competent person, based on a test carried out by himself, that the space is free from dangerous fumes and fit for persons to enter, or

(b)the worker is wearing suitable breathing apparatus and a belt securely attached to a rope, the free end of which is held by a person standing outside the confined space.

(4)Suitable breathing apparatus, reviving apparatus and belts and ropes shall in every factory be kept ready for instant use beside any such confined space as aforesaid which any person has entered, and all such apparatus shall be periodically examined and certified by a competent person to be fit for use ; and a sufficient number of persons employed in every factory shall be trained and practiced in the use of all such apparatus and in the method of restoring respiration.

(5)No person shall be permitted to enter in any factory, any boiler furence, boiler flue, chamber, tank, vat, pipe or other confined space for the purpose of working or making any examination therein until it has been sufficiently cooled by ventilation or otherwise to be safe for persons to enter.

(6)The Provincial Government may make rules prescribing the maximum dimensions of the mainholes referred to in sub-section (1) and may, by order in writing, exempt, subject to such conditions as it may think fit to impose, any factory or class or description of factories from compliance with any of the provisions of this section.