THE A.P. BUILDING AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION WORKERS’ (REGULATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE) RULES, 1999 [G.O.Ms.No. 69, LET&F (Lab. ID), dt. 3-12-1999]' In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 62 read with Section 40 of the Building and other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 (Central Act 27 of 1996), the Governor of Andhra Pradesh hereby makes the following rules, in consultation with expert committee, as required under sub-section (1) of Section 62 and sub-section (1) of Section 40 of the said Act. PART I CHAPTER I 1. Short title, application and extent:— (1) These rules may be called the Andhra Pradesh Building and other Construction Workers' (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1999. (2) They shall apply to the building or other construction workers relating to any establishment in relation to which appropriate Government is the State Government under the Act. (3) They shall extend to and be in force in the whole of the State of Andhra Pradesh. 2. Definitions:— (1) In these Rules, unless the subject or context otherwise requires,— (a) "Act" means the Building and Other Construction Workers' (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 (27 of 1996); (b) "access" or "egress" means passageways, corridors, stairs, platforms, ladders and any other means to be used by a building worker for normally entering or leaving the workplace or for escaping in case of danger; (c) "approved" means acceptance in writing Chief Inspector of the inspection of building and other construction or by the State Government as the case may be ; (d) “base plate" means a plate for distributing the load from a standard in the case of metal scaffolds; 1. Pub. in A.P. Gaz. Ext. No. 3, Pt. I, dated 16-3-2000. Tt 225226 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules [R. 2 () "bay" in relation to scaffolds, means that portion of the scaffold between horizontal or vertical supports whether standards or supports from which the portion is suspended, which are adjacent longitudinally; (® “brace” means a member incorporated diagonally in a scaffold for stability; "bulkhead" means an airtight structure separating the working chamber from free air or from another chamber under a lower pressure than the working pressure; @) (h) “ciasson" means an air and watertight chamber in which it is possible for men to work under air pressure greater than atmospheric pressure at sea level to excavate material below water level; (i) “cofferdam" means a structure constructed entirely or in part below water level or below the level of the water table in the ground and intended to provide a place for work that is free of water; (j) "competent person" means a person so approved by the Central Government, who belongs to a testing establishment in India, possessing adequate qualification, experience and skill for the purposes of testing, examination or annealing and certification of lifting appliances, lifting gears, wire ropes or pressure plant or equipment; (k) "compressed air means air mechanically raised to a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure at sea level; "construction site" means any site at which any of the processes or operations, related to building or other construction work, are carried on; ( (m) "conveyor" means a mechanical device used in building or other construction work for transport of building material, articles, or packages or solid bulk from one point to another point; (n) "danger" means danger of accident or of injury or to health; (0) "decanting" means the rapid decompression of persons in a man- lock to atmospheric pressure at sea level followed promptly by their recompression in a decant lock, where they are then decompressed according to the appropriate decompression table in accordance with approved decompression procedures; (p) "demolition work" means the work incidental to or connected with the total or partial dismantling or razing of a building or a structureR. 2] A.P. 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Rules 227 other than a building and includes the removing or dismantling of machines or other equipment; (q) "excavation" means the removal of earth, rock or other material in connection with construction or demolition work; (0) 'falseworks" means the structural supports and bracing for formworks or forms; (s) "flashpoint" means the minimum liquid temperature at which a spark or flame causes an instantaneous flash in the vapour space above the liquid; “frame or modular scaffold" means a scaffold manufactured in such a way that the geometry of the scaffold in predetermined and the relative spacing of the principal members are fixed; (t (u) "guard rail" means a horizontal rail secured to uprights and erected along the exposed sides of scaffolds, floor openings, runways and gangways to prevent persons from falling; (v) "hazard" means danger or potential danger; (w) "hazardous substance" means any substance which due to its explosiveness, inflammability, radioactivity, toxic or corrosive properties, or other similar characteristics, may- (i) cause injury; or (ii) affect adversely the human system; or (iii) cause loss of life or damage to property on work-environment, while handling, transporting or storing and classified as such under the national standards or in case such national standards do not exist to the generally accepted international standards; (x) "high pressure air" means air used to supply power to pneumatic tools and devices; (y) "independent tied scaffold" means a scaffold, the working platform of which is supported from the base by two or more rows of standards which apart from the necessary ties stands completely free of the building; (2) "ledger" means a member spanning horizontally and tying scaffolding longitudinally and which acts as support for putlogs or transoms ;228 A.P. 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Rules {R. 2 (za) (2b) (zc) (2d) (2c) (2) (2g) (2h) (zi) @i) (zk) @) (zm) “lifting appliance" means a crane, hoist, derrick, which, ginpole, sheer legs, jack, pulley block or other equipment used for lifting materials, objects or building worker; “lifting gear" means ropes, chains, hooks, slings and other accessories of a "lifting appliance"; "lock attendant” means the person in charge of a man-lock or medical lock and who is immediately responsible for controlling the compression, recompression or decompression of persons in such locks; "low pressure air" means air supplied to pressurise working chambers and man-locks and medical locks; "magazine" means a place in which explosives are stored or kept whether above or below ground; "man-lock" means any lock, other than a medical lock, used for the compression or decompression of persons entering or leaving a working chamber; "material hoist" means a power or manually operated and suspended platform or bucket operating in guide rails and used for raising or lowering material exclusively and operated and controlled from a point outside the conveyance; "materials lock" means a chamber through which materials and equipments pass from one air pressure environment into another; "medical lock" means a double compartment lock used for the therapeutic recompression and decompression of persons suffering from the ill-effects of decompression; "national standards" means standards as approved by Bureau of Indian Standards and in the absence of such standards of Bureau of Indian Standards, the standards approved by the Central Government for a specific purpose; "outrigger" means a structure projecting beyond the facade of a building with the inner end being anchored and includes a cantilever or other support; "plant or equipment" includes any plant, equipment, gear, machinery, apparatus or appliance, or any part thereof; "pressure" means air pressure in bars above atmospheric pressure;R. 2] (a) (zo) @® (za) (zr) 5) (at (za) (ev (zw) AP. 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Rules 229 “pressure plant" means the pressure vessel along with its piping and other fittings operated at.a pressure greater than the atmospheric pressure; “putlog" means a horizontal member on which the board, plank or decking of a working platform are laid; “responsible person" means a person appointed by the employer to be responsible for the performance of specific duty or duties and who has sufficient knowledge and experience and the requisite authority for the proper performance of such duty or duties; "reveal tie” means the assembly of a tie tube and a fittings used for tightening a tube between two opposite surfaces; “right angle coupler" means a coupler, other than a swivel or putlog coupler, used for connecting tubes at right angles; "yock bolt" means a mechanical expansion bolt or a bolt used with cementitious or resin anchoring system which is set in drilled hole in the arch or wall of a tunnel to improve rock competency; “roofing bracket" means a bracket used in sloped roof construction and having sharp points or other means for fastening to prevent slipping; “safety screen" means an air and water tight diaphragm placed across the upper part of a compressed air tunnel between the face and bulkhead, in order to prevent flooding the crown of the tunnel between the safety screen and the bulkhead to provide a safe means of refuge and exit from a flooding or flooded tunnel; “safe working load" in relation to an article of lifting gear or lifting appliance, means the load which is the maximum load that may be imposed on such article or appliance with safety in the normal working conditions as assessed and certified by a competent person; "scaffold" means any temporarily provided structure on or from which building workers perform work in connection with building or other construction work to which these rules apply, and any temporarily provided structure which enables building workers to obtain access to or which enables materials to be taken to any place at which such work is performed, and includes any working platform, gangway, run, ladder or step-ladder (other than a ladder or step-ladder which does not form part of such structure) together with any guardrail, toe board or other safeguards and all fixings.230 _A.P. 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Rules [R. 2 but does not include lifting appliance or a lifting mechine or a structure used merely to support such an appliance or such a machine or to support other plant or equipment; (zx) "Schedule" means a Schedule appended to these rules; (zy) "segment" includes a cast iron or precast concrete segmented structure formed to the curvature of the tunnel cross-section and used to support the ground surrounding the tunnel; (zz) "service shaft" means a shaft for the passage of building workers or materials to or from a tunnel under construction; (zza) "shaft" means an excavation having a longitudinal axis at an angle greater than forty-five degree from the horizontal- ~ (i) for the passage of building workers or materials to or from a tunnel; or (ii) leading to an existing tunnel; (zzb) "shield" means a movable frame which supports the working face of a tunnel and the ground immediately behind it and includes equipment designed to excavate and support the excavated areas in a tunnel; (zzc) "sole plate" means a member used to distribute the load from the base plate or the standard of wooden scaffolds to the supporting surface; (zzd) "sound or good construction" means construction conforming to the relevant national standards or in case such national standards do not exist, to other generally accepted international engineering standards or code of practices; (zze) “sound or good material" means materials of a quality conforming to the relevant national standards do not exist, to other generally accepted international engineering standards or code of practices; (zzf) "standard" means a member used as a vertical support or column in the construction of scaffolds which transmits a load to the ground or to the solid construction; (zzg) "standard safe operating practices" means the practice followed in building and other construction activities for the safety and health of workers and safe operation of machineries and equipment used in such activities and such practices conforms to all or any of the following, namely:(zzh) (zi) (zzj) (zk) (zzl) (zzm) (zzn) A.P. 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Rules 231 (i) relevant standards approved by Bureau of Indian Standards; (ii) national building code; (iii) manufacturer's instructions on safe use of equipment and machinery; (iv) code of practice on safety and health in construction industry published by International Labour Organisation and amended from time to time; "steel rib" includes all steel beams and other structural members shaped to conform to the requirements of a particular tunnel cross section, used for the purpose of supporting and stabilising the excavated areas; "suspended scaffold" means a scaffold suspended by means of ropes or chains and capable of being raised or lowered but does not include a boatswain's chair or similar appliance; "testing establishment" means an establishment with testing and examination facilities, as approved by the Central Government for carrying out testing, examination, annealing or similar other test or certification of lifting appliances or lifting gear or wire rope as required under these rules; “tie” means an assembly used to connect a scaffold to a rigid anchorage; "Woe board" means a member fastened above a working platform, access landing, access way, wheel barrow run, ramp or other platform to prevent building workers and materials falling therefrom; "transom" means a member placed horizontally and used to tie transversely one ledger to another, or one standard to another in an independent tie scaffold; “wrestle scaffold" includes a scaffold in which the supports for the platform are any of the following which are self-supporting, namely:— (i) split heads; (ii) folding; (iii) step-ladder; (iy) tripods; or (v) moveable cont.ivances similar to any of the foregoing;232 ~=A.P. 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Rules, [R. 5 (220) "tubular scaffold" means a scaffold constructed from tubes and couplers; (zzp) "tunnel" means a subterranean passage made by excavating beneath the over burden into which a building worker enters or is required to enter to work; (zzq) "underground" means any space within the confines of a shaft, tunnel, caisson or cofferdam; (zzr) "vehicle" means a vehicle propelled or driven by mechanical or electrical power and includes a trailer, traction engine, tractor, road-building machine and transport equipment; (zzs) "working chamber" means the part of the construction site where work in a compressed air environment is carried out, but does not include a man-lock or medical lock; (z2t) “working platform" means a platform which is used to support building workers or materials and includes a working stage; (zzu) “working pressure" means pressure, in a working chamber, to which building worker is exposed; (zzv) "workplace" means all places where building workers are required to be present or to go for work and which are under the control of an employer. 3. Interpretation of words not defined:— Words and expressions not defined in these rules but defined or used in the Act shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in the Act. 4. Savings:— The provisions of these rules shall be in addition to and not in substitution for or in diminution of the requirements imposed by the Act. CHAPTER IL Responsibilities and Duties of employers, architects, project Engineers and designers, building workers, etc. 5. Duties and responsibilities of employers, employees and others:— (1) It shall be the duty of every employer who is undertaking any of the operations or works related to or incidental to building or other construction work to which these rules apply- (a) to comply with such of the requirements of these rules as are related to him:R. 5] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 233 Provided that the requirements of this clause shall not affect any building worker if and so long as his presence in any place of work is not in the course of performing any work on behalf of his employer and he is not expressly or impliedly authorised or permitted by his employer to do the work; and (b) to comply with such of the requirements of these rules, as are related to him in relation to any work, act or operation performed or about-to be performed by him. (2) It shall be the duty of every employer who erects or alters any scaffold to comply with such requirements of the provisions of these rules as related to the erection or alteration of scaffolds having regard to the purpose or purposes for which the scaffold is designed at the time of erection or alteration; and such employer, who erects, installs, works or uses any plant or equipment to which any of the provisions of these rules apply, shall erect, install, work or use such plant or equipment in a manner which complies with those provisions (3) Where a contractor, who is undertaking any of the operations or works to which these rules apply, appoints any artisan, tradesman or other person to perform any work or services of the contractor to comply with such of the requirements of these rules as affect that artisan, tradesman or other person and for this purpose any reference in these rules to an employee shall include a reference to such artisan, tradesman or other person and the contractor shall be deemed to be his employer. (4) Jt shall be the duty of every employee to comply with the requirements of such of these rules as are related to the performance of or the refraining from an act by him and to co-operate in carrying out these rules. (5) It shall be the duty of every employer to do anything not in accordance with the generally accepted principles of standard safe operating practices connected with building and other construction work as specified by the State Government. (6) No employee shall do anything which is not in accordance with the generally accepted principles of standard safe operating practices connected with building and other construction work as specified by the State Government. (7) No person related with any building and other construction work shall wilfully do any act which may cause injury to himself or to others.234 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules [R. 6 (8) It shall be the duty of every employer not to allow lifting appliance, lifting gear, lifting device, transport equipment, vehicles or any other device or equipment to be used by the building workers which does not comply with the provisions given in these rules. (9) It shall be the duty of the employer to maintain the latrines, urinals, washing facilities and canteen in a clean and hygienic. condition. The canteen shall be located in a place away from the latrines and urinals and polluted atmosphere and at the same time be easily accessible to the building workers. (10) It shall be the duty of the employer to abide by the dates fixed and notified by him for payment of wages for a period in accordance with these rules and no change in such dates and such period shall be effected without notice to the building workers and the Inspector. The employer shall ensure timely payment of wages as specified under these rules and at the place and time notified by him. Where the employer is a contractor, he shall ensure that the wages of building workers are paid in the presence of a representative. of the employer of establishment or owner of premises from whom he has taken the work on contract and obtain signatures of such representative in token of having witnessed the payment of wages. (11) It shall be the duty of the employer to ensure that the lifting appliance, lifting gear, earth moving equipment, transport equipment or vehicles used in the building or other construction work undertaken by him conforms to the requirements relating to testing, examination and inspection of equipment as provided in these rules. It shall be the duty of every person in the service of the Government or any local or other public authority to comply with the requirements relating to him as given in these rules. 6. Responsibilities of project engineers and designers:— (1) It shall be the duty of the project engineer or designer responsible for the design of any project or part thereof or any building or other construction work to ensure that, at the planning stage, due consideration is given to the safety and health aspects of the building workers who are employed in the erection, operation and execution of such projects and structures as the case may be. (2) Adequate care shall be taken by the project engineer and other professionals involved in the project, not to include anything in the design which would involve the use of dangerous structures or other processes or materials, hazardous to health or safety of building workers during the course of erection, operation and execution as the case may be.R. 9] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 235 (3) It shall be the duty of the professionals, involved in designing the buildings, structures or other construction projects, to take into account the safety aspects associated with the maintenance and upkeep of the structures and buildings where maintenance and upkeep may involve special hazards. 7. Responsibilities of the person in the service of the State Government and the Board:~ It shall be the duty of every person in the service of the Government of any State or a Board to comply with the directions given by the Central Government from time-to-time to carrying into execution in that State the provisions of the Act and these rules. 8. Duties and responsibilities of workers:~ (1) It shall be the duty of every building worker to comply with the requirements of such of these tules as relate to him, and act and co-operate in carrying out the requirements of these rules and if he discovers any defects in the lifting appliance, lifting gear, lifting device, concerning any transport equipment or other equipment, to report such defects without unreasonable delay to his employer or foreman or other person in authority. (2) No building worker, shall unless duly authorised or except in case of necessity, remove or interfere with any fencing, gangway, gear, ladder, hatch covering, life-saving appliances, lighting or other things whatsoever required by the Act and these rules to be provided. If any of the aforesaid thing is removed, such thing shall be restored at the end of the period during which its removal was necessary, by the persons engaged in that work. (3) Every building worker, shall use only means of access provided in accordance with these rules and no person shall authorise or order another to use means of access other than such means of access. (4) It shall be the duty of a building worker to keep the latrines, urinals, washing points, canteen and other facilities provided by the employer for securing his welfare in a clean and hygienic condition. 9. Exemption:— The State Government may, by order in writing and subject to such conditions and for such period, as may be specified therein, exempt from all or any of the requirements of these rules to- (a) any building or other construction work, if such Government is satisfied that such building work is confined to such workers, where it is not convenient to take measures as provided in these tules; or236 ©A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules [R. 11 (b) any appliance, gear, equipment, vehicle or other device if such Government is satisfied that the requirement of such appliance, gear, equipment, vehicle or other device is not necessary for use or equally effective measures are taken in lieu thereof : Provided that such Government shall not grant exemption under these tules unless it is satisfied that such exemption would not adversely affect the safety, health and welfare of the building workers. PART II STATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, REGISTRATION OF ESTABLISHMENTS CHAPTER IT State Advisory Committee 10. Constitution of State Building and Other Construction Workers' Advisory Committee:— The State Building and Other Construction Workers' Advisory Committee (hereinafter referred to as the State Advisory Committee) shall consist of- (a) A chairperson to be appointed by the State Government, (b) Two members of the State Legislature~ Members; (c) A member to be nominated by the Central Government; (@ The Chief Inspector — Member, ex officio; (e) Two persons to be nominated by the State Government representing the building workers - Members; (f) Two persons to be nominated by the State Government representing the employers connected with the building and other construction work — Members; (g) Three persons to be nominated by the State Government representing one each from Associations of Architects, Engineers, Accident Insurance Institution — Members. 11. Term of Office:— (1) The Chairperson and other members of the State Advisory Committee in clauses (a), (c), (f) and (g) of Rule 10 shall hold office as such during the pleasure of the Governor. (2) Each member referred to in clause (b) of Rule 10 shall hold office for three years or till he remains a member of the House of People or Council of State, as the case may be whichever is earlier.R. 14] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 237 (3) Each of the members referred to in clauses (a), (e), (f) and (g) of Rule 10 shall hold office as such for a period of three years commencing from the date on which this appointment is first notified in the Official Gazette: Provided that the successor of any such member has not been notified in the Official Gazette on or before the expiry of the said period of three years, such member shall, notwithstanding the expiry of the period of this office, continue to hold such office until the appointment of his successor has been notified in the Official Gazette. (4) If a member is unable to attend a meeting of the Board, the State Government or the body which appointed or nominated him may by notice in writing signed on its behalf and by such member and addressed to the Chairman of the Board nominate a substitute in his place to attend the meeting and such a substitute member shall have all the rights of a member in respect of that meeting and any decision taken at the meeting shall be binding on the said body; The State Advisory Committee shall be reconstituted after every three years. 12. Resignations:— A member of the State Advisory Committee not being of ex-officio member may resign his office by a letter signed by him and addressed to the Government, his office shall fall vacant on the date on which such resignation is accepted. 13. Cessation of Membership: If any member of the Committee not being an ex-officio member, fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the Committee without obtaining the leave of the Chairman of such absence, he shall cease to be a member of the Committee. Provided that the Government may, if it is satisfied that such member was prevented by sufficient cause from attending three consecutive meetings of the Committee direct that such cessation shall not take place and on such direction being made, such member shall continue to be a member of the Committee. 14, Disqualification of Membership:— (1) A person shall be disqualified for being appointed and for being a member of the Committee,— (® If he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent Court; or (ii) If he is an undischarged insolvent; or238 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules [R. 17 (iii) If he has been or is convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Government involves moral turpitude. (2) If a question arises as to whether a disqualification has been incurred under sub-rule (1), the Government shall decide the same. 15. Removal from Membership:— The Government may remove from office any member of the Committee if in its opinion such a member has ceased to represent the interest which he purports to represent on the Committee. Provided that no such member shall be removed unless a reasonable opportunity is given to him of making any representation against the proposed action. 16. Manner of filling vacancies:— (1) When a vacancy occurs or is likely to occur in the membership of the Committee the Chairman shall submit a report to the Government and on receipt of such report the Government shall take steps to fill the vacancy by making an appointment from amongst the category of persons to which the person vacating membership belonged and the person so appointed shall hold office for the reminder of the term of office of the member in whose place he is appointed. If any vacancy occurs in the membership of the Committee by reasons of death of, or resignation by a member, it shall be filled by the Government by making an appointment from amongst the category of persons to which the deceased or the resigned member, as the case may be, belonged and the person so appointed shall hold office for the reminder of the term of office of the member in whose place he is appointed. 17. Staff of State Advisory Committee:— (1)(i) The State Government may appoint an officer not above the rank of Joint Commissioner of Labour as Secretary to the State Advisory Committee and appoint such other staff being in the service of the State Government, as it may think necessary, to enable such committee to carry out its functions. (ii) The pay and allowances of such staff shall be on par with the State Government Employees. (2) The Secretary of the State Advisory Committee,— (i) shall assist the Chairperson of such committee in convening meetings of the Committee;R. 21] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ Rules 239 (ii) may attend the meetings of such Committee but shall not be entitled to vote at such meetings; (iii) shall keep a record of the minutes of the meetings of such Committee; and (iv) shall take necessary measures to carry out the decisions taken at the meetings of such Committee. 18. Allowances of Members:— (1) The T.A. and D.A. of an official member, shall be governed by Rules applicable to him for journey performed by him on official duties and shall be paid by the authority paying his salary. (2) Each non-official member of the Committee shall be entitled to draw T.A. and D.A. for any journey performed by him in connection with the performance of his duties, at the 1ates admissible to non-official member of first class Government Committee under A.P.T.A. Rules. 19. Disposal of business:~ Every question which the Committee is required to take into consideration shall be considered at a meeting, or, if the Chairman so desired by sending the necessary papers to every member for his opinion, and the question shall be disposed off in accordance with the decision of the majority. Provided in case of equality of votes, the Chairperson shall have a second or a casting vote. Explanation:— "Chair Person" for the purposes of this rule shall include Chair Person nominated under Rule 20 to preside over meeting. 20. Meetings:— (1) The Committee shall meet at such places and times as may be specified by the Chairperson. The Chairperson shall preside over every meeting of the Committee at which he is present and in his absence, nominate a member of the Committee to preside over such meeting in his place and in the absence of such nomination by the Chairperson, the members of such committee present in such meeting may choose from amongst themselves a member to preside over such a meeting. 21. Notice of Meeting and list of Business:— (1) Ordinarily, 15 days notice shall be given to the members of a proposed meeting. Provided that a Chairperson of such Committee, if he is satisfied that it is expedient to do so, may give notice of longer period for such meeting which shall not exceed one month.240 _A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules [R. 24 (2) No business which is not on the list of business shall not be considered at the meeting without the permission of the Chairperson of the Committee. 22. Quorum:- No business shall be transacted at any meeting unless at least five members are present in that meeting, which shall include at least one member of the legislature. Provided that in any meeting of such Committee less than five members are present, the Chairperson of such Committee may adjourn the meeting to another date informing member present and giving notice to the other members that he proposes to dispose of the business at the adjourned meeting whether there is prescribed quorum or not, and it shall thereupon be lawful for him to dispose of the business at the. adjourned meeting irrespective of the number of members attending. CHAPTER IV Registration of Establishments 23. Manner of making application for registration of establishments:— (1) The application referred to in sub-section (1) of Section 7 of the Act shall be made in triplicate, in Form I annexed to these rules to registering officer of that area appointed under Section 6 of the Act in which the building or other construction work is to be carried ‘on by the establishment. (2) Every application referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be accompanied by a demand draft showing payment of the fees for the registration of the establishment. (3) Every application referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be either personally delivered to the registering officer or sent to him by registered post. (4) On receipt of the application referred to in sub-rule (1), the registering officer shall, after noting thereon the date of receipt by him of the application, grant an acknowledgement to the applicant. 24. Grant of certificate of registration:— (1) The registering officer, after receiving application under sub-rule (1) of Rule 23 shall register the establishment and issue a certificate of registration to the applicant within fifteen days of receipt of application if such applicant has complied with all the requirements as laid down in these rules and has made the application within such period as specified under clause (a) and clause (b) of sub-26] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules 241 jsection (1) of Section 7 of the Act. The certificate of registration to be granted by the registering officer shall be in Form II annexed to these rules. (2) The registering officer shall maintain a register in Form III annexed to these rules showing the particulars of establishments in relation to which certificates of registration have been issued by him. (3) If, in relation to an establishment, any change occurs in the ownership or management or other particulars specified in the certificate of registration, the employer of the establishment shall intimate the registering officer, within thirty days from the date when such change takes place, the date and particulars of such change, and the reasons thereof, 25, Payment of additional fees and amendment of register, ete.:- (1) Where on receipt of the intimation under sub-rule (3) of rule 24, the registering officer is satisfied that an amount higher than the amount, which has been paid by the employer as fees for the registration of the establishment is payable, he shall require such employer to pay additional sums which, together with the amount already paid by such employer, would be equal to such higher amount of fees payable for the registration of the establishment. (2) Where, on receipt of the intimation referred to in sub-rule (3) of rule 24, the registering officer is satisfied that there has occurred a change in the particulars of the establishment, as entered in the register in Form TI annexed to these rules, he shall amend the said register and record therein the change which has occurred: Provided that the registering officer shall not carry out any amendment in the register in Form Ill annexed to these rules unless the appropriate fees have been deposited by the employer. 26. Conditions of registration:— (1) Every certificate of registration issued under rule 24 shall be subject to the following conditions, namely: (a) the certificate of registration shall be non-transferable; (b) the number of workmen employed as building workers in an establishment shall not, on any day, exceed the maximum number specified in the certificate of registration; and (c) save as provided in these rules, the fees paid for the grant of registration certificate shall be non-refundable. (2) The employer shall intimate the change, if any, in the number of workmen or the conditions of work to the registering office within fifteen days. Cray242 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules _[R. 28 (3) The employer shall, before thirty days of the commencement and completion of any building or other construction work, submit a written notice to the Inspector, having jurisdiction in the area where the proposed building or other construction work ‘is to be executed, intimating the actual date of the commencement or, as the case may be, completion of such building or other construction work in Form IV annexed to these rules. (4) The certificate of registration of an establishment shall be valid only for such building and other construction work carried out by such establishment for which intimation required under sub-rule (3) has been given. (5) A copy of the certificate of registration shall be displayed at the conspicuous place at the premises where the building and other construction work is being carried on. 27. Fees:— (1) The fees to be paid for the grant of a certificate of registration under rule 24 shall be as specified below, namely: If the number of workers proposed to be employed as building workers, for a building or other construction work on one day: (a) is upto 100 Rs. 100-00 (b) exceeds 100 but does not exceed 500 Rs. 500-00 (c) exceeds 500 Rs. 1000-00 CHAPTER V Appeals, Copies of Orders, Payment of Fees, ete. 28. Filing of appeal before the appellate officer: (1) Every appeal under sub-section (1) of Section 9 of the Act shall be preferred in the form of a memorandum signed by the aggrieved person or his authorised advocate and presented to the appellate officer in person or sent to him by registered post. (2) The memorandum shall be accompanied by a certified copy of the order appealed against and a demand draft for rupees one hundred. (3) The memorandum shall set forth concisely and under distinct heads the grounds of appeal. (4) Where the memorandum of appeal does not comply with the provisions of sub-rule (2) and sub-rule (3), it may be returned to theR. 32] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 243 appellant for the purpose of being amended within a time to be fixed by the appellate officer which shall not exceed thirty days from the date on which the order appealed against has been communicated to the appellant. (5) Where the memorandum of appeal is in order, the appellate officer shall admit the appeal, endorse thereon the date of hearing of such appeal, and shall register the appeal in a book to be kept for the purpose celled the register of appeals. (6\(i) When the appeal has been admitted, under sub-rule (5), the appellate officer shall send the notice of the appeal to the registering officer against whose order the appeal has been preferred and the registering officer shall thereupon send the record of the case to the appellate officer. (ii) On receipt of the record, the appellate officer shall send a notice to the appellant to appear before him at such date and times as may be specified in the notice for the hearing of the appeal. 29, Failure to appear on the date of hearing:— If on the date fixed for hearing, the appellant does not appear, the appellate officer may dismiss the appeal for default of appearance of the appellant. 30. Restoration of appeals:— Where an appeal has been dismissed under rule 29, the appellant may apply to the appellate officer for the restoration of the appeal and if the appellate officer is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from appearing, the appellate officer shall restore the appeal on its original number: Provided that an application for restoration under this rule shall not be entertained by the appellate officer after thirty days from the date of such dismissal. 31. Hearing of appeal:— (1) If the appellant is present when the appeal is called on for the hearing, the appellate officer shall proceed to hear the appellant or his authorised advocate and pass an order on the appeal, either confirming, reversing or varying the order appealed against. (2) The order of the appellate officer shall state the points for determination, the decisions thereon and reasons for such decisions. (3) The order shall be communicated to the appellant and copy thereof shall be sent to the registering officer against whose order the appeal has been preferred. 32. Copy of Order of registration or of: order in appeal:— Copy of the order of the registering officer or of the appellate officer may be244 AP. Bldg. & other Construction \yorkers' ... Rules [R. 33A obtained by the person concerned or a person authorised by him on payment of fees of rupees fifty for each order on making application to the registering officer or the appellate officer, as the case may be, specifying the date and other particulars of the order made by the officer concerned. A copy of the certificate, of registration on loss or mutilation of such certificate may also be obtained in the like manner and on payment of like fees. 33. Payment of Fees:— (1) All amounts of money payable on account of registration, appeal, supply of copies or duplicate copies of certificate of registration shall be paid through a crossed demand draft in favour of the registering officer and appellate officer, as the case may be, and made payable at the branch of the Bank specified by the State Government from time-to-time at the headquarters of the concerned registering. officer or appellate officer. (2) The registering officer or the appellate officer, as the case may be, on receipt of the demand draft under sub-rule (1) shall arrange to deposit the amount in the appropriate account in the Bank specified by the State Government from time-to-time in the relevant head of account. '{CHAPTER V-A 33-A. Registration of Workers as beneficiaries:— (1) Any building worker who is entitled to be registered as per Section 12 of the Act may register his name with the Officer authorised by the Board for the purpose of the benefits under the Act. (2) Application for such registration shall be made in Form XXVII together with the certificate of employment (containing the details of name, age, father’s name and residential address, number of days worked as Building Worker during the preceding 12 months), issued by any of the persons or authorities specified below:— (a) Any Officer of the Labour Department not below the rank of an Assistant Labour Officer upon his personal verification on the request made by the worker or by a Trade Union of Construction Workers ; (b) Registered Establishment under the Act; and 1. Chapter V-A and V-B added by G.O.Ms.No. $7, LET&F (Lab. II) Department, dt. 26-6-2007,R. 33A] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 245 (c) Government organisations or agencies engaged in building industry ‘Two passport size photographs of the applicant should accompany each application. One of the passport size photographs should be pasted on the application in the place provided for it. The second passport size photograph should be enclosed in a cover and attached to the application. The applicant should write his/her name on the reverse of the photograph. The person issuing the certificate of employment under this clause should attest both the photographs. The age proof by way of a school certificate or doctor’s certificate should also be enclosed. (3) The fee for such registration shall be Rs. 50/- (4)(a) If the Application for Registration is not accepted, the Registering Officer shall communicate the decision to refuse the registration duly supported by the reasons for such refusal with an express clause that an Appeal may lie to the specified Officer within 30 days from the date of communication of his decision. Such decision shall be communicated by Registered post with Acknowledgement Due or personal service or such other reasonable method to ensure that the communication reaches the addressee in the normal circumstances. The Appellate Officer’s Designation and Address should also be incorporated in such communication. In order to comply with the provisions of Section 12(4) of the Act, the worker shall be given an opportunity of personal hearing as well to submit a written reply before taking a decision to reject. The Registering Officer shall maintain a register of rejected applications with necessary details such as date of receipt of application, date of issuance of Show Cause Notice, date of receipt of reply, date of personal hearing, orders passed and communicated etc. (b) The aggrieved worker may submit his appeal to the next higher officer to the Registering officer, by way of simple memorandum enclosing the orders of the Registering Authority along with such other records as aze necessary to decide the appeal. The appeal shall be disposed off and the orders communicated to the Building Worker, after affording an opportunity of hearing, if necessary not later than 30 days from the date of receipt of appeal. If there is a delay, the Appellate Officer shall record the reasons for such delay and communicate to the Building Worker along with his orders. The appellate officer shall maintain a register of appeals with necessary details such as date of receipt of appeal, date of issuance of notice of hearing to the Appellant and to the Registering Officer, date246 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules [R. 33A of receipt of reply, date of personal hearing, orders passed and communicated etc. (5) Nomination:~ (i) Every building worker, shall at the time of making the application for his/her registration with the Board make a nomination, specifying the names of dependents, in Form XXVIII for the purpose of delivery of benefits in case of death of the worker. (ii) A building worker may, in his/her nomination, distribute the amount payable under the Act amongst one or more dependents. (iii) “Dependents” shall have the same meaning assigned to it under Section 2 (1)(d) of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923 (Central Act No. 8 of 1923). (iv) Only when there are no “dependents” on the building worker, others may be nominated under item (i). (v) A nomination may be modified by a building worker at any time after giving to the Board a written notice of his/her intention to do so. (vi) If a nominee predeceases the building worker, the interest of the nominee shall revert to the building worker who shall make a fresh nomination, in Form XXVIII in respect of such interest, and (vii) Every nomination, fresh nomination, or alteration of nomination, as the case may be, shall be sent by the registered building worker to the Registering Officer, who shall keep the same in safe custody. (©) Register of Beneficiaries to be maintained by the Registering Officer:— The particulars of Workers registered as Beneficiaries shall be entered in the Register of Beneficiaries in Form XXIX by the Officer authorised by the Board under sub-rule (1) above. (7) Contribution of Building Worker:— (a) A Building Worker who has been registered as a beneficiary under this Act shall, until he attains the age of 60 years, contribute to the fund at such rate per mensem, as may be specified by the State Government, by notification in the Official Gazette and different rates of contribution may be specified for different classes of Building Workers: Provided that the Board may, if satisfied that the beneficiary is unable to pay his contribution due to any financial hardship, waive the payment of contribution for a period not exceeding three months at a time.R. 33C] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers! Rules, 247. () A beneficiary may authorize his employer to deduct his contributions from his’ monthly wages and to remit the same, within fifteen days from such deduction, to the Board. 33-B, (1) Issuance of Identity Card:— Every building worker whose name has been registered under this clause shall be issued with an identity card in Form XXX at free of cost, as provided for in Section 13 of the Act. : (2) Supply of Duplicate Identity Card:— In the case of loss of identify card issued under sub‘clause (i) above, a duplicate identify card will be issued by the Board either on an application by the registered building worker concerned, or, in the event of his death, by his nominee. The fee for the issue of a duplicate card shall be rupees twenty only. (3) Every employer shall enter the details of Building Workers registered as beneficiaries in the Form XV Register maintained under Rule 240. CHAPTER V-B 33-C. (1) The Government may, by notification, Constitute a Board to be known as Andhra Pradesh Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board. (2) Constitution of the Board:— The Board shall consist of the following members, namely:— (a) A person nominated by the Government — Chairman (b) Two persons representing the State Government as indicated below: (i) Secretary to Government, Labour Department. — Ex- Officio Member (ii) Commissioner of Labour — Member-Convenor (c) Two persons representing the employers nominated by the Government in consultation with the Organisations of the employers functioning in Andhra Pradesh (a) Two persons representing the building Workers nominated by the Government in consultation with the Organisations of the employees functioning in Andhra Pradesh ; and (e) One person to be nominated by the Central Government to represent them: Provided that atleast one member of the board shall be a woman.248 _A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules [R. 33C (f) The terms of the Board shall be three years from the date of publication in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette (g) Casual vacancies of the members of the Board shall be filled in by the Government in the same manner as the regular non-official members are appointed. (3) Procedure regarding Board meeting:— (a) The Board shall meet as often as may be necessary but not less than once in every three months commencing from the first meeting convened. (b) The Secretary shall in consultation with the Chairman fix a date, time and place as well as agenda for, each meeting of the Board and give not less than seven days’ notice thereof to each member: Provided that seven days’ notice shall not be necessary where, in the opinion of the Chairman that the business to be transacted at the meeting is of a very urgent nature requiring immediate attention and members are informed accordingly. (c) The Chairman shall preside over all the meetings of the Board and no matter other than those included in the agenda shall be discussed at any meeting except with the permission of the Chairman: Provided that if, for any other reason the Chairman is unable to attend a meeting, the provisions of Section 20 (2) of the Act shall be followed. No business shall be transacted in any meeting of the Board unless there is quorum of not less than one third of the number of members of the Board: @ Provided that if a meeting adjourned by the Chairman for lack of quorum even after waiting for not less than thirty minutes from the appointed time, the Secretary shall, with the same agenda as fixed for the original meeting, fix a date not earlier than seven days from the date of that meeting and give notice in this behalf to all members and it shall thereupon be lawful to dispose off the business included in the agenda in the meeting irrespective of members present. (©) All matters at the meeting of the Board shall be decided by majority of votes of members present and voting :R. 33C] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 249 Provided that in case of equality of votes the Chairman shall have a casting vote or a second vote. (f) Votes on any issue shall be taken by show of hands at the meeting of the Board and the names of the persons voting in favour and against on any proposal be recorded only if any member requests the Chairman to do so. (4) Minutes of the meeting:— (a) The Secretary shall arrange for preparing the minutes of the proceedings of each meeting of the Board showing inter alia the names of the members present and shall forward a copy of such minutes to each member of the Board as soon after the meeting as possible. (b) The minutes of the proceedings of each meeting shall be confirmed with such modification, if any, as may be decided upon at the next meeting of the Board and signed by the Chairman at that meeting by way of authentication. (c) The minutes of the proceedings of each meeting of the Board authenticated by the Chairman under ciause (b) shall be kept in a separate minutes book and the Secretary shall send a copy of such authenticated minutes of the proceedings of each meeting to the Government for information as early as possible. (d) The minutes book shall be kept in safe custody of the Officer authorised by the Secretary who shall be responsible for recording the minutes of the meetings. (5) Salaries and Allowances of Chairperson and Members:~ (a) Travelling allowance and daily allowance of an official member shall be governed by rules applicable for journey performed by him on official duties and shall be paid by the authority paying his salary or by the Board, as per the instructions of the Government in force. (b) Chairman and each non-official member of the Board shall be entitled to salaries and other allowances as prescribed by the Government. (© Budget of the Board:- The Secretary shall cause the budget estimates of the fund containing estimated receipts and expenditure for every financial year to be prepared and laid before the Board by 31st January every year and the Board will approve the budget before the 15th March.250 A.P. Bldg, & other Construction Workers' ... Rules [R. 33C The details of the all immovable and movable assets of the Board including the Bank deposits, expenditure incurred on Welfare Schemes, administration and other sub-heads against the current year’s approved budget, and a detailed progress report on the functioning of the Board during the current year, shall be placed before the Board’as annexure to the Budget. Thereafter, the budget copies shall be forwarded to the Central Government and State Government. (7) Additional Expenditure: If during the course of financial year, it becomes necessary to incur expenditure over and above the provision made in the budget, the Secretary shall submit additional demands to the Board for its approval. In case of urgency, for the reasons to be recorded in writing, the Secretary may obtain approval of the Chairman for such urgent additional expenditure, which is permissible under the Act and the Rules, and seek ratification in the next Board Mecting. (8) Maintenance and Audit of Accounts of the Fund:— (a) The Board shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant records and prepare annual statement of accounts including statement of Income and Expenditure and balance sheet, in such form as may be notified by the Government in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. (b) The accounts of the Board shall be balanced on the 31st March of each year. (c) The Accounts of the fund shall be maintained by the Secretary of the Board and shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. (a) The Government may, also at any time, order special audit of the accounts of the Board. (e) The expenses for the audit shall be as may be approved by the Government. ° (9) Annual report:— (a) The Secretary of the Board shall prepare an Annual Report in a descriptive form explaining all the welfare and other activities of the Board during the Financial Year and submit the same to the Central and State Governments alongwith the Auditor’s Report and Balance Sheet, duly approved by the Board, before the 15th July succeeding the Financial Year. (b) The State Government shall cause the Annual Report and Auditor's Report to be laid, as soon as may be after they are received, before the State Legislature.R. 33E] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 251 33-D. Appointment of Secretary, Other Officers, Clerical and other staff by the Board and their service conditions:— (1) The Board may, create all posts of and appoint from among the existing Officers and Staff of the Labour Department of the State Government, a Secretary not below the rank of Joint Commissioner of Labour, such number of other officers, clerical and other staff as may be necessary for carrying out its functions under the Act, in the Head Office. The entire field work to carry out the functions under this Act shall be done by regular staff and officers of the Labour Department. All appointments shall be as per the allotment of officers and Staff made by the Government in this regard. In case of clerical and other subordinate staff, the Board may, depending on the exigencies of work, resort to Contract appointments for a specific period in accordance with the Government instructions in force. The Board shall obtain approval of the Government for creation of posts, appointments and other matters incidental thereto. The Commissioner of Labour shall have administrative control over the Secretary, and other officers appointed in the Board. (2) The salaries and other allowances of the Officers and other staff of the Board shall be governed by the existing rules of the Government. (3) The Board may outsource the operations such as Maintenance of Beneficiary Accounts, Issuance of Identity Cards, receipt of contributions, registration fee, Cess etc; and implementation of welfare measures, as a cost effective measure, taking proper care about the safety of funds, control over implementation and such other measures as are essential to effectively implement the provisions of the Act. However, such proposals shall be approved by the Government, before they are implemented. 33-E. (1) The Board may open Accounts in State Bank of India or other Nationalised Banks to operate the transactions pertaining to the “Andhra Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Fund” constituted under Section 24 of the Act. (2) The Accounts shall be operated by the Secretary, who is the chief. executive of the Board. (3) The Accounts with each of the Bank shall be reconciled once in every quarter with the Cash Book of the Board. The consolidated debits and credits of Bank Accounts shall tally with the Income and Expenditure of the Fund. A Bank Reconciliation Statement shall be made as at the end252 ~=A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules [R. 33H of every quarter to explain the inconsistencies between the fund Account maintained in the Board and the Bank Accounts. (4) The Secretary of the Board shall prepare, at the end of every quarter, an estimated cash inflow and outflow statement for the next quarter and accordingly invest the amounts lying to the credit of savings Bank accounts in fixed deposit for appropriate period which yield higher rate of interest. (5) In the contingency of non-availability of the Secretary and in case of emergencies, for reasons to be recorded in writing and communicated to the Bank, the accounts may be operated by another two officers of the Board or the State Labour Department approved by the Board for this purpose on the recommendations of the Commissioner of Labour. However, such transactions shall be ratified by the Secretary, as soon as he is available, under intimation to the concerned Bank. 33-F. (1) No person shall be chosen as or continue to be, a member of the Board who,— (a) is an officer of the Board; or (b) is or at any time has been adjudged insolvent; or (©) is found to be a lunatic or of unsound mind; or (A) is or has been convicted of any offence involving moral turpitude. (2) The Government may remove from office any member who,— (a) is or has become subject to any of the disqualifications specified in sub-section (1); or (b) is absent without leave of the Board for more than three consecutive meetings of the Board. 33-G. Any member of the Board may at any time, resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Government, and his office shall, on acceptance of resignation by the Government, become vacant. 33-H. In the event of any vacancy in the office of member of the Board on account of death, resignation, disqualification or removal or otherwise, the Board shall forthwith communicate the occurrence to the Government and the vacancy shall be filled not later than ninety days from the date of the occurrence of the vacancy, and the person so nominatedR. 33K] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 253 to fill the vacancy shall hold office so long as the member in whose place he is nominated would have held it if the vacancy had not occurred: Provided that during any such vacancy, the continuing members may act as such members if no vacancy has occurred. 33-I. (1) The Government may at any time appoint any person to investigate or enquire into the working of the Board or any scheme and submit a report to the Government in that behalf. (2) The Board shall give to the person so appointed all facilities for the proper conduct of the investigation or inquiry, and furnish to him such documents, accounts or information in possession of the Board as he or she may require. (3) Any person so appointed to investigate or inquire into the working of any Board or scheme may also exercise all the powers of an Inspector appointed under this Act. 33-J. (1) If the Government on consideration of the report referred to in sub-rule (1) of Rule 33-J is of the opinion,— (a) that the Board is unable to perform its functions; or (b) that the Board has persistently made default in the discharge of its functions or has exceeded or abused its powers,— the Government may, by notification, supersede the Board in question and reconstitute it in the prescribed manner. (2) When the Board is superseded, the following consequences shall follow:— (a) All the members of the Board shall, from the date of publication of the notification vacate their office, (b) The Vehicle, furniture, stationery or other movable or immovable property under the control or custody of the Chairman or Members of the Board shall immediately be restored to the Secretary under proper acknowledgement. 33-K. The Government may give directions to the Board as to the carrying into execution of any provisions of the Act and Rules, schemes and notifications issued and the Board shall be bound by such directions.254 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' Rules [R. 35 The Commissioner of Labour is competent to call for any records, reports or other particulars pertaining to the functioning of the Board and the Secretary shall furnish such information with reasonable deligence. 33-L The Andhra Pradesh Building and Construction Workers Welfare Board may formulate welfare schemes for building workers in furtherance of the functions mentioned in Section 22 of the Act. The Board may also adopt such procedures, forms and registers etc., as are required for carrying out the said functions and for application of the Andhra Pradesh Building and other Construction Workers weifare Fund constituted by the Board under Section 24 of the Act. Such schemes, procedures, forms and registers ete., shall be approved by the Government, before they are implemented.] PART UT SAFETY AND HEALTH CHAPTER VI General Provisions 34. Excessive noise, vibration, ete.:- An employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that adequate measures are taken to protect building workers against the harmful effects of excessive noise or vibration at such construction site and the noise ievel in no case exceeds the limits laid down in Schedule VI annexed to these rules. 35. Fire protection:— An employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) such construction site is provided with— (i) fire extinguishing equipment sufficient to extinguish any probable fire at such construction site; (ii) an adequate water supply at ample pressure as per national s.andards; (iii) number of trained persons required to operate the fire extinguishing equipment provided under sub-clause (i); (b) fire extinguishing equipment provided under sub-clause (i) of clause (a) is properly maintained and inspected at regular intervals of not less than once in a year by the responsible person and a record of such inspections is maintained;R. 37] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules 255 (c) in case of every launch or boat or other craft used for transport of building workers and the cabin of every lifting appliance including mobile crane, adequate number of portable fire extinguishing equipment of suitable type shall be provided at each of such launch or boat or craft or lifting appliance. 36. Emergency action plans:~ An employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that in case more than five hundred building workers are employed at such construction site emergency action plan to handle the emergencies like— (a) fire and explosion; (b) collapse or lifting appliances and transport equipment; (c) collapse of building, sheds or structures, etc.; (d) gas leakage or spillage of dangerous goods or chemicals; (e) drowning of building workers sinking of vessels; and (f) land slides getting building worker buried, floods, storms and other natural calamities, is prepared and submitted for the approval of the Director General. 37. Fencing of motors, ete.:- An employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) all motors, cogwheels, chains and friction gearing, flywheels, shafting, dangerous and moving parts of machinery (whether or not driven by mechanical power) and steam pipes are securely fenced or lagged; the fencing of dangerous parts of machinery is not removed while such machinery is in motion or in use; (b) (c) no part of any machinery which is in thotion and which is not securely fenced is examined, lubricated, adjusted or repaired except by a person skilled for such examination, lubrication, adjustment or repairs; (d) machine parts are cleaned when such machine is stopped; (e) when a machine is stopped for servicing or repairs, adequate measures are taken to ensure that such machine does not restart inadvertently. 3256 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules [R. 39 38. Lifting and carrying of excessive weight:— An employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that~ (a) no building worker lifts by hand or carries overhead or over his back or shoulders any material, article, tool or appliances exceeding in weight the maximum limits set out in the following table: Table Person Maximum Weight Load Adult man 55 kg Adult- woman 30 kg Adolescent male 30 kg Adolescent female 20 kg unless aided by any other building worker or a mechanical device. (b) no building worker aided by other building workers, lift by hand or carry overhead or over their back or shoulders, any material, article, tool or appliance exceeding in weight the sum total of maximum limits set out for each building worker separately under clause (a), unless aided by a mechanical device. 39, Health and safety policy:— (1)(a) Every establishment employing fifty or more building workers shall prepare a written statement of policy in respect of safety and health of building workers and submit the same for the approval of the Director General; (b) the policy referred to in clause (a) shall contain the following namely: (i) the intentions and commitments of the establishment regarding health, safety and environmental protection of building workers; (ii) organisational arrangements made to carry out the policy referred to in clause (a) specifying the responsibility at different levels of hierarchy; (iii) responsibilities of the principal employer, contractor, sub-contractor, transporter or other agencies involved in the building or other construction work; (iv) techniques and methods for assessment of risk to safety, health and environmental and remedial measures therefor; (v) arrangements for training of building workers, trainers, supervisors or other persons engaged in the construction work;R. 40] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 257 (vi) other arrangements for making the policy referred to in clause (a), effective; (c) the intention and commitment referred to in sub-clause (a) of sub- tule (1), signed by an authorised signatory shall be sent to the State Government. (2) A copy of the policy referred to in clause (a) of sub-rule (1), signed by an authorised signatory shall be sent to the State Government for information. (3) The establishment shall revise the policy referred to in clause (a) of sub-rule (1) as often as necessary under the following circumstances, namely: (i) whenever any expansion or modification having implication on safety and health of the building workers is made in such building or other construction work; or Gi) whenever any new building or other construction work, substances, articles or techniques are introduced having implication on health and safety of building workers. (4) A copy of the policy referred to in sub-clause (a) of sub-rule (1) shall be displayed at the conspicuous places in Hindi and a local language understood by the majority of building workers at a construction site 40. Dangerous and harmful environment:— An employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that,— (a) whén an internal combustion engine exhausts into a confined space or excavation or tunnel or any other workplace where neither natural ventilation nor artificial ventilation system is adequate to keep the carbon monoxide content of the atmosphere below fifty parts per million, adequate and suitable measures are taken at such workplace in order to avoid exposure of building workers to health hazards; (b) no building worker is allowed to enter any confined space or tank or trench or excavation wherein there is given off any dust, fumes or other impurities of such nature and to such extent as is likely to be injurious or offensive to the building worker or in which explosives, poisonous, noxious or gaseous material or other harmful articles have been carried or stored or in which dry ice has been used as a refrigerant, or which has been fumigated or in which258 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers! ... Rules [R. 42 there is a possibility of oxygen deficiency, unless all practical steps have been taken to remove such dust, fumes, or other impurities and dangers which may be present and to prevent any further ingress thereof, and such work place or tank or trench or excavation is certified by the responsible person to be safe and fit for the entry of such building workers. 41. Overhead Protection:— (1) The employer shall ensure at the building or other construction work that overhead protection is erected along the periphery of every building under construction which shall be of fifteen metres or more in height when completed. (2) Overhead protection referred to in sub-rule (1) shall not be less than two metres wide and shall be erected at a height not more than five metres above the base of the building and the outer edge of such overhead protection shall be one hundred fifty millimetres higher than the inner edge thereof or shall be erected at an angle of not more than twenty degrees to its horizontal sloping into the building. (3) The cmployer shall ensure at the building and other construction work that any area exposed to risk of falling material, article or objects is roped off or cordoned off or otherwise suitably guarded from inadvertent entry of persons other than building workers at work in such area. 42. Slipping, tripping, cutting, drowning and falling hazards:— (1) All passageways, platforms and other places of construction work at the building or other construction work shall te kept by the employer free from accumulations of dust, debris or similar material and from other obstructions that may cause tripping. (2) Any sharp projections or protruding nails or similar projections which may cause any cutting hazard to a building worker at the building or other construction work shall be removed or otherwise made safe by taking suitable measures by the employer. (3) No employer shall allow any building worker at building or other construction work to use the passageway, or a scaffold, platform or any other elevated working surface which is in a slippery and dangerous condition and shall ensure that water, grease, oil or other similar substances which may cause the surface slippery, be removed or sanded, saw dusted or covered with suitable material to make it safe from slipping hazard at a building or other construction work. (A) Wherever building workers at a building or other construction work are exposed to the hazard of falling into water, they shall be provided byR. 46] AP. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 259 the employer with adequate equipment for saving themselves from drowning and rescuing from such hazard and if the Director General considers necessary, well-equipped boat or launch manned with trained personnel shall be provided by the employer at the site of such work. (5) Every open side or opening into or through which a building worker, vehicle or lifting appliance or other equipments may fall at a building or other construction work shall be covered or guarded suitably by the employer to prevent such fall except where free access is necessary by reasons of the nature of the work. (6) Wherever building workers at a building or other construction, work are exposed to the hazards of falling from height while employed on such work, they shall be provided by the employer with adequate equipment or means for saving them from such hazards. Such equipment or means shall be in accordance with the national standards. (7) Wheneyer there is a possibility of falling of any material, equipment or building worker at a construction site relating to a building or other construction work, adequate and suitable safety net shall be provided by employer in accordance with the national standards. 43. Dust, gases, fumes ete.:— An employer shall prevent concentration of dust, gases or fumes by providing suitable means to control their concentration within the permissible limit so that they may not cause injury or pose health hazard to a building workers at a building or other construction work. 44, Corrosive substances:— The employer shall ensure that corrosive substances, including alkalis and acids, shall be stored and used by a person dealing with such substances at a building or other construction work in such a manner that it does not endanger the building worker and suitable protective equipment shall be provided by the employer to a building worker during handling or use of such substances at a building or other construction work and in case of spillage of such substances on the building worker, immediate remedial measures shall be taken by the employer. 45. Eye protection:— Suitable personal protective equipment for the protection of eyes shall be provided by an employer and used by the building worker engaged in operations like welding, cutting, chipping, grinding or similar operations which may cause hazard to his eyes at a building or other construction work. 46. Head protection and other protective apparel:— (1) Every building worker required to pass through or work within the areas at260 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers Rules [R. 47 building or other construction work where there is hazard of his being struck by falling objects or materials shall be provided by the employer with safety helmets of type and tested in accordance with the national standards. (2) Every building worker required to work in water or in wet concrete or in other similar work at a building or other construction work, shall be provided with suitable waterproof boots by the employer. (3) Every building worker required to work in rain or in similar wet condition at building or other construction work, shall be provided with water-proof coat with hat by the employer. (4) Every building worker required to use or handle alkalies, acid or other similar corrosive substances at a building or cther construction work shall be provided with appropriate protective equipment by an employer, in accordance with the national standards. (5) Every building worker engaged in handling sharp objects or materials at a building or other construction work which may cause hand injury, shall be provided with suitable hand-gloves by the employer, in accordance with the national standards. 47. Electrical hazards:— (1) Before commencement of any building or other construction work, the employer shall take adequate measures to prevent any worker from coming into physical contact with any electrical equipment or apparatus, machines or live electrical circuit which may cause electrical hazard during the course of his employment at a building or other construction work. (2) The employer shall display and maintain suitable warning signs at conspicuous places at a building or other construction work in Hindi and in a local language understood by the majority of the building workers. (3) In workplaces at a building or other construction work where the exact location of underground electric power line is not known, the building workers tising jack hammers, crow bars or other hand-tools which may come in contact with a live electrical line, shall be provided by the employer with insulated protective gloves and footwear of the type in accordance with the national standards. (4) The employer shall ensure that, as far as practicable, no wiring, which may come in contact with water or which may ‘be mechanically damaged, is left on ground or floor at a building or other construction work. (5) The employer shall ensure that all electrical appliances and current carrying equipment used at a building or other construction work are made of sound material and are properly and adequately earthed.R. 51] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 261 (6) The employer shall ensure that all temporary electrical installations at a building or other construction work are provided with earth-leakage circuit breakers. (7) The employer shall ensure that all electrical installations at a building or other construction work comply with the requirements of any law for the time being in force. 48. Vehicular Traffie:— (1) Whenever any building or other construction work is being carried on, or is located in close proximity to a road or any other place where any vehicular traffic may cause danger to building workers, the employer shall ensure that such building or other construction work is barricaded and suitable warning signs and lights displayed or erected to prevent such danger and if necessary, he may make a request in writing to the concerned authorities to control such traffic. (2) The employer shall ensure that all vehicles used at construction site of a building or other construction work comply with the requirements of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988) and the rules made thereunder. (3) The employer shall ensure that a driver of a vehicle of any class or description operating at a construction site of a building or other construction work holds a valid driving licence under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988). 4 49. Stability of structures:— The employer shall ensure that no wall, chimney or other structure or part of a structure is left unguarded in such condition that it may fall, collapse or weaken due to wind pressure vibration or due to any other reason at a site of a building or other construction work. 50. Illumination of passageways, etc.:- The employer shall ensure that illumination sufficient for maintaining safe working conditions at a site of a building or other construction work is provided where building workers are required to work to pass and for passageway, stairways and landing, such illumination is not less than that provided in the relevant national standards. 51. Stacking of materials:— The employer shall ensure, at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) all building materials are stored or stacked in a safe and orderly manner to avoid obstruction of any passageway or place of work; (b) material piles are stored or stacked in such a manner as to ensure stability; (c) material or equipment is not stored upon any floor or platform in such quantity as to exceed its safe carrying capacity;. Rules [R. 55 262 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ (a) material or equipment is not stored or placed so close to any edge of a floor or platform as to endanger the safety of persons below or working in the vicinity. 52. Disposal of debris:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a) debris are handled and disposed off by a method which does not cause danger to the safety of a person; (b) debris are not allowed to accumulate so as to constitute a hazard; (c) debris are kept sufficiently moist to bring down the dust within the permissible limit; debris are not thrown inside or outside from any height of such building or other construction wor (d on completion of work, left over building material, article or other substance or debris are disposed off as soon as possible to avoid any hazard to any traffic or person. 53. Numbering and marking of floors:- The employer shall ensure that each floor or level of a building or other construction work is appropriately numbered or marked at the landing of such floor or level. 54. Use of safety helmets and shoes:~ The employer shall ensure that all persons who are performing any work or services at a building or other construction work, wear safety shoes and helmets conforming to the national standards. (© CHAPTER VII Lifting Appliances and Gear ! 55. Construction and maintenance of lifting appliances: The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) All lifting appliances, including their parts and working gear, whether fixed or moveable and any plant or gear used in anchoring or fixing of such appliances, are— (i) of sound construction, sound material, and of adequate strength | to serve the purpose for which these are to be used and all such appliances shall be free from patent defects; and (ii) maintained in good repair and working condition. (b) (i) every drum or pulley around which the rope of any lifting appliance is carried, is of adequate diameter and sound construction in relation to such rope;R. 55] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules 263 (ii) any rope which terminates at the winding drum of a lifting appliance is securely attached to such drum’and at least three dead turns of such rope remain on such drum in every operating position of such lifting appliance; (iii) the flange of drum projects twice the rope diameter beyond the last layer of such rope and if such projection is not available, other measures like anti-slackness guards. shall be provided to prevent such rope from coming off such drum; (c) Every lifting appliance is provided with adequate and efficient brakes which- (i) are capable of preventing fall of a suspended load (including any test load) and of effectively controlling such load while it is being lowered; (ii) act without shock; (iii) have shoes that can be easily removed for running; and (iv) are provided with simple and easily accessible means of adjustment: Provided that nothing contained in this clause shall apply to steam winch which can be operated as safely as with brakes as provided in accordance with this clause; (a) Controls of every lifting appliance— (i) are so situated that the driver of such appliance at his stand or seat has ample room for operating and has an unrestricted view of building or other construction work, as far as practicable, and that he remains clear of the load and ropes, and that no load passes over him; (ii) are positioned with due regard to ergonometric considerations for proper operation of such appliance; (iii) are so located that the driver of such appliance remains above the height of the heel block during the whole operation of such appliance; (iv) have open them or adjacent to them clear markings to indicate their purpose and mode of operations; (v) are provided, where necessary, with a suitable locking device to prevent accidental movement or displacement; (vi) move, as far as practicable, in the direction of the resultant load movement; andRules — [R. 57 264 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ (vii) wherever automatic brakes are provided, automatically come to the neutral position in case of power failure. 56. Test and periodical examination of lifting appliances:— The employer shall ensure at construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) all lifting appliances including all parts and gears thereof, whether fixed or moveable, are tested and examined by a competent person before being taken into use for the first time or after it has undergone any alterations or repairs liable to affect its strength or stability or after erection on a construction site and also once at least in every five years, in the manner specified in Schedule I annexed to these rules; all lifting appliances are thoroughly examined by a competent person once at least in every twelve months and where the competent person making such examination forms the opinion that the lifting appliance cannot continue to function safely, he shall forthwith give notice in writing of his opinion to the owner of the lifting appliance. b Explanation:— For the purpose of this rule, thorough examination means a visual examination, supplemented, if necessary, by other means such as hammer test, carried out as carefully as the conditions permit, in order to arrive at a reliable conclusion as to the safety of the parts examined; and, if necessary, for such examination, parts of the lifting appliance and gear, shall be dismantled. 57. Automatic safe load indicators:— (a) The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (i) every crane, if so constructed that the safe working load may be varied by raising or lowering of the jib or otherwise, is attached with an automatic indicator of safe working loads which gives a warning to the operator wherever the load exceeds the safe working load; (ii) cut-out is provided which automatically arrests the movements of the lifting parts of every crane if the load exceeds the safe working load, wherever possible; (b) the provisions of sub-clause (i) of clause (a) apply, except where it is not possible to install an automatic safe load indicator, in which case, provision of a table showing the safe working loads at the corresponding inclinations or radii of the jib on the crane shall be considered sufficient.R. 59] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules 265 58. Installation: The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a) fixed lifting appliances are installed; (i) by competent persons; (i) in a manner that such appliances cannot be displaced by the load, vibration or other influences; (iii) in a manner that the operator of such appliances is not exposed to danger from loads, ropes or drums; and (iv) in a manner that the operator can either see over the zone of operation or communicate with all loading and unloading points by signal, or other communication systems; adequate clearance is provided between parts or loads of lifting appliances, and- © (i) the fixed objects such as walls and posts; or (ii) electrical conductors; the lifting appliances, when exposed to wind loading are given sufficient additional strength, stability and rigidity to withstand such loading safely; () (d) no structural alterations or repairs are made on any part of the lifting appliances that affect the safety of such appliances without obtaining the opinion of the competent person to this effect. 59, Winches:- The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a)(i) winches are not used if control levers operate with excessive friction or play; (ii) double gear winches are not used unless a positive means of locking the gear shift is provided; (iii) there is no load other than the fall and the hook assembly on the winch while changing gears on a two gear winch; (iv) adequate protection is provided to winch operator against abnormal weather; (v) temporary seats or shelters for winch operators which may pose hazard to the winch operator or any other building workers are not allowed to be used;266 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules [R. 61 (vi) control levers are secured in the neutral position and, whenever possible, the power is shut-off whenever winches are left unattended. (b) in use of every steam winch— (i) measures are taken to prevent escaping steam from obscuring any part of the construction site or other work place or from otherwise hindering or injuring any building worker; (ii) extension control levers which tend to fall of their own weight are counter-balanced; (iii) winch operators are not permitted to use the ‘winch control extension levers except for short handles on wheel type controls and that such levers are of adequate strength, secure and fastened with metal connections at the fulcrum and at the permanent control lever; (c) electric winches are not used for building work where— (i) the electro-magnetic brake is unable to hold the load; or Gi) one or more control points, either hoisting or lowering, are not operating properly. a 60. Buckets:- The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that tip-up buckets are equipped with a device that effectively prevents accidental tipping. 61, Identification and marking of safe working load:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) every lifting appliance and loose gear is clearly marked for its safe working load and identification by stamping or other suitable means; (b) (i) every derrick (other than derrick crane) is clearly marked for its safe working load when such derrick is used either in single purchase with a lower block or in union purchases in all possible block positions; (ii) the lowest angle to the horizontal, to which the derrick may be used, is legibly marked; (c) every lifting appliance having more than one working load is fitted with effective means to enable the operator to determine safe working load at each point under all conditions of use;R. 63] AP. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 267 (d) means to ascertain the safe working load for lifting gears under such conditions in which such gears may be used are provided to enable a worker using gears and such means shall consist of- (i) marking the safe working load in plain figures or letters upon the sling or upon a table or ring of durable material attached securely thereto in case of chain slings; and (ii) either the means specified in sub-clause (i) or notices so exhibited as can be easily read by any concerned building worker stating the safe working load for the various sizes of the wire rope slings used in case of wire rope slings. 62. Loading and lifting appliances and lifting gears:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) no lifting appliance, lifting gear or wire rope is used in an unsafe way and in such a manner as to involve risk to life of building workers, and that they are not loaded beyond their safe working load except for testing purposes under the direction of a competent person in the manner as specified in Schedule I annexed to these rules. no lifting appliance, lifting gear or any other material handling appliance is used, if © (i) the Inspector having jurisdiction is not satisfied with reference to a certificate of test or examination or to an authenticated record maintained as provided under these rules; and (ii) in the view of such Inspector, the lifting appliance, lifting gear or any other material handling appliance is not safe for use in building or other construction work; (iii) no pulley block is used in building or other construction work unless the safe working load and its identification are clearly marked on such block. 63. Operator's cab or cabin:- The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a) the operator of every lifting machine in outdoor service is provided with a cab or cabin which— (i) is made of fire resistant material; (ii) has a suitable seat, a footrest and protection from vibration;268 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules [R. 64 (iii) affords the operator an adequate view of the area of operation; (iv) affords the necessary access to working parts in cab; (v) affords the operator adequate protection against the weather; (vi) is adequately ventilated; and (vii) is provided with a suitable fire extinguisher. 64. Operation of lifting appliances: The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) every crane driver or lifting operator possess adequate skill and training in the operation of the particular lifting appliance; (b) no person under eighteen years of age is in control of any lifting appliance, scaffold winch, or to give signals to the operator; (c) precaution is taken by the trained operator to prevent lifting appliance from being set in motion; (d) the operation of lifting appliance is governed by signals, in conformity with the relevant national standards; (e) the lifting appliance operator's attention is not distracted while he is working; () no crane, hoist, winch or other lifting appliance or any part of such crane, hoist, winch or other lifting appliance is, except for testing purposes, loaded beyond the safe working load; (g) during the hoisting operations effective precaution is taken to prevent any person from standing or passing under the load in such operations; (h) operator does not leave lifting appliance unattended while power is on or load is suspended to such appliance; (i) no person rides on a suspended load or on any lifting appliance; Gj) every part of a load in course of being hoisted or lowered is adequately suspended and supported to prevent danger; (k) every receptacle used for hoisting bricks, tiles, slates or other material is suitably enclosed as to prevent the fall of any such materials; (1) the hoisting platform is enclosed when loose materials or loaded wheel-barrows, are placed directly on such platform or lowering, such materials or wheel-barrows; (m) no material is raised, lowered or slowed with any lifting appliance in such a way as to cause sudden jerks to such appliance;R. 65] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 269 (n) in hoisting a barrow, any wheel of such barrow is not used as a means of support unless adequate steps are taken to prevent the axle of such wheel from slipping out of its bearings; (0) long objects like planks or girders are provided with a tag line to prevent any possibility of danger while raising or lowering such objects; (p) during the process of landing of material, a building worker is not permitted to lean out into empty space for finding out the loading and unloading of such materials; (q) the hosting of loads at places where there is regular flow of traffic is carried out in an enclosed space, or in case such hoisting is impracticable in enclosed space, measures are taken to hold up or divert the traffic during the time of such hoisting; adequate steps are taken to prevent a load, in the course of being hoisted or lowered from coming into contact with any object to avoid any displacement of such load; @ appliances are provided and used for guiding heavy loads when raising or lowering heavy loads to avoid crushing of hands of building workers during such raising or lowering of loads. (s) 65. Hoists:—- The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) hoist towers are designed according to relevant national standards; (b) hoist shafts are provided with rigid panels or other adequate fencing— (i at the ground level on all sides of such shafts; and (ii) at all other levels on all sides of the access to such shafts; (c) the walls of hoist shafts, except at approaches, extend to at least two metres above the floor or platform of access to such shafts; (d) approaches to a hoist are provided with gates which are— (@) gridded to maintain visibility; (ii) at least two metres height; and (iii) equipped with a device which requires such gate to be closed before the platform of such hoist can leave the landing and prevents the gate from being opened unless such platform, is at the landing;270 _A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules [R. 65 (e) approaches to a hoist are adequately lit; (f) the guides of hoist platforms offer sufficient resistance to bending and, to bucking, in the case of jamming, by providing a safety catch; (g) overhead beams and their supports are capable of holding the total maximum live and dead loads that such beams and supports will be required to carry, with a safety factor of at least five; (h) a clear space is provided~ (i) above the highest stopping place of a cage or platform to allow sufficient unobstructed travel of such cage or platform in case of over-winding; and (ii) below the lowest stopping place of such cage or platform; (i) adequate covering is provided above the top of hoist shafts to prevent materials from falling into such shafts; (j) outdoor hoist towers are erected on adequately firm foundations and are securely braced, guided and anchored; (k) a ladder way extends from the bottom to the top of every outdoor hoist tower in case no other ladder way exists within easy reach and such ladder way comply with the relevant national standards; (i) the rated capacity of a hoisting engine is at least one and half times the maximum load that such engine will be required to move; (m) all gearing on a hoisting engine is securely enclosed; (n) steam piping of a hoisting engine is adequately protected against accidental contact of such piping with a building worker; (0) electrical equipment of a hoisting engine is effectively earthed; (p) a hoist is provided with suitable devices to stop a hoisting engine as soon as the platform of such hoist reaches its highest stopping place; (q) @ hoisting engine is protected by a suitable cover against weather and falling objects; (©) a hoisting engine set up in a public thoroughfare is completely enclosed; (s) all exhaust steam pipes discharge steam in such a manner that the steam so discharged, does not scald any person or obstruct the operator's view;R. 65] — A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 271 (t) the motion of a hoist is not reversed without first bringing it to rest to avoid any harm from such reverse motion; (u) a hoist, not designed for the conveyance of persons, is not set in motion from the platform of such hoist; (v) pawls and ratchet-wheels of a hoist, requiring disengagement of such pawls from such ratchet-wheels, before the platform of such hoist is lowered, are not used; (w) a platform of a hoist is capable of supporting such maximum load, that such platform may carry, with a safety factor of at least three; (x) a platform of a hoist is equipped with suitable safety gear which can hold such platform with its maximum load in case its hoisting rope breaks; (y) on platform of a hoist, the wheelbarrows or truck are efficiently blocked in a safe position; (z) a cage of a hoist or a platform, where the building workers are required to enter into such cage or to go on such platform at landing level, is provided with a locking arrangement to prevent such cage or platform from moving during the time a worker enters or leaves such cage or platform; (za) the sides of a platform of a hoist which, are not used for loading or unloading, are provided with toc-board and enclosures of a wire mesh or any other suitable means to prevent the fall of any part of a load from such plaiform; (zb) a platform of a hoist, which has any probability of falling and part of load from it, is provided with an adequate covering with such fall; the counter-weights of a hoist consisting of an assemblage of several parts are so constructed that such parts are rigidly connected together; (zc (zd) the counter-weights of a hoist run between guides; (ze) at every level of work the building workers are provided with adequate platforms for performing such work; (zf) a legible notice in Hindi as well as ina local language is displayed at— (i a conspicuous place of the platforms of a hoist and that such notice states the maximum carrying capacity of such hoist in kilograms;272 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules [R. 69 (ii) a conspicuous place on the hoisting engine and that such notice states maximum lifting capacity of such hoist in kilograms; (iii) a conspicuous place on a hoist authorised and certified for the conveyance of the person on the platform or cage and such notice states the maximum number of persons to be carried on such hoist at cne time; (iv) a conspicuous place on a hoist carrying goods and other materials and such notice states that such hoist is not meant for carriage of persons 66. Fencing of and means of access to lifting appliances:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) safe means of access is provided to every part of a lifting appliance; (b) the operator's platform on every crane or tip driven by mechanical power is securely fenced and is provided with safe means of access and where access to such platform is by a ladder— (i) the sides of such ladder extend to a reasonable height beyond such platforms or some other suitable handhold is provided in lieu thereof to prevent any falling of persons from such platforms; (ii) the handling place on such platform is maintained free from obstruction and slipping; and (iii) in case the height of such ladder exceeds six metres, the resting platforms are provided on such ladder at every six metres of its height and where the distance between last platform so provided and the top end of such ladder is more than two metres then on such top end. 67. Rigging of derricks:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that every derrick has current and relevant rigging plans and any other information necessary for the safe rigging of such derricks and its gear. 68. Securing of derrick foot:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that appropriate measures are taken to prevent the foot of a derrick being lifted out of its socket or support. 69. Construction and maintenance of lifting gear:- The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that—R. 71] _A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules 273 (a) every lifting gear is~ (i) of good design and construction, sound material and adequate strength to perform the work for which it is used; (ii) free from patent defects; and (iii) properly maintained in good repair and working order; (b) components of the loose gear, at the time of its use, are renewed if one of its dimensions at any point has decreased by ten per cent or more by user; (c) a chain is withdrawn from use when it is stretched and increased in length which exceeds five per cent of its length or when a link of such chain is deformed or is otherwise damaged or raised scarves of defective welds is appeared on it; (@) rings, hooks, swivels and end links attached to a chain are of the same material as that of such chain; the voltage of electric supply to any magnetic lifting device does not fluctuate by more than plus ten per cent or minus ten per cent. (e 70. Test and periodical examination of lifting gears:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) a lifting gear is initially tested for the manufacturer by a competent person, in a manner specified in Schedules I annexed to these rules before taking into use or after undergoing any substantive alterations which renders its any part liable to affect its safety and such gear alters such test shall subsequently be retested for the use of its owner at least once in every five years; (b) a lifting gear in use is thoroughly examined once at least in every twelve months by a competent person; (c) a chain in use is thoroughly examined once at least every month by a responsible person for its use; (d) certificates of initial and periodical tests and examinatidns of loose gears under these rules are obtained in Form VII annexed to these rules. 71. Ropes:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that—Rules [R. 71 274 _A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ (a) no rope is used for building or other construction work unless- (i) it is of good quality and free from patent defects; and (ii) in the case of wire rope, it has been tested and examined by a competent person in the manner specified in Schedule I annexed to these rules, (b) every wire rope of lifting appliance or lifting gear used for building or other construction work is inspected by a responsible person for such use, once at least in every three months: Provided that after any such wire is broken in such rope, it shall thereafter be inspected once at least in every month by the responsible person; (c) no wire rope is used for building or other construction work if in any length of eight diameters of such wires, the total number of visible broken wires exceed ten per cent of the total number of wires in such rope, or such rope shows sign of excessive wear, corrosion or other defects which in the opinion: of the person who inspects it or Inspector, having jurisdiction is unfit for use; (d) eye splices and loops of ropes for the attachment of hooks, rings and other such parts to wire ropes are made with suitable thimble; (e) a thimble or loop splice made in any wire rope sling conforms to the following standards, namely; (i) wire rope sling shall have at least three tucks with full strand of rope and two tucks with one-half of the wires cut out of each of such strand in all cases, such strands shall be tucked against the lay of the rope; (ii) protruding ends of such strands in any splice of wire rope slings shall be covered or treated so as to leave no sharp points; (iii) a fibre rope or a rope sling shall have at least four tucks; tail of such tuck being whipped in a suitable manner; and (iv) a synthetic fibre rope or a rope sling shall have at least four tucks with full strand followed b; further tuck with one-half filaments cut out of each of such strand and final tuck with one-half of the remaining filaments cut out from such strands. Any portion of the splices containing such tucks, with reduced number of filaments, shall be securely covered with suitable tape or other materials :R. 72] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 275 Provided that nothing contained in this sub-clause shall apply where any other form of splice, which may be shown to be as efficient as the splice with above standards, is used. 72. Heat treatment of lifting gears:- The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that~ (a) all chains other than briddle chains attached to derricks and all tings, hooks, shackles and swivels used in hoisting or lowering of such derricks are effectively annealed under supervision of a competent person and at the following intervals, namely: (i) such chains, rings, hooks, shackles and swivels which are not more than twelve and a half millimetre of length are so annealed at least once in every six months; and (ii) all other such chains, rings, hooks, shackles and swivels are so annealed at least once in every twelve months : Provided that such annealing as referred to in sub-clause (i) and sub- clause (ii) shall not be required if the Inspector, having jurisdiction, after obtaining the approval of the Director General, directs that such chains, rings, hooks, shackles and swivels undergo some other treatment and in such cases the treatment directed by such Inspector shall be followed: Provided further that in case of such chains, rings, hooks, shackles and swivels used solely on such derricks and other hoisting appliances which are worked by hand, the provisions of sub-clause (i) and sub-clause (ii), as the case may be, shall apply as if for the period of six months and twelve months the periods of twelve months and two years have respectively been substituted therein: . Provided also that in case where the Inspector, having jurisdiction, is of the opinion that owing to the size, design material or frequency of use, of any such chains, rings, hooks, shackles and swivels, the requirement of this clause for annealing is not necessary for the protection of building worker, he may after obtaining the approval of the Director General, certify in writing to such employer that subject to the conditions specified in such certification, such chains, rings, hooks, shackles and swivels are exempted from such annealing and thereafter the provision of this clause shall apply subject to such exemption: Provided also that this clause shall not apply to- (i) pitched chains, working on sprocket or sprocketed wheels; (ii) rings, hooks and swivels permanently attached to pitched chains, pulley blocks or weighing machines; and rules;R. 75] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 277 (iii) in case of test and examination of wire ropes under rule 62 in Form VII annexed to these rules; (iv) in case of heat treatment and examination of loose gears under rule 72 in Form IX annexed to these rules; in case of annual thorough examination of the loose gears under clause (b) of rule 70, except where required particulars of such exemption have been enclosed in the register referred to in clause (a), in Form XXVI, annexed to these rules, and such certificates are attached to the register referred to in clause (a); wy the register referred to in clause (a) and the certificates relate to lifting appliances, loose gear and wire ropes ; (c (® kept at such construction site in case such register and certificate relate to lifting appliances, loose gear and wire ropes; (ii) produced on demand before an Inspector having jurisdiction, and (iii) retained for at least five years after the date of the last entry made in such register; no lifting appliance or lifting gear in respect of which an entry is required to be made in register referred to in clause (a) and certificate of test and examination are required to be attached in such register in the manner as specified in clause (a) or clause (b), as the case may be, is used for building or other construction work unless the required entries have been made in such register and certificates. 75. Vacuum and magnetic lifting gear:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- @ (a) no vacuum lifting gear, magnetic lifting gear or any other lifting gear where the load on it is held by adhesive power, is used while workers are performing operations beneath such gear; (b) a magnetic lifting gear used in connection with building or other construction work is provided with an alternative supply of power, such as batteries, which may come into operation immediately in the event of failure of the main power supply; no building worker shall work within the swinging zone of the lifting gear or load or building or other construction material suspended to such lifting gear. c278 _A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules — [R. 77 76. Knotting of chains and wire ropes:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that no chain or wire rope with a knot in it is used in building or other construction work. 77. Carrying of persons by means of lifting appliances, ete.:— (1) The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that no building worker is raised, lowered or carried by a power-driven lifting appliance except~ (a) on the driver's platform in the cage of a crane; or (b) on a hoist; or (c) on a approved suspended scaffold: Provided that a building worker may be raised, lowered or carried by a power-driven lifting appliance~ (i) in circumstances where the use of a hoist or of a suspended scaffold is not reasonably practicable and the requirements of sub- rule (2) are complied with; or (ii) on an aerial cableway or aerial ropeway in case where the requirements of sub-rule (2) are complied with. (2) The requirements referred to in proviso to sub-rule (1) are as below, namely: : (i) that the appliance referred to in such proviso can be operated from one position only ; (ii) that any winch used in connection with the appliance referred to in such proviso comply with the requirements of rule 59; (iii) that no person shall be carried by the appliance referred to in such proviso except~ (a) in a chair or cage, or (b) in a skip or other receptacle at least three feet deep which is suitable for safe carriage of a person and any such chair, cage, skip or other receptacle is made of good construction, sound material, and has adequate strength and is properly maintained with suitable means to prevent any occupant; therein from falling out of it and is free from any material or tools which may interfere with the handhold or foothold of such occupant or otherwise endanger him; andR. 79] _ A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 279 (iv) that suitable measures shall be taken to prevent the chair, cage, skip or other receptacle from spinning or tipping in a manner dangerous to any occupant therein. 78. Hoists carrying persons:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) no building worker is carried by a hoist unless it is provided with a cage which— (i) is so constructed as to prevent, when its gates are shut, any building worker carried by such hoist from falling out of it or from being trapped between any part of such cage and any fixed structure or other moving part of such hoist or from being struck by articles or materials falling down the hoistway on which such hoist is moving; aad (ii) is fitted on each of its side from which, access is provided to a landing place with a gate which has efficient interlocking or other devices to secure so that such gate cannot be opened except when such cage is at a landing place and that such cage cannot be moved away from any such place until such gate is closed. (b) every gate in the hoistway enclosure of such hoist used for carrying persons is fitted with efficient interlocking or other devices to secure so that gate cannot be opened except when the cage of such gate is at the landing place, and that such cage cannot be moved away from the landing place until such gate is closed. in every hoist used for carrying building workers these are provided suitable and efficient automatic devices to ensure that the cage of such hoist comes to rest at a point above the lowest point to which such cage may travel. (© 79. Attachment of loads:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of the building or other construction work that- (a) when a sling is used to hoist long materials, a lifting beam is used to space the sling legs for proper balance and when a load is suspended at two or more points with slings, the eyes of the lifting legs of such slings are shackled together and such shackle or eyes of the shackled slings are placed on the hook or the eyes of such lifting legs are shackled directly to the hoisting block, ball or balance beam, as the case may be ; (b) every container or receptacle used for raising or lowering stone, bricks, tiles, slates or other similar objects is so enclosed with the hoist as to prevent the fall of such objects;280 _A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules [R. 81 (c) a loaded wheelbarrow placed directly on a platform of a hoist for raising or lowering of such wheelbarrows is so secured that such wheelbarrows cannot move and such platform is enclosed to prevent the fall of the contents kept in such wheelbarrows; (d) landings of a hoist are so designed and arranged that building workers on such hoist are not required to lean out into empty space for loading and unloading any material from such hoist. 80. Tower Cranes:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) no person other than the operator trained and capable to work at heights are employed to operate tower cranes; (b) the ground on which a tower crane stands has adequate bearing capacity; (c) bases for tower cranes and trucks for rail-mounted tower cranes are firm and levelled and such cranes are erected at a reasonably safe distance from excavations and are operated within gradient limits as specified by the manufacturer of such cranes; (d) tower cranes are sited where there is a clear space available for erection, operation and dismantling of such cranes; (e) tower cranes are sited in such a way that the loads on such cranes. are not handled over any occupied premises, public, thoroughfares, railways or near power cables, other than construction works for which such cranes are used; (f) where two or more tower cranes are sited and operated, every care is taken to ensure positive and proper communication between operators of such cranes to avoid any danger or dangerous occurrences; (g) tower cranes are used for loading magnet or demolition ball service, piling operation or other similar operations which could impose excessive load stresses on the crane structure of such cranes; (h) the instructions of the manufacturer of a tower crane and standard safe practices regarding such crane are followed while operating or using such crane. 81. Qualification of operator of lifting winches and of signaller, ete.:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that no person is employed to drive or operateR. 83] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules 281 a lifting appliance, whether drivea by mechanical power or otherwise or to give signals to drive or operator of such lifting appliance or to work as an operator of a rigger or derricks unless he— (i) is above eighteen years of age: (ii) is sufficiently competent and reliable; (iii) possesses the knowledge of the inherent risks involved in the operation of lifting appliances; and (iv) is medically examined periodically as specified in Schedule VII annexed to these rules. CHAPTER VII Runways and Ramps 82. Use of runways and ramps by building worker:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a) runway or ramp provided for use by building workers is not less than four hundred and thirty millimetres in width and is constructed of not less than twenty-five millimetres thick planking or any other material of adequate strength to withstand the. required load supported substantially in relation to the span and braced of such runway or ramp and design and construction of such runway or ramp is in accordance with the relevant national standards; (b) every runway or ramp provided for use of building workers located more than three metres above the floor or ground is on open sides provided with a guard rail of adequate strength and height of not less than one thousand millimetres. 83. Use by vehicles:- The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) all runways and ramps are of sound construction, strength and are securely braced and supported; (b) every runway or ramp for the use of transport equipment like trailers, trucks or heavier vehicles has a width of not less than three point seven metres and is provided with timber curbs or any other material of adequate strength with not less than two hundred millimetres by two hundred millimetres in width placed parallel to, and secured to, the sides of such runway or ramp and such runways or ramps are designed in accordance with the relevant national standards.282 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules [R. 86 84, Slope of Ramps:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that every ramp has a slope not exceeding one in four and the total rise of a continuous ramp used by building workers carrying material or using wheelbarrows does not exceed three points seven metres, unless broken by horizontal landing of at least one point two metres in length or as provided in accordance with the relevant national standards. 85. Use by wheelbarrows, ete.:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that~ (a) every runway or ramp used for wheelbarrows, hand carts or hand trucks is not less than one metre in width and is constructed of not less than fifty millimetres thick planking and is supported and braced suitably for such use; (b) every runway or ramp located more than three metres above the floor or ground is provided on the open sides with suitable guard rails of adequate strength. CHAPTER IX Work on or Adjacent to Water 86. Transport by water:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) when any building worker has to proceed to or from any working place by water for purposes of carrying on a building or other construction work, proper measures are taken to provide for his safe transportation and vessels used for such purpose are used in charge of a responsible person, and are properly equipped for safe navigation and are maintained in good condition; (b) maximum number of persons which can be safely carried in a vessel as certified under the relevant law in force is marked plainly and conspicuously on such vessel and such number is not exceeded during use of such vessel for carrying persons. (2) The vessel referred to in clause (a) of sub-rule (1) shall conform to the following, namely: (i) that adequate protection is provided to the building workers in such vessel from inclement weather; (ii) that such vessel is manned by adequate and experienced crew, as per the relevant law for the time being in force;R. 88] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 283 (ii) that in case the bulwarks of such vessel are lower than sixty centimetres from the level of the deck of such vessel, the open edges of such bulwarks are fitted with suitable fencing to a height of at least one metre above such deck and the post and stanchions and similar parts used in such fencing are not spaced more than two metres apart; (iv) that the number of lifebuoys on deck of such vessel is at least equal to the number of crew members of such vessel and is not less than two; that all lifebuoys on deck of such vessel are kept in good state of maintenance and are so placed that if such vessel sinks then they remain to float and one of such buoys is within the immediate reach of the Steerman of such vessel and another is situated after part of such vessel; and <= (vi) that the position of the Steerman of the vessel is such that he has a reasonably free view of all sides. 87. Prevention from drowning: The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that where, on or adjacent to the work place of any construction site to which these rules apply, there is water into which a building worker employed for work on such site is, in the course of his employment, may fall and has the risk of drowning, suitable rescue equipment is provided and kept in an efficient state for ready use and measures are taken to arrange for the prompt rescue of such building worker from the danger of drowning and where there is a special risk of such fall from the edge of adjacent land or from a structure adjacent to or above the water or from floating stage on such water, secure fencing is provided near the edge of such land, structure or floating stage, as the case may be, to prevent such fall, and such fencing may be removed or allowed to remain unerected for the time being and to the extent necessary for the access of building workers to such work or the movement of material for such work. CHAPTER X Transport and Earth Moving Equipment 88. Earth moving equipment and vehicles:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) all vehicles and earth moving equipment are made of good material, proper design and sound construction and are sufficiently strong for the purpose for which such equipment are used and are284 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules [R. 88 maintained in good state of repair and are properly used in accordance with standard safe operating practice: Provided that the truck or trailer employed for transporting freight containers are of the size sufficient to carry the containers, without overhanging and are provided with twist locks conforming to national standards, at all the four corners of each of such truck or trailers and such truck or trailers are certified for such use by an authority under the relevant law for the time being in force and is inspected by a responsible person, at least once in a month and record of such inspection is maintained; (b) all transport or earth moving equipment and vehicles are inspected at least once a week by a responsible person and in case any defect is noticed in such equipment or vehicle, it is immediately taken out of use; (c) power trucks and tractors are equipped with effective brakes, head lights and tail lamps’ and are maintained in good repair and working order; (@) side stanchions on power trucks and trailers for carrying heavy and long objects are— (® of sound construction and free from defects; (ii) provided with tie chains attached to the top across the loads for preventing such stanchions from spreading out, and (iii) kept in position while loading and unloading; safe gangways are provided for to and fro movement of building workers engaged in loading and unloading of lorries, trucks, trailers and wagons; (f) trucks and other equipment are not loaded beyond their safe carrying capacity which shall be clearly marked on such trucks and other equipment; handles of hand trucks are so designed as to protect the hands of the building workers working on such trucks, or such handles are provided with knuckle guards; (h) no unauthorised person rides the transport equipment employed in such work; (© (g) (i) a driver of a transport equipment manoeuvres such equipment under the direction of a signaller; G adequate precaution such as isolating the electric supply or erecting overhead barriers of a safe height is taken when earth movingR. 91] _A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules 285 equipment or vehicles are required to operate in dangerous proximity to any live electric conductor; (k) vehicles and earth moving equipments are not left on a slope with the engine of such vehicles or equipment running; (1) all earth moving equipments, vehicles or other transport equipment are operated only by such person who are adequately trained and possess such skill as are required: for safe operation of such equipment, vehicle or other transport equipment. 89. Power shovels and excavators:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) a shovel or an excavator whether operated, by. steam or electric or by internal combustion, used for such work is constructed, installed, operated, tested and examined as required under any law for the time being in force and the relevant national standards; (b) excavator equipped for use as a mobile crane is— (i) examined and tested in accordance with the requirements for such mobile crane under these rules; and (ii) fitted with an automatic safe working load indicator; (c) buckets or grabs of power shovels are propped to restrict the movement of such buckets or grabs while being repaired or while the teeth of such buckets or grabs are being changed. 90, Bulldozers:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) an’ operator of a bulldozer before leaving such bulldozer— (i) applies the brakes; (ii) lowers the blade and sipper; and (iii) puts the shift lever into neutral; (b) a bulldozer is left on level ground at the close of the work for which such bulldozer is used; (c) the blade of a bulldozer is kept low when such bulldozer is moving uphill; (A) the bulldozer blades are not used as brakes except in an emergency, 91. Scrapers:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a) a tractor and scraper is joined by safety line at the time of its operation;286 _A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules [R. 95 (b) the scraper bowls are propped while blades of such scraper are being replaced; (c) a scraper moving downhill is left in gear. 92. Mobile asphalt layers and finishers:— The employer shall ensure on a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (i) a mixture elevator is within a wooden or sheet metal enclosure with a window for observation, lubrication and maintenance; (ii) bitumen scoops have adequaic covers; (iii) when asphalt plants are working on a public road, adequate traffic control is established on such road and the building workers working with such plant are provided with reflecting jackets; (iv) a sufficient number of fire. extinguishers are kept in readiness on such work place where fire hazards may exist; (vy) the materials are loaded on the elevator after the drying drain has warmed up of such elevator; (vi) no open light is used for ascertaining the level of asphalt; (vii) inspection opening is not opened till there is a pressure in the boiler which may cause injury to a building worker. 93. Pavers:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that pavers are equipped with guards suitable to prevent building workers from walking under the skip of such pavers. 94. Road rollers:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a) before a road roller is used on the ground, such ground is examined for its bearing capacity and general safety, especially at the edges of slopes such as embankments on such grounds; () a roller is not moved downhill with the engine out of gear. 95. General safety:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a) every vehicle or earth moving equipment is equipped with— (i) silencers; (ii) tail lights; (iii) power and hand brakes;R. 97] _A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 287 (iv) reversing alarm; and (v) search light for forward and backward movement, which are required for safe operation of such vehicle or carth moving equipment; (b) the cab of vehicle or earth moving equipment is kept at least one metre from the adjacent face of a ground being excavated: (c) when a crane or shovel ate travelling, the boom of such crane or shovel is in the direction of such travel and the bucket or scoop attached to such crane or shovel is raised and without load, except when such travelling is downhill. CHAPTER XI Concrete Work 96. General Provisions regarding use of concrete:- The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) all construction with the use of concrete or reinforced concrete are based on plans as— (i) include specifications of steel and concrete and other material to be used in such construction; (ii) give technical details regarding methods for safe placing and handling of such materials as specified in sub-clause (i); (iii) indicate the type, quality and arrangement of each of a structure of such construction; and (iv) explain the sequence of steps to be taken for completion of such construction; (b) formwork and shores used for concrete work are structurally safe and are properly braced or tied together so as to maintain position and shape of such formwork or shores; (c) formwork structure used for concrete work has sufficient cat-walks and other secure access for inspection of such structure if such structure is in two or more tiers, 97. Preparation and pouring of concrete and erection of concrete structures:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a) a building worker handling cement or concrete-288 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules [R. 99 (i) wears close-fitting clothing, gloves, helmet or hard hat, safety goggles, proper footwear and respirator or mask to protect him from danger in such handling; (ii) keep as much of his body covered as is required to protect him from danger in such handling; (iii) takes all necessary precautions to keep cement and concrete away from his skin in such handling. (b) lime pits are fenced or enclosed; (c) lime pits are filled and emptied by such devices which do not require workers to go into the pit; (d) moving parts of the elevators, hoists, screens, bunkers, chutes, grouting equipment used for concrete work and of other equipment used for storing, transport and other handling ingredients of concrete are securely fenced to avoid contact of building workers with such moving parts; (©) screw conveyors used for cement, lime and other dusty materials are completely enclosed. 98. Buckets:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) concrete buckets used with cranes or aerial cableways are free from projections from which accumulations of concrete could fall; (b) movements of concrete buckets are governed by signals necessary to avoid any danger by such movements. 99. Pipes and Pumps:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that~ (a) a scaffolding carrying a pipe for pumped concrete is strong enough ! to support such pipe at time when such pipe is filled with concrete i or water or any other liquid and to bear all the building workers who may be on such scaffold at such time, safely; (b) every pipe for carrying pumped concrete is— (i) securely anchored at its end point and at each curve on it; (ii) provided near the top of such pipe with an air release valve; | i and } (ii) securely attached to a pump nozzle by a bolted collar or other adequate means;R. 102] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 289 (c) the operation of concrete pumps are governed by standard signals relevant in accordance with the relevant national standards; (@ building workers employed around a concrete pump wear safety goggles. 100. Mixing and pouring of concrete:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) the concrete mixture does not contain any material which may unduly affect the setting of such concrete, weaken such concrete or corrode steel used with such concrete; (b) when dry ingredients of concrete are being mixed in confined spaces such as silos— (i) the dust shall be exhausted at the time of such mixing; and (ii) in case the dust cannot be exhausted, as specified in sub- clause (i), the building workers shall wear respirators at the time of such mixing: (c) when concrete is being tipped from buckets, building workers are kept out of the range of any kickbacks of such buckets; (d) loads are not dumped or placed on setting concrete. 101. Concrete panels and slabs:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a) all parts of a concrete panel or concrete slab are hoisted uniformly; (b) concrete panels are adequately braced in their final positions and such bracings shall remain in such position until such panels are adequately supported by other parts of the construction for which such panels are used; temporary bracing of concrete panels are securely fastened to prevent any part of such panels from falling when such panels are being moved. (c) 102. Stressed and tensioned elements:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or construction work that— (a) building workers do not stand directly over jacking equipment while stressing of concrete girders and beams is being done; (b) a pre-stressed concrete unit is not handled except at points on such unit and by the devices specified for such work by the manufacturer of such devices;290 _A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules [R. 104 (c) during transport, pre-stressed concrete girders or concrete beams are kept upright by bracing or other effective means; (d) anchor fittings pre-tensioned strands of pre-stressed concrete girders or concrete beams are kept in a safe condition in accordance with the instructions of manufacturer of such anchor fittings; building workers do not stand behind jacks or in line with tensioning elements and jacking equipment during tensioning operations of pre-stressed concrete girders or concrete beams; GC (f) building workers do not cut wires of pre-stressed concrete girders or beams under tension before such concrete used for such girders or beams is sufficiently hardened. 103. Vibrators:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that~ (a) a building worker, who is in good physical condition, operates vibrators used in concreting work; (b) all practical measures are taken to reduce the amount of vibration transmitted to the operator working in concreting work; (c) when electric vibrators are used in concreting work- 4) such vibrators shall be earthed; (ii) the leads of such vibrators shall be heavily insulated; and (iii) the current shall be switched off when such vibrators are not in use. 104. Inspection and supervision: The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) a person responsible for a concreting work supervises the erection of the formwork, shores, braces and other supports used for such conereting work; (b) a person responsible for concreting work makes a thorough inspection of every formwork after erection of such formwork in such concreting work to ensure that such formwork is safe; a person responsible for a concreting work regularly inspects the formwork, shores, braces, reshores and other supports during the placing of concrete; (c (d) any unsafe condition which is discovered during the inspections mentioned under clauses (b) and (c) is remedied immediately;R. 106] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 291 (c) a person responsible for a concreting work keeps all records of inspections referred to in clause (a) and clause (b) at the workplace relating to such inspection and produces them for inspection upon the demand of an Inspector having jurisdiction. 105. Beams, floors and roofs:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) horizontal and diagonal bracings are provided in both longitudinal and transverse directions as may be necessary to provide structural stability to formwork used in concreting work and shores used in such concreting work are properly seated top and bottom and are secured in their places; where shores used in concreting work rest upon the ground, base iS plates are provided for keeping such shores firm and in level; (c) where the floor to ceiling height of a concreting work exceeds nine metres or where the formwork deck used in such concreting work is supported by shores constructed in two or more tiers, or where the dead, live and impact loads on the formwork used in such conereting work exceed seven hundred kilogram per square metre, the structure of such formwork is designed by a professional engineer in the relevant field and the specifications and drawings of such formwork are kept at such construction site and produced on demand before the Inspector having jurisdiction; (a) where the structure of the formwork used in concreting work is designed by a professional engineer, such engineer shall be responsible for the supervision of construction and stability of such structure. 106. Stripping: The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a) Stripping of formwork used in concreting work commences until the concrete on such formwork is fully set, examined and certified to this effect by the responsible person and record of such examination and certification is maintained; (b) stripped forms in concreting work are removed or stock-piled promptly after stripping from all areas in which building workers are required to work or pass; (c) protruding nails, wire ties and other formwork accessories not required for subsequent concreting work are pulled, cut or otherwise made safe.292 _A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers . Rules [R. 110 107. Reshoring:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) reshoring used in concreting work is provided to a slab or beam for its safe support after its stripping or where such slab or beam is subjected to superimposed loads due to construction above such slab or beam; (b) the provisions applicable to shoring in a concreting work under this chapter shall also be applicable to reshoring in such work. CHAPTER XIL Demolition 108. Preparation:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that all glass or similar material or article in exterior openings are removed before commencing any demolition work and all water, steam, electric, gas and other similar supply lines are put-off and suitably capped and the concerned department of the appropriate Government or local authority is informed and permission obtained wherever required before commencing such demolition work and wherever it is necessary to maintain water, gas or electric line or power during such demolition, such line shall be so located or protected with substantial coverings so as to protect it from damage and to afford safety to the building workers and the general public. 109. Protection of adjacent structures:— The employer responsible for a demolition work at a construction site of a building or other construction work shall, during demolition process of such demolition work, examine the walls of all structures adjacent to the structure to be demolished to determine the thickness, method of support to such adjacent structures and in case, such employer has reason to believe that any of such adjacent structure is unsafe or may become unsafe during such demolition process, he shall not perform demolition activity affecting such unsafe adjacent structure unless and until remedial measures like sheet piling, shoring, bracing, or similar other means so as to ensure safety and stability to such unsafe adjacent structure from collapsing are taken. 110. Demolition of walls, partitions etc.:- The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that (a) any demolition of walls or partitions is proceeded in a systematic manner as per the standard safe operatiag practices and all work above each tier of any floor beams is completed before the safety of the support of such beam is impaired;R. 113] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 293 (b) masonry is neither loosened nor permitted to fall in such masses or volume or weight as to endanger the structural stability of any floor or structural support; (c) no wall, chimney or other structure or part of a structure is left unguarded in such a condition that it may fall, collapse or weaken due to wind pressure or vibration; (a) in the case of demolition of exterior walls by hand, safe footing is provided for the building workers employed for such demolition, in the form of sound flooring or scaffolds; (e) walls or partitions which are to be demolished by hand are not left standing more than one storey high above the uppermost floor on which persons are working. 111. Method of operation:— The employer shall ensure at a construction } site of a building or other construction work that debris, bricks and other | materials or articles are removed— (i) by means of chutes; (ii) by means of buckets or hoists; (iii) through openings in the floors; or (iv) by any other safe means. 112. Access to floor:- The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that safe access to and egress from every building is provided at all times in the course of demolition of such building by means of entrances, hallways, stairways or ladder runs which are so protected as to safeguard the building workers using such means from falling material or articles. 113. Demolition of structural steel:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) all steel structures are demolished column by column and tier by tier and every structural member which is being demolished is not under any stress and such structural member is suitably lashed to prevent it from any uncontrolled swinging or dropping or falling; (b) larger structural members are not thrown or dropped from the building but are carefully lowered by adopting suitable safe method; (c) where a lifting appliance like a derrick is used for demolition, the floor on which such lifting appliance rests is completely294 AP. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules [R. 117 planked over or supported and such floor is of adequate strength to sustain bearing load for such lifting appliance and its operation. 114. Storage of material or article:- The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) all materials or articles are not stored or kept on platform, floor, or stairways of a building being demolished: Provided that this clause shall not apply to the floor of a building when such floor is of such strength as to support safely the load to be superimposed by storing such materials or articles; (b) an access to any stairway or blocked by storing any material or article; (c) suitable barricades are provided so as to prevent materials or articles from sliding or rebounding into any space used by the building workers. 115. Floor openings:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that every opening used for the removal of debris from every floor which is not closed to access, except the top or working floor, is provided with an enclosure from such floor to its ceiling, or such opening is so barricaded that no building worker has access to within a horizontal distance of six metres from such opening through which debris is being dropped. 116. Inspection:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that a person responsible for demolition work makes continuous inspections during demolition process of such demolition work so as to detect any hazard resulting from weakened or deteriorated floors or walls or loosened materials or articles during such demolition process and that no building worker is permitted to work where such hazard exists unless remedial measures like shoring or bracing are taken to prevent such hazards. 117. Warning signs, barricades, ete.:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) barricades and warning signs are erected along every side throughout the length and breadth of a building or other construction work to be demolished to prevent unauthorised persons from entering into the site of such building or other construction work during demolition operations; (b) during the demolition of an exterior masonry wall or a roof from a point more than twelve metres above the adjoining ground levelR. 119] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules 295 of such wall or roof, if persons below such wall or roof are exposed to falling objects, suitable and safe catch platforms shall be provided and maintained at a level not more than six metres below the working level except where an exterior built-up scaffold is provided for safe and adequate protection of such persons; suitable and standard warning signs in accordance with national standards are displayed or erected at conspicuous places or position at the workplace. 118. Mechanical method of demolition:— ‘The employer shall ensure | at a construction site of a building or other construction work that the | following requirements are fulfilled in case the mechanical method of demolition like use of swinging weight, clamshell bucket, power shovel, bulldozer or other similar mechanical methods are used for the purpose of demolition, namely: (a) that the building or structure or remaining portion thereof shall be not more than twenty-four metres in height; (b) that where a swinging weight is used for demolition, a zone of such demolition having a radius of at least one and a half times the height of the structure or portion thereof being so demolished shall be maintained around the points of impact of such swinging weight; (c) where a clamshell bucket is being used for demolition, a zone of demolition shall be maintained within eight metres of the line of travel of such bucket; that where other mechanical methods are being used to affect total or partial collapse of a building or other construction work, there shall be maintained, in the area into which the affected portion of such building or other construction work may fall, a zone of demolition at least one and a half times the height of such affected portion thereof; and « (d. (e) no person other than building workers or other persons essential to the operation of demolition work shall be permitted to enter a zone of demolition referred to in clause (a) which shall be provided with substantial barricades. CHAPTER XIII Excavation and Tunnelling Works 119, Notification of intention to carry out excavation and tunnelling work:~ (1) Every employer carrying out any excavation or tunnelling work296 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules [R. 122 at a construction site of a building or other construction site of a building or other construction work shall, within thirty days, prior to the commencement of such excavation or tunnelling work, inform in writing the detailed layout plans, method of construction and schedule of such excavation or tunnelling work, to the Director General. (2) In case compressed air is used in such excavation or tunnelling work or any work incidental to or required for such excavation or tunnelling work, the technical details and drawings of all man-locks and medical locks, together with names and addresses of all construction medical officers having qualification as laid down in Schedule XI annexed to these rules and so appointed by such employer for the purpose of such excavation or tunnelling work shall be sent to the Director General. 120. Project Engincer:— (1) Every employer undertaking any excavation or tunnelling work shall appoint a project engineer for safe operation of such projects of such excavation or tunnelling work for which such engincer is appointed. (2) Such project engincer shall exercise overall control of the operations and the activities at such project and be responsible for carrying out the activities safely. 121. Responsible person:~ (1) Every employer undertaking excavation or tunnelling work at a construction site of a building or other construction work shall appoint a responsible person for safe operation for such excavation or tunnelling work. (2) Duties and responsibilities of the responsible person referred to in sub-rule (1) person shall include— (a) to carry out smoothly such excavation or tunnelling work; (b) to inspect and rectify any hazardous situation relating to such excavation or tunnelling work; (c) to take remedial measures to avoid any unsafe practice or conditions relating to such excavation or tunnelling work. (3) The name and address of the responsible person referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be forwarded to the Director General. 122. Warning signs and notices:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) suitable warning signs or notices, required for the safety of building workers carrying out the work of an excavation or tunnelling, shall be displayed or erected at conspicuous places in Hindi and in a language understood by the majority of such building workers at such excavation or tunnelling work;R. 125] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 297 (b) such warning signs and notices with regard to compressed air working shall include- (i) the danger involved in such compressed air work; (ii) fire and explosion hazards; (iii) the emergency procedures for rescue from such danger or hazards. 123. Register of employment ete.:— (1) Every employer shall ensure that at a construction site of a building or other construction work where an excavation or tunnelling work is being carried on, a register of employment of building workers carrying out such excavation or tunnelling work, is maintained and produced on demand to the Inspector having jurisdiction. (2) Periods of work of such excavation or tunnelling work, in which such building workers are employed, shall be maintained in a register on day-to-day basis and such register shall be produced on demand to the Inspector having jurisdiction. 124, IMumination:— (1) The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that all workplaces where excavation or tunnelling works are carried out shall be adequately illuminated in accordance with the relevant national standards. (2) Every employer carrying out excavation or tunnelling works at a construction site of a building or other construction work shall provide for emergency generators on such construction site to ensure adequate illumination at all workplaces where such excavation or tunnelling work is being carried out, in case of power failure. 125. Stability of structure:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that~ (a) where there is any doubt as to the stability of any structure adjoining the work-place or other areas to be excavated or where tunnelling work is to be carried out, the project engineer referred to in rule 120 arranges for measures like underpinning, sheet piling, shoring, bracing or other similar means to support such structure and to prevent injury to any building worker working adjacent to such structure or damage to property or equipment adjacent to such structure; (b) where any building worker engaged in excavation is exposed to hazard of falling or sliding material or article from any bank or side of such excavation which is more than one and a half metres above his footing, such worker is protected by adequate piling and bracing against such bank o1 side;298 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules [R. 127 (c) the excavation and its vicinity are checked by a responsible person referred to in rule 121 after every rain, storm or other occurrences carrying hazards and in case a hazard is noticed at such checking, adequate protection against slides and cave-in to prevent such hazard is provided; (d) temporary sheet piling installed for the construction of a retaining wall after excavation is not removed except on the advice of the responsible person referred to in rule 121 after an inspection carried out by such responsible person; (e) where banks of an excavation are undercut, adequate shoring is provided to support the material or article overhanging such bank; (f) excavated material is not stored at least zero point six five metres from the edge of an open excavation or trench and the banks of such excavation or trench are stripped of loose rocks and other materials which may slide, roll or fall upon a building worker working below such bank; (g) adequate and suitable warning signs are put-up at conspicuous places at the excavation work to avoid any person falling into the excavations or trenches; (h) the responsible person referred to in rule 121, ensures at the excavation work that no building worker is permitted to work where such building worker may be struck or endangered by the excavation machinery or material or article used in such excavation. 126. Piling, shoring and bracing:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a) plank used for sheet piling in excavation or tunnelling work is of sound material with adequate strength; (b) shores and braces used in excavation or tunnelling work are of adequate dimensions and are so placed as to be effective for their intended purposes; (c) earth supported shores or braces used in excavation or tunnelling work bear against a footing of sufficient area and stability to prevent the shifting of such shores or braces. 127. Safe access:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that ladders, stair cases or ramps are provided, as the case may be, for safe access to and egress from excavation where the depth of such excavation exceeds one point five metresR. 132] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 299 and such ladders stair cases or ramps comply with the relevant national standards. 128. Trenches:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that a trench or excavation is protected against falling of a person, by suitable measures if the depth of such trench or excavation exceeds one and a half metres and such protection is an improved protection in accordance with the design and drawing of a professional engineer, where such depth exceeds four metres. 129. Depth of trenches:- The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a) where the depth of a trench requires two lengths of sheet piling, one above the other, the lower piling is set inside the bottom strings or wales of the upper piling and such sheet piling is driven down and braced as the excavation continues; (b) all metal sheet piles used in excavation or a trench are welded end to end and secured by other similar means. 130. Positioning and use of machinery:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that any machinery used in excavation and tunnelling work is positioned and operated in such a way that such machinery does not endanger the operator of such machinery or any other person in the vicinity. 131. Breathing apparatus:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) suitable breathing apparatus is provided to a building worker while working in compressed air environment for his use at excavation or tunnelling work; and (b) such breathing apparatus is maintained in good working condition at all times. 132. Safety measures for tunnelling operation:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) where there is a danger of falling or sliding of material from the roof face or wall of a tunnel, adequate measures such as shoring, supporting by means of rock bolts, segments or steel sets are taken for the safety of building workers; (b) the excavated areas are made safe by use of suitably designed and installed steel sets, rock bolts or similar other safe means; (c) the responsible person referred to in rule 121 examines and inspects the workplaces in a tunnel before the commencement of300 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules IR. 136 work in such tunnel, and at regular intervals thereafter, to ensure safety of the building workers in such tunnel; (d) the portal areas of a tunnel with loose soil, or rock, likely to cause injury to a person are adequately protected with supports. 133. Pneumatic tools:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that supply lines to pneumatic tools used within a tunnel are fitted with watertrap or safety chain or safety wire, as the case may be. 134. Shafts:- The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) surroundings of a shaft used in excavation or tunnel work are protected from being washed away by construction of sufficient height; (b) where a building worker is required to enter a shaft at an excavation or tunnelling work, safe means of access is provided for such entry; (c) every shaft at excavation or tunnelling work is provided with a steel casing, concrete piping, timber shoring or other materials of adequate strength for the safety of building workers working in such shaft; (a) such casing and bracing are provided to a shaft at an excavation or tunnelling work upto the depth of such shaft at an excavation or tunnelling work according to the appropriate design for such casing and bracing; a reinforced concrete raft and beam is provided around the opening of a shaft at an excavation or tunnelling work if the ground surrounding such opening is unstable or unsafe. (e) 135. Lift for shaft:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that lift is provided for transport of building workers and materials or articles at an excavation or tunnelling work required to descend more than fifty metres in a shaft. 136. Means of communication:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) reliable and effective means of communication such as telephone or walkie-talkie are provided and are maintained in working order for arranging better and effective communication at an excavation or tunnelling work at the following locations, namely:R. 139] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 301 (i) working chamber at the face of an excavation; (ii) intervals of hundred metres along the tunnel; (iii) working chamber side of a man lock near the door of such man lock; (iv) interior of each chamber of a man lock; (vy) location conspicuous a lock attendant's station; (vi) a compressor plant; (vii) a first-aid station; and (viii) outside the portal or the top of a shaft. (b) such number of bells and whistles are made available at all times at the locations referred to in sub-clause (i) to sub-clause (viii) of clause (a) as are necessary for the safety of persons at such locations. 137. Signals:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that the standard audio or video signals are used in excavation or tunnelling work and are conspicuously located or displayed near entrance to the workplace and in such other locations as may be necessary to bring such signals to notice of all building workers employed in such excavation or tunnelling work. 138. Clearances:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that (a) the minimum lateral clearance of half a metre is maintained between any part of a vehicle and any fixture or any equipment used in an excavation or tunnelling work after allowing the throw cr swing of such fixture or equipment; (b) the overhead clearance for a locomotive drive at excavation or tunnelling work is not less than one point one zero metres above the seat of such driver and not less than two metres above the platform where such driver stands or of any other dimension in accordance with the relevant national standard. 139, Shelters:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that the adequate number of shelters for the safeguard of the building workers are provided where, in the course of working, they are liable to be struck by a moving vehicle or other material handling equipment in a tunnel.362 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules [R. 146 140. Use of internal combustion engine:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that no internal combustion engine is used underground in excavation or tunnelling work unless such engine is so constructed that— (a) the air entering the engine gets cleared before entry; and (b) no fumes or sparks are emitted by the engine. 141. Inflammable oils:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other constre-tion work that inflammable oils with the flash point below the working temperature that is likely to be encountered in a tunnel are not used in excavation or tunnelling work. 142. Coupling and hoses:— The employer shall ensure at‘a construction site of a building or other “construction work that only high pressure hydraulic hoses and couplings are used on hydraulic plants underground and such hoses and couplings are adequately protected against any possible damage in excavation or tunnelling work. 143. Hose installation:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that all hydraulic lines and plants working at a temperature exceeding seventy degree centigrade are protected by adequate insulation or otherwise against accidental human contact in excavation or tunnelling work. 144, Fire resistant hoses: The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that no fire hydraulic hoses other than fire resistant hydraulic hoses are used when hydraulically activated machinery and equipment is employed in tunnels. 145. Flame proof equipment:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that only flame proof equipment of appropriate type as per relevant national standards is used where there is a danger of flammable or explosive atmosphere being prevalent inside the tunnel. 146. Storing of oil and fuel underground:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a) all oils, greases or fuels stored underground in excavation or tunnelling work are kept in tightly sealed containers and in fire resistant areas at safe distances away from explosive and other flammable chemicals; (b) appropriate flame proof installation is used in such storage areas as specified in clause (a).R. 149] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules 303 147. Use of Gases underground:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a) petrol or liquefied petroleum gas or any other flammable substances are not used, stored inside the tunnel except with the prior approval of the project engineer under rule 120; (b) after the use of the petroleum or liquefied petroleum gas, or highly inflammable substances are removed immediately from such tunnel; (c) no oxy-acetylene gas is used in a compressed air environment in excavation or tunnelling work. 148, Water for fire-fighting: The employer. shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) adequate number of water outlets are provided on excavation or tunnelling work and are readily made accessible throughout the tunnel for fire-fighting purposes and such water outlets are maintained for effective fire-fighting; (b) all air locks are equipped with fire-fighting facilities at excavation or tunnelling work; an audible fire alarm is provided to warn the building workers whenever a fire breaks out on an excavation or tunnelling work; © (d) adequate number and types of fire extinguishers, in accordance with relevant national standards, are provided and made readily available to fight any outbreak of fire at an excavation or tunnelling work; fire extinguishers with vaporising liquids and high pressure carbon dioxide are not used in tunnels or other confined spaces; (e (f) the instructions regarding steps to be followed to fight outbreak of fire, at an excavation or tunnelling work, written in Hindi or local language understood by the majority of the building workers employed on such excavation or tunnelling work, are displayed at conspicuous and vulnerable places of such excavation or tunnelling work. 149. Flooding:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) watertight bulkhead doors are installed at the entrance of a tunnel to prevent flooding during a tunnelling work where more than ‘one tunnel is driven from a shaft;304 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules [R. 152 (b) all necessary measures are taken to ensure that no building worker is trapped in any isolated section of a tunnel when any bulkhead door of such tunnel is closed; (c) where there is likelihood of flooding or water rushing into a tunnel during a tunnelling work, arrangements are made for immediate starting of water pumps to take out water of such flooding or water rushing and for giving alert signals to the building workers and other persons to keep them away from danger. 150, Steel curtains:— The empivyer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that air tight steel curtains are provided in areas liable to flooding at tunnelling work and in case of descending tunnel such curtains are provided in the top half of such tunnels to ensure the retention of pockets of air for rescue purpose. 151. Rest shelters: The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) where building workers employed in a compressed air environment in a tunnelling work are required to remain at the work site for one hour or more after decompression from pressure exceeding one bar, adequate and suitable facilities are provided for such building workers to rest; (b) every man-lock, medical-lock and any other facility inside these locks at an excavation a tunnelling work i§ maintained in a clean state and in good repairs; a first-aid room is provided and is readily available at a construction site of a tunnelling work; © (d) each man-lock attendant station is provided with a first-aid box at a construction site of a tunnelling work. 152. Permissible limit of exposure of chemicals: The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) the working environment in a turinel or a shaft in which building workers are employed does not contain any of the hazardous substances in concentrations beyond the permissible limits as laid down in the Schedule XII annexed to these rules: (b) the responsible person referred to in rule 121 conducts necessary test before the commencement of a tunnelling work for the day and at suitable intervals as fixed by the Director General to ensure that the permissible limits of exposure ~re not exceeded and aR. 157] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 305 record of such test is maintained and is made available for inspection to the Inspector having jurisdiction, on demand. 153. Ventilation:— The employer shall ensure at a construction work that all working areas in a free air tunnel are provided with ventilation system as approved by the Director General and the fresh air supplied in such tunnel is not less than six cubic metres per minute for each building worker employed underground in such tunnel and the free-air-flow movement inside such tunnel is not less than nine metres per minute. 154. Air supply intake point:- The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that the air intake points for all air compressors are located at places where such intake air does not get contaminated with dust, fumes, vapour and exhaust gases or other contaminants. 155. Emergency generators:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) every compressed air system in a tunnel is provided with emergency power supply system for maintaining continued supply of compressed air in such compressed air system and is capable of operating air compressor and ancillary systems of such compressed air system; (b) the emergency power supply system is maintained and is readily available at all times at an excavation or tunnelling work. 156. Air mains:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that every air main supplying air to the working chamber, man-lock or medical-lock used at an excavation or tunnelling work is protected against accidental damage and where it is not practicable to provide such protection, a stand-by air main is provided. 157. Bulk head and air-locks:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) a bulk head or air tight diaphragms retaining compressed air, when used within a tunnel or a shaft, is constructed to withstand the maximum pressure at one point two five times the maximum working pressure of such bulk head or diaphragm and such bulk head or diaphragm is tested before its each use by a responsible person referred to in rule 121 to ensure that such bulk head or diaphragm is in proper working order; such responsible person keeps the record of each test referred to in clause (a) and such record is produced for inspection to the Inspector having jurisdiction on demand; o306 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules [R. 163 (c) the bulk head or diaphragm referred to in clause (a) are made of sound material of adequate strength and are able to withstand to maximum pressure on which they are subjected to at any time of their use; (d) a bulk head anchorage and air lock is tested at its workplace at an excavation or tunnelling work immediately after their installation at such place. 158. Diaphragms:— The employer shall ensure. at a construction site of a building or other construction work that all diaphragms which are in the form of horizontal decks across a shaft used at excavation or tunnelling work are securely anchored. 159. Portable electrical hand tools:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that all portable electrical hand tools and inspection lamps used underground or in a confined space at an excavation or tunnelling work are operated at a voltage not exceeding twenty-four volts. 160. Circuit breaker:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a) adequate number of differential ground fault circuit breakers are installed for every electrical distribution system and its sub-systems used at an excavation or tunnelling work and the sensitivity of each of circuit breaker is adjusted in accordance with the requirement set out in accordance with the relevaat national standards; (b) no semi-enclosed fuse unit is used in underground place at an excavation or tunnelling work. 161. Transformer:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that no transformer is used in any section of a tunnel under compressed air unless ‘such transformer is of the dry type and conforms to the relevant national standards. 162. Live wires: The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that there is no exposed live wire in working areas at an excavation or tunnelling work which are accessible to building workers other than those authorised to work on such live lines. 163. Welding sets:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that all welding sets used in a tunnel are of adequate capacity and of suitable type approved by Director General.R. 166] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules _ 307 164. Quality and quantity of air: The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) every working chamber at an excavation or tunnelling work where compressed air is used, the supply of such air is maintained not less than zero point three cubic metres per minute per person working therein; (b) a reserve supply of compressed air is made available at all times for man-locks and medical locks used at a tunnelling work; the air supplied in a compressed air environment at a tunnelling work is as far as practicable free from odour and other contaminants, namely, dust, fumes and other toxic substances. 165. Working temperature:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that the temperature in any working chamber at an excavation or tunnelling work where building workers are employed does not exceed twenty-nine degree centigrade and that the arrangement is maintained for keeping records in which the temperatures measured by dry bulb and wet bulb inside such working chamber once in every hour and to produce such records for inspection on demand to the Inspector having jurisdiction. 166. Man-locks and working in compressed air environment:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) man-locks used at a tunnelling work are of adequate strength, made of sound material and designed to withstand any air pressure, internal or external, to which it may be subjected to in the normal use or in an emergency; (b) (i) doors of man-locks at an excavation or tunnelling work are made of steel; (ii) man-locks used at a tunnelling work are airtight and devices are provided for sealing the doors when such locks are under pressure; (iii) the anchorage of a man-lock used at tunnelling work have adequate strength to withstand the pressure exerted by air ‘on the man-lock; (iv) there is adequate room available for the building worker for working in the man-lock used at tunnelling work; (c (v) where work is carried out in any compressed air tunnel, a man-lock in accordance with the relevant national standards is used for such tunnel;308 _A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ...’ Rules [R. 166 (c) (i) where a man-lock is used at tunnelling work, safety instructions in Hindi and in local language understood by majority of building workers employed therein are displaced at conspicuous place at such tunnelling work; (ii) except in an emergency, compression and decompression operations are carried out in a man-lock used at tunnelling work; (iii) in an emergency any material lock may be used at tunnelling work for compression and decompression of building worker and a record is kept in writing and produced for inspection on demand to the Inspector having jurisdiction; (iy). material-lock is used with the permission of Director General for compression and decompression of building workers, where it is impracticable to install both the man-lock and the material-lock at a tunnelling work; (v) decompression of all building workers to atmospheric condition at tunnelling work is carried out in accordance with a decompression procedure approved by the Director General; (vi) the man-lock at tunnelling work is not used for any purpose other than compression or decompression procedure approved by the Director General; (vii) no decanting of building workers at tunnelling work is carried out without prior approval of Director General, except in an emergency; (viii) in case a building worker collapses or is taken ill during his decompression in a man-lock used at tunnelling work, the lock attendant of such man-lock raises the pressure in such man-lock until such pressure is equal to the maximum pressure which that building worker was exposed to in the working chamber prior to such decompression and such lock attendant immediately reports the matter relating to such collapse to the medical lock attendant and medical officer on duty at such tunnelling work; (ix) a building worker who had previously received training with a trained building worker to work in a compressed air environment at tunnelling work is employed to work independently in such a compressed air environment;R. 166] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 309 (x) a building worker who had undergone three decompressions from a pressure exceeding one bar in a period of eight hours at tunnelling work is not allowed to enter a compressed air environment except for the purpose of carrying out rescue work; (xi) a building worker employed in a compressed air environment for a period of eight hours in a day at tunnelling work is not employed again in such environment unless he has spent not less than twelve consecutive hours of rest at atmospheric pressure; (xii) no building worker is engaged in a compressed air environment at a pressure which exceeds three bars at tunnelling work unless prior permission, in writing, has been obtained from the Director General for such engagement; (xiii) no building worker is employed in a compressed air environment for more than fourteen consecutive days in a month at tunnelling work; (xiv) a register of employment of all building workers employed in compressed air environment at tunnelling work, is maintained; (xv) an identification badge is supplied to a building worker employed in compressed air environment at tunnelling work; (xvi) the badge of a building worker referred to in sub-clause (xv) contains particulars of his name, location of the medical lock allotted to him for work, the telephone number of the Construction Medical Officer concerned for his treatment and the instructions in case of his illness of unknown and doubtful causes; (xvii) record of all identification badges supplied to building workers under sub-clause (xvi), is kept in a register; (xviii) every building worker whose name appears in the register referred to in sub-clause (xvii) wears the badge supplied to him under sub-clause (xv) at all times during his duty hours at tunnelling work; (xix) suitable warning signs are displayed, in the compressed air environment at tunnelling work, for the prohibition of following, namely:—310 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules [R. 170 (a) use of alcoholic drinks; (b) use and carrying of lighters, matches or other sources of ignition; (c) smoking; and (d) an entry to person who has consumed alcoholic drinks. 167. Safety instruction:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that all building workers employed in compressed air environment at tunnelling work follow the instructions issued for their safety in the course of such employment. 168. Medical lock:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a) a suitably constructed medical lock is maintained at tunnelling work where building workers are employed in a working chamber at a pressure exceeding one bar; (b) where more than one hundred building workers are employed in a compressed air working environment exceeding one bar at tunnelling work, one medical lock is provided for every one hundred building workers or part thereof and such medical lock is situated as near as possible to the main lock used at such tunnelling work. ‘HAPTER XIV Construction, Repair and Maintenance of Steep Roof 169, Work on steep roofs:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that all practicable measures are provided to protect the building workers against sliding when carrying out work on steep roofs. 170. Construction and installation of roofing brackets:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) roofing brackets are constructed to fit the pitch of steep roof and such brackets are used to ‘provide level worting platform; (b) a roofing bracket referred to in clause (a) is secured in its place by nailing pointed metal projections attached to the underside of such bracket and securely driven into a steep roof on which it is used or secured by a rope passed over the ridge pole and tie of such roof.R. 172] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules 311 171. Crawling boards:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) all crawling boards used for work on steep roofs are of adequate strength, made of sound material and of the type approved for the purpose of their use as per relevant national standards; (b) crawling board referred to in clause (a) are kept in good repairs and inspected by a responsible person before being taken into use; (c) crawling board referred to in clause (a) is secured to a steep roof on which it is used by ridge hooks or other effective means; (a) a firmly fastened lifeline of adequate strength is strung beside each crawling board referred to in clause (a) throughout its length while using such crawling boards. CHAPTER XV Ladders and Step-Ladders 172. Construction and safe use:- The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) every ladder or step-ladder used in building or other construction work is of good construction, made of sound material and of adequate strength for the purpose for which such ladder or step- ladder is used; when a ladder is used as a means of communication, such ladder is lashed to a fixed structure so that while working on such ladder it does not slip; (c) a ladder or step-ladder does not stand on loose bricks or other loose packing and has a level and firm footing; © (a) where it is required, in case of use of fixed ladders, sufficient foot-hold and hand-hold are provided for use by the building worker; (e) every ladder is~ (i) secured so as to prevent undue swaying; (ii) equally and properly supported on each of its upright; (iii) so used as not to cause undue sagging; and (iv) placed as nearly as possible at an inclination of four in one; (f) the use of all ladders and step-ladders conform to the relevant national standards for their use.312 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules [R. 177 173. Rungs:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that no ladder is used which has a missing or defective rung or a rung which depends for its support solely on nails, spikes or other similar fixing. 174. Materials for ladders:- The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that all wooden ladders used in building work~ (a) are constructed upright of adequate strength and are made of straight-grained wood, free from defects and having the grain of such wood running lengthwise; (b) have rungs made of straight-grained wood free from defects and mortised or securely notched into the upright; and (c) have reinforcing metal ties, if the tenons of such ladders are not secured by wedges. CHAPTER XVI Catch Platform and Hoardings, Chutes, Safety Belts and Nets 175. Catch platforms:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) catch platform is not used for storage of material or as a working platform; (b) catch platform is at least two metres wide and is inclined so that the position of outer edge of such platform is fifteen hundred millimetres higher than the inner edge; (c) the open end of catch platform is properly fenced to the height not less than one metre. 176. Hoardings:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that hoardings are constructed when the Director General considers it necessary for protection of building workers and directs such employer to construct such hoardings. 177. Chutes, its construction and use:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) wooden or metal chutes which are at an angle of more than forty- five degrees to the horizontal and used for the removal of materials are closed on all sides except at their openings used for receiving or discharging of materials or articles;R. 179] A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' ... Rules 313 (b) all openings of chutes except their top openings are closed when not in use; (c) every chute— (i) is constructed of sound material, adequate strength and is suitable for the purpose it is intended for use; (ii) exceeding twelve metres in height is constructed in accordance with the design and drawings of a professional engineer for such construction and approval of the Director General; (d) a suitable warning notice is displayed at conspicuous location, written in Hindi, and in a local language, at the discharge end of every chute; (e) every chute is cleared when debris has accumulated to a height which can pose danger to building worker but such clearance is done in no case less frequently than once a day. 178. Safety belt and its use: The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) safety belt, lifelines and devices for the attachment of such lifelines conform to the relevant national standards; every building worker is supplied with safety belt and safety lifelines for his protection and such building worker uses such belts and lifelines during the performance of his work; all building workers using safety belts and safety lifelines have the knowledge of safe use and maintenance of such belts and lifelines and are supplied with necessary instructions; 0) (d) the responsible person for supervising the use of safety belts and safety lifelines referred to in clause (b) inspects and ensures that such safety belts and lifelines are fit for use before taken into use at every time. 179. Safety net and its use: The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) every safety net is of adequate strength, made of sound material and is suitable for use and conforms to the relevant national standards; (b) the responsible person for maintenance of safety nets and their use ensures safe fixing of such safety nets and provides such safety nets with suitable and sufficient anchorage so that the purposes for which such safety net is intended for use, is served.314 A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers' Rules [R. 183 180. Storage of safety belts and nets, etc.:- The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that proper arrangement is made for the safe storage of safety belts, safety lifelines and safety nets when they are not in use and are protected against mechanical damage, damages from chemicals and damages from biological agents. CHAPTER XVII Structural Frame and Form work 181. General provision:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— . (a) the trained building worker under the direct supervision of a person, responsible for structural frame and formwork, are employed for erection of such structural frame or formwork, dismantling of building and structure and performance of an engineering work, formwork, false work and shoring work; (b) adequate measures are taken to guard against hazards arising from any temporary state of weakness or unsuitability of a structure. 182. Form work, false work and shoring:~ The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) form work and false work are so designed, constructed and maintained that such form work and false work support the load that may be imposed on them; (b) such form work is so erected that working platform, means of access, bracing, means of handling and stabilising could easily be fixed with such form work. 183. Erection of dismantling of steel and prefabricated structure:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) the safety of building workers employed for the erection or dismantling of steel structures and prefabricated structures is ensured from danger by using appropriate means such as the following, namely: (®) ladder, gangways or fixed platforms; (ii) platforms, buckets, boatswain's chair or other appropriate means suspended from lifting appliances; (iii) safety harness, lifelines, catch net or catch platform; (iv) power-operated mobile working platform.R. 183] _A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules 315 (b) the work of erection or dismantling of buildings or structures or form work or false work or shoring or any other civil engineering work is carried out by trained building workers under the supervision of a person responsible for such work; (c) steel or prefabricated structures are so designed and made that such structures can be safely transported or erected; and weight of each unit of such structures is clearly marked on such unit; (d) the design of each such part maintains stability of each part of the structures referred to in clause (a), clause (b) and clause (c), when erected, and to prevent danger, the design shall explicitly take into account- (i) the relevant conditions and methods of attachment in the operations of stripping, transport, storing and temporary support during erection of such parts; and (ii) safeguards, such as provision of railings with working platforms, and for mounting such railings and platforms easily on the structural steel or prefabricated parts; (e) the hooks and other devices built in or provided on the structural steel or prefabricated parts that are required for lifting and transporting such parts are so shaped, dimensioned and positioned to withstand the stresses to which such hooks or other devices are subjected; (f) prerabricated parts made of concrete are not stripped or erected before such concrete has set and hardened sufficiently to the extent Provided for in the plans, and such parts are examined by the responsible person for any sign of damage before their use: (g) store places are so constructed that— (i) there is no risk of structural steel or prefabricated parts falling or overturning; (ii) storage conditions generally ensure stability and avoid damage having regard to the method of storage and atmospheric conditions; and (iii) racks are set on firm ground and designed so that units cannot move accidentally in such store places; (h) structural steel or prefabricated parts are not subjected to stresses Prejudicial to their stability while they are stored or transported or raised or set down;316 _A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules [R. 184 (i) tongs, clamps and other appliances for lifting structural steel and prefabricated parts are- (a) in such shape and dimensions as to ensure a secure grip without damaging such parts; and (b) marked with the maximum permissible load in the most unfavourable lifting conditions; Gj) structural steel or prefabricated parts are lifted by such methods and appliances that prevent them from spinning accidentally; (k) structural steel or prefabricated parts are provided with railings and working platforms before raising such parts to prevent any danger of falling of building workers, materials or articles at the time of any work with such parts; () all reasonably practical measures are taken to avoid injury to building workers, building structure or equipment while structural steel or prefabricated parts are handled or stored or transported or raised or lowered; structures are not worked on during violent storms or high winds or any other such hazardous situation; the risk of falling to which building workers, moving on high or sloping girders, may be exposed is limited by all means of adequate collective protection or by the use of a safety harness which is well secured to a sufficiently strong support; fea) (a) (0) structural steel parts which are to be erected at a great height are, as far as practicable, assembled on the ground; (p) when structural steel or prefabricated parts are being erected, a sufficiently extended area underneath the workplace shall be barricaded or guarded; (q) steel trusses which are being erected are adequately shored, braced or guyed until they are permanently secured in position; (©) structural members are not forced into place by the hoisting machine while any building worker is in such a position that he is likely to be injured by such operation. 184. Form work:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) all form works are properly designed keeping in view the safety of building workers, building or structures;R. 186] _A.P. Bldg. & other Construction Workers’ ... Rules 317 a responsible person for structural frame and form work— Pp (i) inspects and examines the material, timber, structural steel and scaffolding for its strength and suitability before being taken into use; (ii) lays down procedures to cover all stages of such structural frame and form work; (ii) supervises such structural frame and form work: » (iv) take all necessary steps or measures to correct any situation with a view to prevent accident or dangerous occurrence during performances of such structural frame and form work. 185. Deshoring:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that- (a) when shoring is removed, sufficient props are left in place of such shoring to prevent any possible hazard; and (b) deshoring is adequately braced or tied together with support to prevent any hazard. CHAPTER XVIII Stacking and Unstacking 186. Stacking and unstacking of materials and articles:— The employer shall ensure at a construction site of a building or other construction work that— (a) where stacking, unstatking, stowing or unstowing of construction material or article, or handling in connection therewith cannot be safely carried out unaided, reasonable measures to guard against accident or dangerous occurrences are taken by shoring or otherwise to prevent any danger likely to be caused by such handling, (b) stacking of material or article is made on firm foundation not liable to settle and deviate such material or article and does not overload the floor on which such stacking is made; (c) the materials or articles, are not stacked against partition or walls of a warehouse or store place unless it is known that such partition or the wall is of sufficient strength to withstand the pressure of such materials or articles; (a) the materials or articles are not stacked to such a height and in such a manner as would render the pile of such stack unstable and cause hazards to the building workers or the public in general;