Committee Reports::Reports and Proceedings - Factories Bill, 1954 ::03 February, 1955::Proceedings of the Joint Committee

IMEACHTA AN CHOISTE SPEISIALTA.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

Déardaoin, 3 Feabhra, 1955.

Thursday, 3rd February, 1955.

1. Chruinnigh an Coiste ar 2 p.m.


2. Comhaltaí i Láthair.


Bhí na comhaltaí seo a leanas i láthair:—


An Teachta O Cadhain (i gCeannas), An tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála, na Teachtaí de Béalatún, Ó Donnagáin, Hilliard, S. Ó Lorcáin, Leimeas, Bean Uí Loingsigh, T. Ó Loingsigh agus Mag Raith.


3. Breithniú an Bhille.


D’athchrom an Coiste ar an mBille a bhreithniú.


(i) Alt nua.


Tairgeadh leasú (An tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála):


“Before section 31 to insert a new section as follows:—


‘31.—(1) A person shall not work at any machine to which this subsection applies unless he has been fully instructed as to the dangers arising in connection therewith and the precautions to be observed, and—


(a) has received a sufficient training in work at the machine, or


(b) is under adequate supervision by a person who has a thorough knowledge and experience of the machine.


(2) Subsection (1) of this section applies to such machines as may be specified in regulations made by the Minister, being machines which in his opinion are of such a dangerous character that persons ought not to work at them unless the requirements of subsection (1) of this section are complied with.


(3) In this section—


“machine” includes any steam boiler, steam receiver or air receiver;


any reference to working at a machine shall—


(a) in the case of a steam boiler, be construed as including a reference to working in connection with the generation of steam from that boiler,


(b) in the case of a steam receiver, be construed as including a reference to working in connection with the use of steam in that receiver, and


(c) in the case of an air receiver, be construed as including a reference to working in connection with the use of compressed air in that receiver.’”


Cuireadh agus d’aontaíodh an Cheist:— “Go gcuirfear an t-alt nua isteach ansin.”


(ii) Scriosadh alt 31.


(iii) Alt 32.


Tairgeadh leasú (An Teachta S. Ó Lorcáin):


“Before subsection (8) to insert a new subsection as follows:—


‘(8) Where a hoist or lift is not intended for carrying persons and does not comply with the provisions of the preceding subsection it shall be an offence under this Act to permit a person or persons to be so carried in such hoist or lift.’”


Tarraingíodh siar an leasú, faoi chead.


D’aontaíodh an t-alt.


(iv) D’aontaíodh alt 33.


(v) Alt 34.


Tairgeadh leasú (An Teachta S. Ó Lorcáin):


“Before subsection (8) to insert a new subsection as follows:—


‘(8) It shall be an offence under this Act to permit any person or persons to be carried or lifted by a lifting machine.’”


Tarraingíodh siar an leasú, faoi chead.


D’aontaíodh an t-alt.


(vi) D’aontaíodh ailt 35 go 38 go huile.


(vii) Alt 39.


Tairgeadh leasú (An tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála):


“In subsection (1), page 25, line 20, to delete ‘in pounds per square inch’.”


D’aontaíodh an leasú.


D’aontaíodh an t-alt, mar a leasaíodh.


(viii) Alt 40.


Tairgeadh leasú (An tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála):


“In subsection (1), page 27, lines 60 and 61, to delete ‘in pounds per square inch’”.


D’aontaíodh an leasú.


Tairgeadh leasú (An tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála):


“In subsection (8), page 28, line 33, to delete ‘section’ and substitute ‘Part of this Act’”.


D’aontaíodh an leasú.


D’aontaíodh an t-alt, mar a leasaíodh.


(ix) Alt 41.


Tairgeadh leasú (An tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála):


“In subsection (1), page 29, line 5, to delete ‘in pounds per square inch’.”


D’aontaíodh an leasú


Tairgeadh leasú (An tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála):


“In subsection (8), page 29, line 43, to delete ‘section’ and substitute ‘Part of this Act’.”


D’aontaíodh an leasú.


D’aontaíodh an t-alt, mar a leasaíodh.


(x) D’aontaíodh alt 42.


(xi) Alt 43.


Tairgeadh leasú (An Teachta S. Ó Lorcáin):


“In subsection (3), line 15, before ‘at’ to insert ‘within two years of the coming into operation of this Act and thereafter’.”


Tarraingíodh siar an leasú, faoi chead.


Tairgeadh leasú (An tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála):


“In subsection (3), page 30, line 15, to insert ‘and also, in the case of a gasholder in use at the commencement of this section, at least once during the period of two years from such commencement,’ before ‘be’.”


D’aontaíodh an leasú.


D’aontaíodh an t-alt, mar a leasaíodh.


(xii) Alt 44.


Tairgeadh leasú (An Teachta S. Ó Lorcáin):


“In subsection (2), line 49, to delete ‘five’ and substitute ‘ten’.”


D’aontaíodh an leasú.


Tairgeadh leasú (An Teachta S. Ó Lorcáin):


“In subsection (18), paragraph (a), line 6, to delete ‘twenty’ and substitute ‘five’.”


Tarraingíodh siar an leasú, faoi chead.


Tairgeadh leasú (An tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála):


“In subsection (18), page 33, lines 10 and 15, to delete ‘ten’ and substitute ‘five’”.


D’aontaíodh an leasú.


D’aontaíodh an t-alt mar a leasaíodh.


(xiii) D’aontaíodh ailt 45 go 50 go huile.


(xiv) Alt 51.


Tairgeadh leasú (An tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála):


“Before subsection (3), to insert a new subsection as follows:—


‘(3) In subsection (2) of this section “suitable vessels” does not include open barrels, pails, tanks or other containers from which the water must be obtained by dipping or pouring, whether they are fitted with covers or not.’”


D’aontaíodh an leasú.


D’aontaíodh an t-alt, mar a leasaíodh.


(xv) Alt 52.


Tairgeadh leasú (An Teachta S. Ó Lorcáin):


“To delete subsection (3), lines 40 to 47.”


Tarraingíodh siar an leasú, faoi chead.


Tairgeadh leasú (An Teachta S. Ó Lorcáin):


“To add to the section a new subsection as follows:—


‘(4) The use of common towels shall be prohibited, and where towels are provided they shall be individual cloth towels or paper towels.’”


Tarraingíodh siar an leasú, faoi chead.


D’aontaíodh an t-alt.


(xvi) Alt 53.


Tairgeadh leasú (An Teachta S. Ó Lorcáin):


“In subsection (1), line 49, before ‘adequate’ to insert ‘in rooms separate from the workrooms’.”


Tarraingíodh siar an leasú, faoi chead.


Tairgeadh leasú (An Teachta S. Ó Lorcáin):


“To add to the section two new subsections as follows:—


‘(4) Separate accommodation shall be made available for all persons whose working clothes are exposed to contamination with poisonous, infectious, irritating or radioactive substances. Such accommodation shall be provided with well separated facilities for street and working clothes.


(5) Rooms in which accommodation for clothing is provided shall contain individual lockers of adequate size and with adequate ventilation for clothing taken off during working hours, and benches or other suitable seating arrangements. Such rooms and lockers shall be kept in a clean state and suitable arrangements made for their periodical disinfection.’”


Tarraingíodh siar an leasú, faoi chead.


D’aontaíodh an t-alt.


(xvii) Alt 54.


Tairgeadh leasú (An tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála):


“To add to the section a new subsection as follows:—


‘(2) The Minister may, by regulations, prescribe a standard of suitable facilities for sitting for factories or any class or description of factory or parts thereof, or for any process.’”


D’aontaíodh an leasú.


D’aontaíodh an t-alt, mar a leasaíodh.


(xviii) Alt 55.


Tairgeadh leasú (An Teachta S. Ó Lorcáin):


“Before subsection (5) to insert a new subsection as follows:—


‘(5) The contents of each first aid box or cupboard shall be inspected at least once in every week, and if necessary replenished after each occasion of use. Every first aid box or cupboard shall contain simple and readily understandable instructions to be followed in emergencies, and such instructions shall be kept legible and clear.’”


Tarraingíodh siar an leasú, faoi chead.


D’aontaíodh an t-alt.


(xix) Ailt nua.


Tairgeadh leasú (An Teachta S. Ó Lorcáin):


“Before section 56 to insert a new section as follows:—


‘The Minister may, by regulation, prescribe as respects any class or description of factory or as respects the persons employed on any process, a standard of suitable protective clothing and clothing of such standard shall be provided by the occupier of that particular class or description of factory or by the employer of persons employed on such process without charge to the employee. The regulations may also prescribe for the maintenance of such protective clothing in a proper condition and for its renewal when necessary.’”


Tarraingíodh siar an leasú, faoi chead.


Tairgeadh leasú (An Teachta S. Ó Lorcáin):


“Before section 56 to insert a new section as follows:—


‘(1) In all factories a room, where meals may be taken, shall be provided which shall be adequate for that purpose. Such room shall be completely separate from the workroom and reserved exclusively for the purpose of taking meals.


(2) Covered receptacles shall be provided for disposing of waste food and refuse, and such receptacles shall be emptied at least once each day.


(3) Where required, suitable and adequate facilities for preparing or heating meals, including the heating of water, shall be provided in such room or convenient to it.’”


Tarraingíodh siar an leasú, faoi chead


(xx) Alt 56.


Tairgeadh leasú (An Teachta S. Ó Lorcáin):


“In subsection (1), to delete all words from and including ‘owing’ in line 46, down to and including ‘on’ in line 48.”


D’aontaíodh an leasú.


D’aontaíodh an t-alt, mar a leasaíodh.


(xxi) D’aontaíodh Alt 57.


(xxii) Alt 58.


Tairgeadh leasú (An tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála):


“In subsection (1), page 39, line 12, to insert ‘or a process is carried on which gives rise to siliceous dust or asbestos dust,’ before ‘a person’.”


D’aontaíodh an leasú.


Tairgeadh leasú (An tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála):


“In subsection (1), page 39, lines 15 and 16, to delete ‘other than intervals allowed in the course of a spell of continuous employment’.”


D’aontaíodh an leasú.


Tairgeadh leasú (An tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála):


“To delete subsection (2).”


D’aontaíodh an leasú.


D’aontaíodh an t-alt, mar a leasaíodh.


(xxiii) D’aontaíodh ailt 59 go 63 go huile.


(xxiv) Alt 64.


Tairgeadh leasú (An tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála):


“Before subsection (2) to insert the following subsections:—


‘(2) Where, as respects any basement bakehouse, the Minister is satisfied—


(a) that it was in use as a bakehouse on the 7th day of July, 1954, and


(b) that it is suitable for use as a bakehouse as regards construction, height, light, ventilation, hygiene and means of escape in case of fire,


the Minister may by certificate, exempt such basement bakehouse from subsection (1) of this section.


(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a certificate issued under subsection (2) of this section shall be for a specified period not exceeding five years, but such certificate may be renewed.’”


D’aontaíodh an leasú.


D’aontaíodh an t-alt, mar a leasaíodh.


(xxv) D’aontaíodh alt 65.


(xxvi) Alt 66.


Tairgeadh leasú (An tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála):


“In subsection (1), page 42, line 16, to delete ‘young’.”


D’aontaíodh an leasú.


D’aontaíodh an t-alt, mar a leasaíodh.


(xxvii) D’aontaíodh ailt 67, 68 agus 69.


(xxviii) Alt 70.


Tairgeadh leasú (An Teachta S. Ó Lorcáin):


“In subsection (1), line 53, to delete ‘bodily’.”


Tarraingíodh siar an leasú, faoi chead.


D’aontaíodh an t-alt.


(xxix) D’aontaíodh alt 71.


(xxx) Alt nua.


Tairgeadh leasú (An tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála):


“Before section 72 (but in Part V) to insert a new section as follows:—


‘72—Where the persons employed in a factory have selected from among themselves a committee (in this section referred to as the Safety Committee) for the purpose of giving advice and assistance relating to the safety and health of the persons employed, the following provisions shall have effect:


(a) the Safety Committee may request the occupier of the factory to make an entry in the general register noting—


(i) the establishment of the Safety Committee, and


(ii) if the Safety Committee has nominated one of its members to be the Safety Delegate for the purposes of this section, the name of the Safety Delegate,


(b) the occupier shall consider any representations made to him by the Safety Committee on matters affecting the safety and health of the persons employed,


(c) an inspector shall consider any representations made to him by the Safety Delegate,


(d) an inspector shall be entitled, should he so wish, to have the Safety Delegate accompany him on his tour of inspection of the factory or any part of such tour.’”


Tairgeadh leasú ar an alt nua a bhí tairgthe (An Teachta Leimeas):


“In lines 3 and 4, to delete ‘giving advice and assistance’ and substitute ‘assisting the occupier in securing compliance by persons employed in the factory with the provisions of this Act’.”


Tharla Díospóireacht.


Cuireadh breithniú breise ar an mBille ar athló.


4. Athlá.


Chuaigh an Coiste ar athló ar 4.50 p.m. go dtí 10.30 a.m. Dé hAoine, 11 Feabhra, 1955.