Ordinance on Prevention of Anoxia, etc.

(Working Environment Measurement, etc.)

Article 3.   For the workplace designated in item 9 of Article 21 of Cabinet Order, the employer shall measure the concentration of the oxygen in the air before having the workers start the day's work, providing that the concentrations of both the oxygen and hydrogen sulfide shall be measured for workplaces where class-2 hazardous work of oxygen deficiency is to be carried out.

2.   When the employer has made the measurements of the oxygen concentrations in the air provided for by the preceding paragraph, he shall make a record of the items given below, every time the said measurements have been made, and shall keep the recorded results of the said measurements in custody for a period of three years.

(1)   Date and time of the measurements.

(2)   Method of measurement.

(3)   Places at which the said measurements were carried out.

(4)   Conditions of measurements.

(5)   Results of the measurements.

(6)   Name of the measurer.

(7)   Outline of the measures taken for prevention of anoxia based on the results of the measurements.

(Measuring Instruments)

Article 4.   When the employer has workers engage in hazardous work of oxygen-deficiency, he shall provide the instruments necessary for measurement of oxygen concentration in the air stipulated in Paragraph 1 of the proceding Article, or shall take measures for enabling the workers to easily make use of said instruments.

(Ventilation)

Article 5.  The employer whose workers engage in hazardous work of oxygen deficiency shall keep the concentration of oxygen in the air at least at 18% or more in the workplace (the concentration of the oxygen shall be 18% or more, and the concentration of the hydrogen sulfide, less than 10 ppm in the case of class-2 hazardous work of oxygen deficiency) by installing an appropriate ventilating system except in cases where a ventilating system cannot be installed in order to prevent explosion or oxidization, etc., and where it is extremely difficult to install a ventilating system due to the nature of the work to be carried out.

2.   The employer shall not be allowed to use pure oxygen while the workplace is ventilated conforming to the provision of the preceding paragraph.

(Use, etc., of Protective Equipment)

Article 5-2.  In the case designated in the conditional clause of paragraph 1 of the preceding Article, the employer shall provide air respirators, etc., (air respirators, oxygen respirators or air-supplied respirators; the same applies hereinafter) in a number equal to or more than the number of the workers to engage in the same work at the time for use of the workers.

2.   In engaging in the work set forth in the preceding paragraph, the workers shall use the air respirators, etc., if directed to do so by the employer.

(Safety Belts, etc.)

Article 6.  The employer whose workers engage in hazardous work of oxygen deficiency in which workers could fall due to anoxia shall have the workers wear safety belts (the safety belts designated in item 40, Article 13 of the Cabinet Order) and other life lines (hereinafter referred to as "safety belts, etc.")

2.   In the cases as mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the employer shall provide facilities to enable the said workers to attach the said safety belts, etc., safely and properly.

(Check of Personal Protective Equipment)

Article 7.  The employer who is to have its workers equipped with air respirators, etc., conforming to the provision of paragraph 1 of Article 5-2 or the safety belts, etc., conforming to the provision of paragraph 1 of the preceding Article engage in hazardous work of oxygen deficiency shall check the condition of the said air respirators, etc., or the said safety belts, etc., and the equipment set forth in paragraph 2 of the preceding Article before starting the day's work and repair or replace them immediately if defective.

(Checkup on Number of Workers Concerned)

Article 8.  When the employer has workers engage in hazardous work in oxygen-deficient air, he shall make a checkup of the number of workers when he makes the said workers enter into or go out of the place at which the said work is carried out.

(Prohibition of Entrance)

Article 9.  When the employer has workers engage in the said work in oxygen-deficient places or in the vicinity of the said places, he shall prohibit workers other than those who engage in the hazardous work in oxygen-deficient air from entering into the said oxygen-deficient places, and shall put up a notice to that effect at a conspicuous place.

2.   The workers other than those who engage in the hazardous work of oxygen deficiency shall not be allowed to enter the entry-prohibited place designated in the provision of the preceding article at their own discretion.

3.   The hazardous places of oxygen deficiency provided for by the preceding paragraph shall not be subject to the application of the provision of item 4 of paragraph 1 of Article 585 of the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (the Ministry of Labour Ordinance No. 32. 1972, and hereafter called "Safety and Health Ordinance") (restricted to the portion relating to oxygen concentration and hydrogen sulfide concentration in the air).

(Communications)

Article 10.   The employer whose workers engage in hazardous work of oxygen deficiency in any place adjacent to a workplace which may induce oxygen-deficiency, shall provide the means of communication between such workplaces.

(Operation Chiefs)

Article 11.   For class-1 hazardous work of oxygen deficiency, the employer shall select an operation chief for hazardous work of oxygen deficiency from among those who have finished the skill training course for class-1 or class-2 operation chief for hazardous work of oxygen deficiency, and, for class-2 hazardous work of oxygen deficiency, from among those who have finished the skill training course for class-2 operation chief for hazardous work of oxygen deficiency.

(1)   Decide working methods and supervise the workers to prevent the workers from engaging in the said work from inhaling air deficient in oxygen.

(2)   Measure the concentration of the oxygen in the air at the workplace before starting the day's work; when the workers resume their work after once leaving the workplace; and when any abnormality has been detected with the physical condition of the workers, ventilating system, etc.

(3)   Check measuring instruments, ventilating equipment, air respirators, etc., to prevent the workers from suffering from anoxia.

(4)   Supervise the conditions under which the air respirators, etc., are being used.

3.   The provision of the preceding paragraph shall be applicable with necessary modification to operation chiefs for class-2 hazardous work of oxygen deficiency, providing that "oxygen deficiency" in item 1 of the said paragraph shall be read as "oxygen deficiency, etc."; "oxygen" in item 2 of the said paragraph as "oxygen and hydrogen sulfide"; and "anoxia" in item 3 of the said paragraph as "anoxia, etc."

(Special Education)

Article 12.   When an employer is to have workers engage in class 1 hazardous work of oxygen-deficiency, he shall give the workers special education concerning the following subjects:

(1)   Causes of oxygen deficiency.

(2)   Symptoms of anoxia.

(3)   Methods of using air respirators, etc.

(4)   Methods of evacuation in emergencies and first-aid treatment.

(5)   Items necessary for preventing anoxia in addition to those listed in the preceding four items.

2.   The provision of the preceding paragraph shall be applicable with necessary modification to work relating to class-2 hazardous work of oxygen deficiency, providing that "oxygen deficiency" in item 1 of the said paragraph shall be read as "oxygen deficiency, etc.", and "anoxia" in item 2 and 5 of the said paragraph as "anoxia, etc."

3.   Other than what is provided for in Articles 37 and 38 of the Safety and Health Ordinance and the preceding two paragraphs, the matters necessary for carrying out the workers' special education specified in the preceding two paragraphs shall be provided for by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.

(Watchman, etc.)

Article 13.   The employer whose workers engage in the hazardous work of oxygen deficiency shall take the measures necessary for quickly detecting the occurrence of such abnormal conditions, such as placing a watchman who constantly watches the progress of the work and quickly notifies the occurrence of abnormal conditions, if any, to the operation chief for hazardous work of oxygen deficiency or other persons concerned.

(Evacuation)

Article 14.   If there is fear of oxygen deficiency in the workplace where the workers are engaged in hazardous work of oxygen deficiency, the employer shall immediately stop the work and have the workers evacuate the workplace.

(Evacuation and Rescue Equipment)

Article 15.   When an employer has workers engage in hazardous work in oxygen-deficient air, he shall provide air respirators, etc., ladders, fiber ropes, etc., thereby to enable the said workers to take refuge in an emergency, or devices necessary for rescuing the workers (hereinafter called devices for evacuation) for an emergency.

(Use of Air Respirators in Rescue Work)

Article 16.   In dispatching workers for the rescue of other workers suffering from anoxia, etc., in an oxygen-deficient place, the employer shall have the workers engaged in rescue work use air respirators, etc.

(Medical Examinations and Treatment)

Article 17.   The employer shall have workers suffering from anoxia, etc., receive medical examination or treatment by a physician.