Chapter II.  Facilities

(Facilities Pertaining to First or Second-class Organic Solvents, etc.)

Article 5.  When the employer has workers engage in organic solvent work pertaining to first or second-class organic solvents, etc., in indoor workshops, etc., (exclusive of the work specified in l) of item (6) of paragraph 1 of Article 1), the employer shall install equipment to seal up the emission source of organic solvent vapour, a local exhaust ventilation system or a push-pull type ventilation system in the said workshop.

(Facilities Pertaining to Third-class Organic Solvents, etc.)

Article 6.  When the employer has workers engage in organic solvent work pertaining to third-class organic solvents, etc. (exclusive of the work specified in l) of item (6) of paragraph 1 of Article 1 and blast-spraying of organic solvents), the employer shall install equipment to seal up the emission source of organic solvent vapour, a local exhaust ventilation system, a push-pull type ventilation system or a general ventilation system in the said workshop.

2.  When the employer has workers engage in blast-application work of third-class organic solvents (exclusive of the work stipulated in item (6) of paragraph 1 of Article 1) inside of a tank, etc., the employer shall install equipment to seal up the emission source of organic solvent vapour, a local exhaust ventilation system or a push-pull type ventilation system in the said workshop.

(Application Exemption in Cases Where an Indoor Workshop is Free of Surrounding Walls)

Article 7.  The provisions of Article 5 shall not be applied when the employer has workers engage in organic solvent work in the indoor workshop coming under the following items:

(1)   Two sides or more of the surrounding walls and more than half of the surrounding wall area is directly open to outside air.

(2)   There are no walls or partitions, etc.,  which impede air ventilation in the said workshop.

(Application Exemption when Organic Solvent Work is Temporarily Made)

Article 8.  When the employer, who temporarily carries out organic solvent work has workers engage in the said organic solvent work in indoor workshops, etc., other than inside of a tank, the provision of Article 5 shall not be applied to it.

2.  When the employer, who temporarily carries out organic solvent work has workers engage in the said organic solvent work inside of a tank and the like, and installs a general ventilation system, the employer may be exempted from the duty of installing equipment to seal up the emission source of organic solvent vapour, a local exhaust ventilation system or a push-pull type ventilation system regardless the provisions of Article 5 or paragraph 2 of Article 6.

(Special Case for Facilities when Organic Solvent Work is Conducted for a Short Time)

Article 9.  When the employer has workers engage in organic solvent work in indoor workshops, etc., other than inside of a tank and the like, and when the time required for such work in the said place is short and when he/she installs a general ventilation system, he/she  may be exempted from the duty of installing equipment to seal up the emission source of organic solvent vapour, a local exhaust ventilation  system or a push-pull type ventilation system regardless of the provisions of Article 5.

2.  When the employer has workers engage in organic solvent work inside of a tank, etc., and when the time required for such work in the said place is short and when he/she provides the workers with air-supplied respirators, he/she may be exempted from the duty of installing equipment to seal up the emission source of organic solvent vapour, a local exhaust ventilation system, a push-pull type ventilation system or a general ventilation system regardless of the provisions of Article 5 and 6.

(Special Case for Places where Local Exhaust Ventilation System is Hard to Install)

Article 10.  When the employer has workers engage in organic solvent work for walls, floors and ceilings of an indoor workshop, etc., and when the surface which emits vapour of organic solvents is too largeto install equipment provided for in Article 5 or paragraph 2 of Article 6, and when he/she installs a general ventilation system, he/she may be exempted from the duty of installing equipment to seal up the emission source of organic solvent vapour, a local exhaust ventilation system or a push-pull type ventilation system.

(Special Case for Equipment in Indoor Workshops Separated from Other Indoor Workshops)

Article 11.  When the employer has workers engage in organic solvent work in an indoor workshop where the reaction chamber or other facility used for organic solvent work is permanently installed and which is separated from other indoor workshops, and in which workers are not required to enter usually, and when he/she installs a general ventilation system, he/she may be exempted from the duty of installing equipment to seal up the emission source of organic solvent vapour, a local exhaust ventilation system or a push-pull type ventilation system, regardless of the provisions of Article 5 or paragraph 2 of Article 6.

(Special Case for Equipment in Connection with Replacing Equipment)

Article 12.  The employer, when the case comes under any of the following items, does not have to install equipment to seal up the emission source of organic solvent vapour, local exhaust ventilation system, a push-pull type ventilation system or a general ventilation system, regardless of the provisions of Article 5 or paragraph 1 of Article 6.

(1)   When the employer has workers engage in organic solvent work making use of an infrared ray drying oven or other heating equipment, and when he/she installs an exhaust pipe or the like to exhaust organic solvent vapour to the outside of the workshop, making use of ascending air flow so that vapour emitted from the said equipment does not diffuse into the workshop.

(2)   When the employer covers the surface of organic solvents in a non-closed vessel with water or installs a counter-flow coagulator at the opening of the vessel so that organic solvent vapour does not diffuse into the workshop.

(Special Case for Facility Pertaining to Approval of the Chief of the Labour Standards Inspection Office)

Article 13.  When the employer has workers engage in organic solvent work in an indoor workshop, etc., and when the emitting surface of organic solvent vapour is too largeto install equipment provided for in Article 5 or paragraph 2 of Article 6, the employer does not have to install equipment to seal up the emission source of organic solvent vapour or a local exhaust ventilation system or a push-pull type ventilation system, with the approval of the Chief of the competent Labour Standards Inspection Office.

2.  The employer who wants to get such approval shall file with the Chief of the competent Labour Standards Inspection Office a petition for approval for exemption from the installation of a local exhaust ventilation system (Form No. 2), with a sketch of the workshop attached.

3.  The Chief of the competent Labour Standards Inspection Office who receives such a petition shall notify the said employer whether or not such an exemption was approved in writing as soon as the decision is made.