Australian Capital Territory Consolidated Regulations Australian Capital Territory Consolidated RegulationsAge limits
(1) No person shall work or be employed in compressed air work in caissons—
(a) at pressures up to 30 pounds per square inch if the person is over 50 years old; or
(b) at pressures over 30 pounds per square inch if the person is over 45 years old.
(2) No person under 20 years old shall work or be employed in compressed air work in caissons.
(3) However, in exceptional circumstances the medical officer may set aside the age limits in individual cases.
Appointment of medical officers
(4) A legally qualified doctor shall be appointed to carry out the duties prescribed by this regulation as the duties of a medical officer.
(5) The chief inspector shall be notified in writing of the name and address of the medical officer so appointed.
Medical orderly
(6) When the working pressure exceeds 25 pounds per square inch, an experienced medical orderly shall be constantly in attendance for the purpose of recompressing any worker who shows symptoms of compressed air illness and for attending to minor injuries.
(7) The medical orderly shall be a person approved by the medical officer and the orderly shall be the holder of a St. John Ambulance certificate or equivalent qualifications.
(8) The medical orderly may work on other duties provided these are such that the medical orderly will be readily available for medical orderly duties when required.
Preliminary medical examination
(9) No person shall work or be employed to work in compressed air unless on or after such date the person has been examined by an appointed medical officer, and has been certified by the officer as being fit to work in compressed air.
(10) The examination shall include an X-ray examination of the chest.
(11) The medical officer's report shall be kept and produced to an inspector on demand.
Supervision of health during compressed air work in caissons — advice to employees
(12) It shall be the duty of the medical officer to inform each person at the time of a preliminary medical examination that any attack of ‘bends' (pains in the joints and limbs or abdomen), giddiness, vomiting or difficulty in breathing, disease of the heart, lungs, kidneys, genital organs, a chill, or any other malady that may come on the person during or after work in a caisson, may have the most serious consequences to his or her health, and the person shall be instructed that immediately on noticing any such indisposition the person must report it to the medical officer, or to a medical orderly, or failing either, to the contractor or to a responsible representative of the contractor.
(13) The symptoms and treatment of compressed air illness as set out in schedule 9 shall be exhibited in a conspicuous position in the workers's change room.
Supervision of health during compressed air work in caissons — entry prohibited
(14) A contractor shall not allow any person—
(a) known to be suffering from bends, cold in the head, sore throat, or any other illness or disease, or
(b) under the influence of intoxicating liquor,
to be employed in compressed air work in a caisson.
Supervision of health during compressed air work in caissons — periodical medical examination
(15) If persons work continuously in compressed air in caissons they shall be re-examined regularly at the following intervals:
(a) for pressures not exceeding 25 pounds per square inch—every 6 months;
(b) for pressures above 25 pounds and not exceeding 35 pounds per square inch—every 3 months;
(c) for pressures above 35 pounds and not exceeding 45 pounds per square inch—every 6 weeks;
(d) for pressures above 45 pounds per square inch—every 4 weeks.
(16) Unless so re-examined and found fit as mentioned in this section, no person shall work or be employed to work in compressed air.
Examination after absence
(17) An employee who has been absent from work in compressed air in caissons, due to illness of any kind for a period of more than 7 days, or who has been absent from such work due to any other cause, except for recreation, for a period of more than 3 weeks shall not work or be employed to work in compressed air without first producing a certificate of fitness from the medical officer.
New employees
(18) Every person who is not accustomed to work in compressed air shall be tested to the working pressure in the medical or airlock.
(19) If any person shows serious symptoms after test, or after the first 2 full working periods, the person shall not work in compressed air.
X-ray examination
(20) No person shall work or be employed to work in compressed air after 12 months, or any less a period that the medical officer may determine, has elapsed from the date of the last X-ray examination of his or her chest.
Compressed air worker's badge
(21) It shall be the duty of a contractor to supply to every person engaged in compressed air work in caissons in his or her employ a compressed air worker's badge.
(22) It shall be the duty of every person engaged in compressed air work in caissons at all times to wear a compressed air worker's badge.
(23) A compressed air worker's badge shall be made of non-corrodible metal and shall be arranged to be worn either in a coat lapel or suspended by a chain or cord placed round the neck.
(24) Every badge shall be manufactured in accordance with the provisions of section 99 (18) and (19)
Working periods — general
(25) Except in case of emergency, no person shall work or be employed to work in compressed air for longer in any period of 24 hours, than the period corresponding to the pressure in which the work is carried out as set out in table 101.
Table 101
|
gauge pressure lb/in 2 |
working period |
gauge pressure lb/in 2 |
working period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-15 | 8 hours | 40-50 | 3 hours |
| 15-25 | 6 hours | 50-55 | 2 hours |
| 25-40 | 4 hours | 55-60 | 1 1 / 2 hours |
(26) Provided that—
(a) the 8 hour and 6 hour working periods each include a meal break of 1 / 2 an hour; and
(b) the 8 hour working period includes times required for compression and decompression, but the other working periods shown in table 101 do not include times for those purposes nor time occupied in changing shifts.
Observation period
(27) After decompression from pressures between 25 and 40 pounds per square inch, all persons shall be kept for observation for 45 minutes before leaving the site of the work.
(28) This period of detention shall be increased to 1 hour after decompression from pressures between 40 and 60 pounds per square inch.
Compression
(29) During compression the pressure shall be increased gradually and uniformly to ensure that no person is distressed.
(30) The rate of compression shall not exceed 5 pounds per square inch per minute.
Decompression
(31) Decompression shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of schedule 7, table 7.3, provided that at pressures lower than 18 pounds per square inch decompression shall be conducted at a rate that will not inconvenience any person, but shall not be completed in less than 5 minutes.
(32) A copy of schedule 7, table 7.3, shall be posted in the man-lock.
Airlock Attendants
(33) Every airlock shall be served only by a reliable, and specially trained and selected person.
(34) The airlock attendant, if without previous experience of either working in or controlling airlocks, shall be specially trained.
(35) The airlock attendant shall at no time operate more than 1 man-lock.
(36) The airlock attendant shall remain outside the lock near the entrance, and shall not be employed for more than 8 hours in any 24 hours.
Airlock records
(37) A record of workers employed in compressed air shall be kept.
(38) This record shall show for each employee the period of stay in the working chamber, the gauge pressure and the time taken for decompression.
Man-lock—size
(39) The chambers serving for compression and decompression shall be of such dimensions that the space available to each person using the chambers at any time shall be at least equal to 16 cubic feet with a minimum floor space of 3 square feet per person.
Man-lock—access
(40) The door between the man-lock and the working chamber shall remain open except during compression and decompression and during the procedure of passing material through the lock.
(41) A ladder conforming to the requirements of this regulation shall be available for access to and from the working chambers.
Man-lock—fittings
(42) Every lock in which persons are compressed or decompressed shall be fitted with a suitable instrument panel on which shall be mounted the necessary pressure gauges in duplicate, an accurate timepiece, and decompression tables or charts.
(43) The instrument panel shall be adequately lighted.
(44) The man-lock shall be fitted with valves both inside and outside the lock.
(45) The valves to which the airlock attendant has no access shall be sealed in a box provided with a glass panel that can be broken to permit the use of the valves in case of emergency.
(46) Except in cases of emergency valves shall be operated only by the airlock attendant.
Regulation of temperature in airlock
(47) The temperature in every airlock shall be regulated as required by heating or by protection against loss of heat, or by protection against the direct rays of the sun by means of a covering that can be sprayed with water.
Communication
(48) The working chamber and the airlock shall be in telephonic communication at all times with the airlock attendant, who shall also be provided with telephonic or other satisfactory means of communicating with the contractor or his or her representative on the works.
(49) The contractor shall depute a representative to be at all times available for communication with the airlock attendant.
(50) In the event of telephone failure, signals shall be transmitted by tapping.
(51) A suitable code of signals shall be formulated on the job and a copy of this code shall be posted inside and outside the man-lock.
Height of working chamber
(52) The height of the working chamber, measured between the roof and the lower cutting edge, shall be at least 8 feet.
Medical lock
(53) A medical lock at least 5 feet in diameter shall be provided when work is being carried out at a pressure of 25 pounds per square inch or over.
(54) Should any case of compressed air illness occur when the working pressure is less than 25 pounds per square inch it may be dealt with in the man-lock.
(55) The medical lock shall have 2 compartments, so that entry may be obtained to the inner chamber while it is under pressure.
(56) The medical lock shall be adequately ventilated, protected from the direct rays of the sun or adequately heated if required, and it shall be adequately lighted.
(57) The lock and its equipment shall be kept in a clean state.
(58) The medical lock shall be provided with suitable equipment, including a couch not less than 6 feet in length, clean blankets, dry woollen garments, a food lock and a telephone.
(59) The medical lock shall be located within the immediate vicinity of the works and arrangements shall be made to ensure that the lock is ready for operation during the 12 hours after the end of any shift.
(60) The medical lock shall be equipped with a small glazed aperture so that a patient under treatment in the lock can be kept under observation by the attendant from outside the lock.
(61) It shall be provided with a pressure gauge and an accurate timepiece for each compartment.
(62) The timepiece and pressure gauge for the main compartment shall be in such a position that they can be readily seen by the attendant whether the attendant is inside or outside the lock.
Lighting
(63) All lighting in compressed air chambers shall be by electricity only, except in case of emergency.
(64) One man in an airlock shall be provided with an electric pocket lamp, and candles and damp-proof matches shall be provided in the working chamber and in each airlock.
(65) All portable incandescent lamps shall be guarded by a wire cage large enough to enclose both lamp and socket.
(66) The lamps shall be constructed in accordance with the provisions of Standards Australia, Approval and Test Specification No C. 118, entitled Electric Hand-Lamps.
Electric installation — voltage
(67) The voltage used for electrical apparatus and lights in compressed air chambers shall not exceed 32V for alternating current supply and 50V for direct current supply.
Electric installation — wiring
(68) Except as otherwise provided in this regulation, all wiring for light and power circuits shall comply with the requirements of the Standards Australia Wiring Rules for damp or hazardous locations.
Air supply
(69) A minimum of 25 cubic feet of clean fresh air shall be supplied per minute to each worker in the working chamber, and a minimum of 10 cubic feet per minute to each worker in the man-lock.
(70) In the event of a failure of the air supply exceeding 5 minutes in duration, all workers shall be withdrawn from the working chamber.
Free air intake
(71) The free air intake shall be so situatedd as to ensure an ample supply of clean, fresh air.
(72) Care shall be taken to avoid contamination of the air by fumes from the exhausts of compression ignition and internal-combustion engines and from all other sources.
Purification and refrigeration of compressed air
(73) An approved oil separator shall be used between the compressor and the air receiver and an approved air filter shall be placed between the air receiver and the working chamber.
(74) The air shall be cooled after compression, if necessary, to ensure that the temperature in the working chamber does not exceed 80 ° Fahrenheit when measured with a dry bulb thermometer.
Compressed air plant
(75) If the air compressor, used for supplying air under pressure for the purposes of compressed air work in caissons is driven by electric power, stand-by compressor plant shall be provided and shall be of the capacity that in the event of failure of the electrically-driven units at least 50% of the air supply may be maintained.
(76) With other than electrically-powered compressors not more than 50% of the compressor units shall be driven from any 1 power unit and, if practicable, the power units shall be interchangeable.
Air lines and fittings
(77) Each air line shall be equipped with the following fittings connected in the following order:
(a) an air receiver of such capacity as to be capable of delivering at least 50 cubic feet of air to the working chamber at normal working pressure, for the purpose of reserve storage in the event of failure of the compressor plant;
(b) a stop valve;
(c) a pressure-reducing valve located close to the man-lock;
(d) a non-return valve located close to the man-lock.
(78) The air supply shall be through duplicate air lines between the air receiver and the working chamber.
(79) An adjustable safety valve shall be fitted on the outside of the airlock, exhausting to the outside air.
Testing of equipment — general
(80) All airlocks, shafts and air receivers shall be subjected to test in accordance with the provisions of the Australian Standard Rules recommended for the Design, Construction, Inspection and Operation of Boilers and Unfired Pressure Vessels and their Appurtenances published by Standards Australia as revised in May, 1942.
Testing of equipment — pressure gauges
(81) Pressure gauges shall be installed and tested in accordance with the relevant provisions of the rules mentioned in subsection (80).
Change rooms
(82) Without prejudice to the requirements of part 10 (which among other things relates to the provision of certain accommodation for the health of persons) there shall be provided and maintained for the use of persons employed in compressed air work in caissons—
(a) properly heated, lighted and ventilated change rooms and drying rooms; and
(b) bathing accommodation, namely 1 shower equipped with running hot and cold water for every 8 men employed on the same shift and 1 for every 8 women employed on the same shift, and 1 for any number less than 8 such men or women, as the case requires; and
(c) suitable and adequate earth or water closets at the rate of 1 closet for every 10 men employed on the same shift and 1 for every 10 women employed on the same shift, and 1 for any number less than 10 such men or women, as the case requires.
Information to be posted in change room
(83) A copy of the following information shall be posted in the change room for the information and instruction of persons engaged in compressed air work in caissons:
(a) schedule 9, concerning the Symptoms and Treatment of Compressed Air Illness;
(b) section 101 (12) to (17);
(c) the name, address and telephone number of the medical officer.
Prohibition of smoking and intoxicating liquor
(84) No person shall smoke in a man-lock or working chamber.
(85) No person shall carry smoking materials into a man-lock or into a working chamber.
(86) All such smoking materials shall be left in the change room.
(87) No person shall bring any intoxicating liquor into the vicinity of the working chamber, provided that the carrying of alcoholic spirits or other stimulants into such places for medical purposes may be approved by the medical officer.
Regulation to be available
(88) A copy of this section shall be kept on the works so as to be easily accessible to all persons who are responsible for giving effect to its provisions.
(89) This section shall apply to compressed air work in caissons, being a compressed air work within the meaning of the Act.
Application and interpretation