Section 47.87. Sanitation

(a) Scope. This section sets forth sanitary requirements for employes handling dry lead or dry compounds containing lead in excess of 10%.

(b) Washing facilities. The employer shall provide washrooms which shall be separate and apart from the workrooms, kept clean and equipped with any of the following:

(1) At least one lavatory basin for every five employes, fitted with waste pipes and two spigots conveying hot and cold water.

(2) Basins placed in troughs fitted with waste pipes and for each basin two spigots conveying hot and cold water, and at least one basin for every five employes.

(3) Troughs of enamel or similar smooth, impervious material, fitted with waste pipes and for every 2 feet of trough length two spigots conveying hot and cold water, and at least 2 feet of trough length for every five employes.

(4) Troughs of enamel or similar smooth, impervious material, fitted with waste pipes without plugs, but with a continuous spray of warm water.

(c) Nail brushes, towels and soap. The employer shall furnish nail brushes and soap, and at least three clean fabric towels each week for each employe, or a sufficient number of sanitary paper towels.

(d) Time allowance. A time allowance of 10 minutes at the expense of the employer shall be made to each employe for the use of such washrooms before the lunch hour and at the close of each work day.

(e) Shower bath. The employer shall provide at least one shower bath for every ten employes. The baths shall be approached by wooden runways, with movable wooden floor gratings, and with hot and cold water controlled within each individual bath. The baths shall be kept clean.

(f) Use of shower baths. The employer shall provide at least two clean fabric bath towels per week for each employe. An additional time allowance of ten minutes at the expense of the employer shall be made to each employe for the use of such baths at least twice a week at the close of the work day. It shall be the duty of all employes to use the washing facilities furnished by the employer.

(g) Urinals. Urinals and water closets shall be furnished in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 41 (relating to sanitation).

(h) Locker rooms. The employer shall provide dressing rooms which shall be adequately heated when necessary and separate from the workrooms and be furnished with a double sanitary locker or two single sanitary lockers for each employe. The room and the lockers shall be kept clean and sanitary. In lieu of lockers, wire baskets for clothes may be provided, which shall be attached to a rope passed through a pulley and pulled up to the ceiling when containing clothing.

(i) Eating rooms. The employer shall furnish and keep clean eating rooms with a sufficient number of tables and seats. The eating rooms shall be separate from the workrooms.

(j) Eating in workrooms. No employe or other person shall take or be permitted to take any food or drink of any kind into any workroom, nor shall any employe remain or be permitted to remain in any workroom during the time allowed for meals.

(k) Drinking fountains. The employer shall provide and maintain either a sufficient number of sanitary drinking fountains readily accessible for the use of all employes, or individual drinking cups.

(l) Overalls. The employer shall provide without cost to the employe, at least one pair of overalls and one jumper for each employe, repair and renew such clothing when necessary, and wash them at least once each week.

(m) Notice. The employer shall post in a conspicuous place in each workroom, washroom, dressing room, and eating room the following notice:

DANGERS OF LEAD

Lead is a poison.
With proper care you can handle it with no danger.
If handled carelessly it will almost without fail cause sickness.
This sickness, commonly called lead poisoning, may be only slight or it may be very severe.
It may show itself as headaches, cramps, constipation, loss in weight, paralysis, disease of the heart, blood vessels, or kidneys, insanity, and may cause death.

AVOID LEAD POISONING

Keep Lead Dust Out of Your Nose

Wear a respirator when working in lead dust.
Do no dry sweeping. Clean floors and walls with a vacuum cleaner, wash them with water, or sweep only when dust has been laid with wet sawdust or similar material.

Keep Lead Dust Out of Your Mouth
Before eating and before leaving work wash hands, arms, and face with soap and warm water, and rinse mouth thoroughly.
Keep fingernails short and clean, scrub hands with a brush, soap, and warm water.
Keep beard and moustache cut short, or better still be clean shaven as it is hard to wash dust from hair.
Bathe often, every day if possible.
Take no food into the workroom; it will gather dust that you will eat later on.
Chew no tobacco while at work; lead is sure to reach your mouth when you handle your tobacco with unwashed hands.

Keep Yourself In Good Health
Eat a hearty meal before starting work.
Drink plenty of milk.
Use no alcoholic drinks.
Have a good bowel movement every day; take an occasional dose of Epsom or Glauber’s salts or other laxative if necessary.
If not feeling well consult your plant doctor or your family physician at once. Every case of lead poisoning can be cured if treated early.
By taking home remedies or by depending on the advice of fellow workers or friends you lose valuable time, causing your sickness to last longer and to be more severe.
Additional copies of this notice, suitable for posting, will be furnished without charge, upon written request to the Department of Labor and Industry, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Ask for Form I-117.