Hazardous process
Glass and Ceramics
A hazardous process listed in the First Schedule to the Factories Act 1948 (s.2(cb)).
Typical industries: Glass manufacture, ceramic/pottery and refractory works.
Principal hazards
- Crystalline silica and ceramic/refractory dust
- Lead and other glaze/colourant compounds; arsenic
- Furnace heat and infrared radiation
- Hydrofluoric acid (etching); noise
Health effects
Silicosis and pneumoconiosis, lead poisoning, heat stress, cataract/IR eye damage, HF burns and systemic toxicity, hearing loss.
Key engineering controls
Wet methods, enclosure and LEV at batch mixing, grinding, glazing and fettling; substitution of lead glazes; furnace heat shielding and IR-screening; HF handling controls with calcium-gluconate first aid; dust monitoring.
PPE
- FFP3 silica respirators
- Heat-reflective clothing and IR goggles at furnaces
- Acid-resistant gloves for HF (plus calcium gluconate)
- Hearing protection
- Safety footwear
Statutory vs annotation: only the industry name is First-Schedule statutory text. The hazards, health effects, controls and PPE are standard occupational-hygiene practice, not statutory text.
This page is a statutory / occupational-health reference for factory Occupational Health Centres. It is not medical or legal advice. Verify against the current bare Act, Rules and your State amendments before acting.
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