56B. Passage ways and clearance for over-head travelling cranes.
(1)(a)Passage-way shall be provided along and adjacent to every rail-track of every over-head travelling crane of such width that there is a clear space of not less than 50 c.m. between any part of any crane operating on the track and any column, fixture or fixed structure, so that no person working or walking over the passageway may be struck by any part of the crane.(b)There should be railings at a height of at least 90 c.m. from the floor of passage-way on both the sides, with at least two rails and with a toe board at a height of at least 10 c.m. from the floor:Provided that if there is a wall or sheeting on one side of the walk- way the railings may be provided on only the other side.(c)Safe access ladders with hand rails shall be provided at convenient places and at suitable frequent intervals so that the crane driver or any other person going up the crane or crane track may not have to walk long distances on the passage-way.(d)Where there are more than one cranes operating in the same way as on the same run-way, the number of access ladders shall be provided in consideration of the easy and safe accessibility to the different cranes.(2)For the repair of the track equipments of cranes and for greater convenience and safety in changing track wheels if there is no sufficient distance between the end of the crane and the wall of the building, special recesses or platform with safe access ladders shall be built at different places in the building.(3)The vertical clearance between the floors of crane bridge or trolley foot-walks or platforms on travelling cranes and over- head trusses, structural parts or any other permanent fixture shall not be less than two metres.(4)The provision of sub-rule (i) shall apply only to factories constructed after the 1st January, 1975 and also to cranes installed in existing factories after the said date and sub-rules (ii) and (iii) shall apply to the factories constructed after the 4th February, 1963 and the cranes installed in existing factories after said date:Provided that the Chief Inspector may, with the approval of the State Government, exempt any such factory in respect of any particular over-head travelling crane from the operation of any provision of the said sub-rules subject to such conditions as he may specify in writing.(5)In respect of any over-head travelling crane already in operation on the date of coming into force of this Rule in any factory, the Chief Inspector may, by an order in writing, direct such measures to be taken within a specified time as he may consider practicable and necessary to prevent accidents due to the movement of the cranes.(6)These Rules are without any prejudice to, and in addition to and not in derogation to the provisions of Section 32 of the Factories Act, 1948; and(7)The Chief Inspector may, with the approval of the State Government, exempt any over-head travelling crane in any factory from the operation of any of the provisions of this Rule subject to such conditions as he may specify in writing.
