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CHAPTER III MAINTENANCE OF SANITARY & HYGIENIC CONDITIONS IN STATION BUILDINGS, YAMDS & RAILWAY COLONIES 301 Sanitary Arrangements in Stations and Colonies - 302 Railway Sanitation Committees a) Railway Sanitation Committees are appointed at such important stations as decided by the General Manager to assist in the supervision and control of sanitary arrangements in station buildings, yards and residential colonies. The Committee functions not only as advisory body but as monitoring body also. The existence of such Committees shall not however relieve any Department of the duties ordinarily devolving on that Department. b) At less important and way-side stations where Sanitation Committees do not exist, the Station Master shall be primarily responsible for maintaining sanitary and hygienic conditions in station yards, staff colonies and their surroundings. 303 Constitution of Sanitation Committees The constitution of each Sanitation Committee and its functions shall be as prescribed by the General Manager. Meetings will be convened by the Chairman of the Committee at specified intervals. 304 Record of Minutes of Meetings - Minutes should be recorded in a Minutes-Book kept at the station in the custody of the Station Manager/Station Master unless otherwise prescribed. Copies of minutes of meetings should be sent to the Chief Medical Officer, Divisional Officers, Members of the Committee, the Assistant Engineer and the supervisors concerned. The Chief- Medical Officer/Chief Medical Superintendent will take up various matters at the appropriate level with the Departments. 305 Inspections by Sanitation Committees- The Committees will carry out inspection of the premises before/after the meeting. The inspection will be directed with regard to sanitary and hygienic conditions of the following items:- (i) Conservancy - The adequacy and cleanliness of latrines, receptacles, dustbins, incinerators, trenching-grounds, septic tanks, effluent disposal beds, soapiest, sumps, disposal of flood and sullage water, the adequacy and condition of conservancy equipment's (ii) Drinking water supply arrangements - Reservoirs, filter beds, wells, drinking water tanks and their protection from pollution (iii) Quarters -The stabling of cattle, use by occupants of any quarters leading to insanitary conditions detrimental to the health and well being of the occupants (iv) The sanitary conditions of compounds, court-yards and surroundings of quarters, excavation of earth from any part of the surroundings of quarters whereby flood or waste water may accumulate, the growth of excessive vegetation and of creepers liable to damage the structure of buildings (v) Shops - Cleanliness of licensed shops; the proper storage of meat, grain and other foodstuff; the cleanliness of chopping blocks and implements in butchers' stalls, efficient protection against flies and the prompt and proper disposal of blood, hides, offal and other refuse (vi) Presence of stray dogs and of vicious and diseased animals (vii) Presence of any other nuisance, such as rats or conditions detrimental to the health and well being of residents Every subject dealt with at meetings should be recorded by the Committee and expeditious action taken by Departments concerned. In subsequent meetings compliance on items of earlier meetings should be pursued by the members. 306 Conservancy Work -Conservancy work is classified as - (i) indoor conservancy and (ii) outdoor conservancy. (i) Indoor conservancy - This comprises the cleaning of indoor sanitary installations, the collection of refuse generated in the individual quarters like floor sweeping, domestic refuse etc. and transporting it into the refuse bins. This is the responsibility of the occupants of quarters. (ii) Outdoor�conservancy - This comprises cleaning of colony area, railway yards etc. The responsibility for "Outdoor Conservancy" will devolve on the Medical, Engineering or Operating Department as per the Railway Board's instructions and shall include jobs like cleaning if drain, Sewers, septic tanks, storm water drains, soak pits, dust bins etc. 307 Sanitary Protection of Installation a) Reservoirs/Ponds: (i) The reservoir/ponds should be fenced to prevent any outside or unauthorised use. (ii) The water in the reservoir shall not be used for any unauthorised purposes like bathing, washing clothes, cleaning of utensils etc. (iii) The water shall be periodically treated with bleaching powder or a disinfecting agent. b) Overhead Tanks: (i) The tanks should be cleaned and lime applied on walls as per laid down schedule. (ii) The water shall be regularly disinfected. (C) Protection of wells used for drinking. (i) The exposed area of wells outside
and inside shall be plastered to a sufficient depth to prevent
percolation of water into the well through the steining at shallow
depths. (iii) There should be a paved platform around the parapet of the wells, with a drain to lead the spill-water sufficiently away. (iv) The ground around the well for a radius of at least 50m should be kept thoroughly clean to guard against pollution. (v) No bathing or washing of clothes should be permitted near a well supplying drinking water. Devices for drawing water should be such as to prevent pollution. (vi) Open wells should be cleaned when necessary, preferably during dry season. The sides should be scrapped to clear moss and other vegetation growth. Desilting of wells should be done as necessary. Quick lime should then be applied to the sides and bottom of the well (wherever dry). This work should be carried out by the Section Engineer (works) and a report sent to the Assistant Engineer. (vii) Disinfection of well should be carried out as often as necessary The work is usually undertaken by the staff if the Medical Department. At gang quarters and gate lodges between stations, the Section Engineer (Works) should arrange for the disinfections of staff-wells. 308 Precautions against Infectious Diseases and Disinfections Measures Infectious disease may be combated on the following lines: (i) Ensuring hygienic water supply; (ii) Efficient disposal of sewage.; (iii) Extermination of flies, mosquitoes etc.; (iv) Isolation of suspected infectious cases and of contacts; (v) Protective inoculations and vaccinations; (vi) Measures against collection of decaying refuse or carcasses of animals within railway limits or in the vicinity and disposal by burning in an incinerator or by trenching refuse & decaying matter. 309 Disinfections of Quarters - The supervisors responsible for the disinfections of quarters should keep a suitable stock of necessary materials, obtaining them from the Divisional Medical Officer. ******* |