Contents
31.1 Objective
31.2 Scope of Application, Obligations, Competences and Responsibilities
31.3 Rural Work Risk Management Program
31.4 Specialized Service for Rural Occupational Safety and Health
31.5 Rural Internal Commission for Accident Prevention and Harassment Prevention
31.6 Personal Protection Measures
31.7 Pesticides, Additives, Adjuvants and Related Products
31.8 Ergonomics
31.9 Worker Transportation
31.10 Electrical Installations
31.11 Hand Tools
31.12 Safety of Work with Machinery, Equipment and Implements
31.13 Dryers, Silos and Confined Spaces
31.14 Material Handling and Storage
31.15 Work at Height
31.16 Rural Buildings
31.17 Sanitary and Comfort Conditions for Rural Work
Annex I Access Means for Machinery, Equipment and Implements
Annex II Auxiliary Tables and Figures
Glossary
31.1 Objective
31.1.1 This Regulatory Standard aims to set rules for rural work organization and working environment, so as to coordinate industry activity planning and implementation with the prevention of rural work-related accidents and occupational diseases.
31.2 Scope of Application, Obligations, Competences and Responsibilities
31.2.1 This standard applies to all activities of agriculture, animal husbandry, silviculture, forest harvesting and aquaculture, regardless of labor employment relations and working locations.
31.2.1.1 Only provisions of this standard shall apply to the aforesaid activities, except for the following cases:
a) Where this standard explicitly refers to other regulatory standards;
b) Embargo and suspension matters subject to Regulatory Standard No.3;
c) Boilers, pressure vessels, pipelines and metal storage tanks subject to applicable provisions of Regulatory Standard No.13;
d) Unhealthy working conditions subject to Regulatory Standard No.15;
e) Hazardous working conditions subject to Regulatory Standard No.16;
f) Flammables and combustibles subject to applicable provisions of Regulatory Standard No.20;
g) Supervision and penalty matters subject to Regulatory Standard No.28.
31.2.2 This standard is also applicable to industrial production activities carried out in rural premises.
31.2.2.1 Industrial production activities in rural premises refer to those specified in Paragraph 3, Paragraph 4 and Paragraph 5 of Article 2 of the Regulation on Individual and Collective Rural Labor Relations approved by Decree No.73626 dated February 12, 1974.
31.2.3 Duties of rural employers and equivalent entities:
a) Abide by and enforce legal and regulatory provisions on rural occupational safety and health, ensure proper working, hygienic and comfortable conditions, and adopt preventive and protective measures to guarantee the safety of all operations, workplaces, machines, equipment and tools;
b) Implement necessary procedures in case of work accidents and occupational diseases, including cause analysis;
c) Ensure workers receive understandable instructions on safety and health, their rights and obligations, as well as necessary guidance and supervision for safe work;
d) Inform workers of the following contents:
I. Occupational risks and implemented preventive measures, including risks arising from new technologies adopted by employers;
II. Results of medical and supplementary examinations arranged by employers;
III. Results of environmental assessment conducted at workplaces;
e) Allow legally established worker representatives to participate in supervision over the implementation of safety and health laws and regulations;
f) Provide all occupational safety and health related information to labor inspection authorities.
31.2.4 Duties of workers
a) Comply with provisions on safe working methods and relevant work orders.
b) Follow preventive measures formulated by employers in accordance with this standard. Unwarranted refusal shall be deemed disciplinary violation.
c) Undergo medical examinations specified in this standard.
d) Cooperate with enterprises in the implementation of this standard.
e) Do not damage living areas and maintain existing living conditions.
f) Follow all instructions on safe procedures for operation, catering, supply, cleaning, maintenance, inspection, transportation, decommissioning, disassembly and disposal of tools, machines and equipment.
g) Do not modify tools, mechanical guards or safety devices of machines and equipment in any way that may endanger personal health, physical safety or the safety of others.
h) Report damaged or malfunctioning tools, machines or equipment to immediate superiors in a timely manner.
31.2.4.1 Performance of obligations specified in subitem 31.2.4 shall not exempt employers from complying with requirements of this standard.
31.2.5 Rights of workers
a) Enjoy safe and healthy working environments in conformity with provisions of this standard.
b) Be consulted through representatives in Rural Internal Commission for Accident Prevention and Harassment Prevention on preventive measures to be adopted by employers.
c) Elect representatives for occupational safety and health affairs.
d) Receive safety and health training and guidance to participate in the implementation of preventive measures formulated by employers.
31.2.5.1 Workers may suspend work if they reasonably confirm the working situation poses serious and imminent risks to their life and health, and shall immediately inform their superiors.
31.2.5.2 Employers shall not require workers to resume work before corrective measures are taken to eliminate serious and imminent risks to life and health.
31.2.5.3 Workers shall be protected from unreasonable consequences arising from work suspension specified in subitem 31.2.5.1.
31.2.5.4 Workers shall immediately report working conditions involving serious and imminent risks to the life and health of themselves and others to their superiors.
31.2.6 Entities required to establish internal accident prevention and harassment prevention commissions in accordance with NR-05 shall adopt the following measures as well as other necessary measures to prevent and curb sexual harassment and other forms of workplace violence.
a) Incorporate codes of conduct concerning sexual harassment and other forms of violence into internal enterprise regulations, and fully publicize relevant contents to all employees.
b) Formulate procedures for accepting and following up reports, verifying facts and imposing administrative sanctions on direct and indirect persons liable for sexual harassment and violent acts where applicable, ensure the anonymity of reporters without prejudice to relevant legal procedures.
c) Organize training, guidance and awareness-raising activities for employees at all levels at least every twelve months on workplace violence, harassment, equality and diversity in accessible, appropriate and highly effective forms.
31.2.6.1 Rural employers and equivalent entities shall organize training for workers in accordance with provisions of this standard.
31.2.6.1.1 Certificates shall be issued upon completion of training, stating the worker's name, training contents, class hours, date, venue, instructors' names and qualifications as well as signature of technical person in charge. Workers shall sign on attendance lists or certificates.
31.2.6.2 Initial induction training shall be completed before workers take up posts.
31.2.6.2.1 Periodic training and refresher training shall be conducted in accordance with cycles specified in specific clauses of this standard. In absence of specified cycles, the schedule shall be determined by the Rural Work Risk Management Program.
31.2.6.3 Training may include:
a) Practical internship, supervised professional practice and on-the-job guidance
b) Simulation drills
c) Qualification training for operating vehicles, vessels, machines and equipment
31.2.6.4 Time spent on trainings specified in this standard shall be deemed actual working hours.
31.2.6.5 The certificate shall be issued to the worker, and a copy shall be kept by the employer in physical or electronic form.
31.2.6.6 Previous training contents arranged by the same employer are allowed to be recognized and adopted subject to the following conditions:
a) The required contents and class hours of the new training are all covered in previous training;
b) The previous training was completed within the validity period specified in this standard, or within two years if no period is specified;
c) Approved by the technical person in charge of training.
31.2.6.6.1 The recognition of previous training contents shall be recorded in the certificate with specified contents and completion date.
31.2.6.6.1.1 The validity period of the new training shall be calculated based on the date of the earliest recognized previous training.
31.2.6.7 Employers may assess trainings completed by workers for recognition or supplementary training arrangement.
31.2.6.7.1 Recognition or supplementary training shall take the following factors into account:
a) Previous working activities of the worker in former employing units where applicable
b) Duties to be undertaken currently
c) Completed training contents and hours
d) Required training contents and hours
e) The latest training was finished within the term specified in this standard, or within two years if no term is stipulated
31.2.6.8 Full or partial recognition of previous training shall not exempt rural employers from issuing worker training certificates. The dates of recognized and supplemented trainings shall be stated clearly in certificates.
31.2.6.8.1 The cycle of new training shall be calculated based on the date of the earliest recognized or supplemented training.
31.2.6.9 Trainings can be delivered in on-site, blended or distance learning modes, complying with operational, administrative, technical and pedagogical requirements laid down in Annex II of Regulatory Standard No.1 General Provisions and Occupational Risk Management.
31.2.6.9.1 Practical training contents shall be conducted in on-site form only.
