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Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Regulation 1966

Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act 1965
This reprint of this Statutory Instrument incorporates all amendments, if any, made before25 November 2006 and in force at  1 July 2001.

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Legislative Counsel
Dated 25 November 2006

INDEPENDENT STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA.

Chapter 230.

Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Regulation 1966

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS.

Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Regulation 1966

MADE under the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act 1965.

Dated                   200 .

1. INTERPRETATION.

In this Regulation, unless the contrary intention appears–

“approved” means approved by the Committee;

“Certificate of Competency” means a Certificate of Competency issued under Section 7.

2. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, ETC.

(1) A Water Supply Authority must provide each person engaged in adding fluoride to a public water supply controlled by that Authority with–

(a) a dust mask; and

(b) an apron; and

(c) gloves,

of an approved pattern, and with such other approved protective clothing and equipment as is required by the Committee.

(2) A Water Supply Authority must replace, free of charge, any item of protective clothing or equipment specified in Subsection (1) that becomes worn or deteriorated to the extent that it does not afford proper protection.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K50.00.

3. WEARING OF PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, ETC.

A person engaged in adding fluoride to a public water supply must–

(a) wear the protective equipment provided for him by the Water Supply Authority under Section 2, when fluoride is exposed to the air in the course of the operations; and

(b) keep the protective equipment clean and free from fluoride dust so as to afford adequate protection.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K50.00.

4. WATER SUPPLY AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE WASHING FACILITIES.

A Water Supply Authority must provide the persons employed in adding fluoride to a public water supply under its control with adequate washing facilities approved by the Committee.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K50.00.

5. CONSTRUCTION OF ROOMS, ETC., WHERE FLUORIDE IS ADDED.

The walls and floor of a room or other enclosed space within which any operation in the course of which fluoride is exposed to the air is carried out must be of an impervious material of a type approved by the Committee.

6. EXTRACTION OF DUST AND VAPOUR.

(1) A room or other enclosed space within which any operation in the course of which fluoride is exposed to the air is carried out must be provided with an approved extraction apparatus so operated as to ensure that the concentration of fluoride dust or vapour does not exceed a maximum concentration determined by the Committee.

(2) If the maximum concentration of fluoride dust or vapour exceeds the concentration determined by the Committee under Subsection (1) the Water Supply Authority conducting the operation is guilty of an offence.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K200.00.

7. CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY.

(1) The Chairman of the Committee, or if the Chairman is unable to perform the duties of his office the Deputy Chairman, may grant a Certificate of Competency to a person who is qualified to carry out operations in relation to the addition of fluoride to a public water supply.

(2) In granting a Certificate of Competency, the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman shall comply with any directions given by the Committee as to the qualifications required for the issue of the Certificate.

(3) A Water Supply Authority must not employ a person in an operation in relation to the addition of fluoride to a public water supply unless he holds a Certificate of Competency in respect of the operation.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K100.00.

8. CONTENTS OF CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY.

A Certificate of Competency granted under Section 7–

(a) shall specify the operations that the holder is qualified to carry out in relation to the addition of fluoride to a public water supply; and

(b) may be made subject to conditions.

9. SUSPENSION OR CANCELLATION.

(1) By notice in writing to a Water Supply Authority the Committee may cancel or suspend a Certificate of Competency granted to a person employed by the Authority.

(2) A person aggrieved by a decision of the Committee under Subsection (1) may appeal to the Minister, whose decision is final.

(3) Notwithstanding Subsection (2), a cancellation or suspension under Subsection (1) continues in full force and effect until the Minister lifts the suspension or revokes the cancellation, as the case may be.

10. PROHIBITED ACTS.

Except in circumstances of emergency (which shall be reported immediately to the Committee), a person being the holder of a Certificate of Competency, who does an act in relation to the addition of fluoride to a public water supply that is–

(a) not authorized by the Certificate; or

(b) in breach of a condition of the Certificate,

is guilty of an offence.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K50.00.

11. DISPOSAL OF FLUORIDE CONTAINERS.

A person who disposes or attempts to dispose of a container from which fluoride has been removed for addition to a public water supply otherwise than–

(a) by total destruction by fire; or

(b) as ordinary refuse after an approved process of water rinsing has been carried out; or

(c) in any other approved manner,

is guilty of an offence.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K100.00.

12. METHOD OF ADDING FLUORIDE TO A WATER SUPPLY.

(1) Where a Water Supply Authority is authorized to add fluoride to a public water supply, the Authority must ensure that the fluoride so added is fed as a solution or as dry powder into a proved fluoridation plant or equipment.

(2) Where plant or equipment specified in Subsection (1) is designed to accept dry powder, it must be so designed that the fluoride salt dispersed into the water supply is in the form of an aqueous solution.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K100.00.

13. MAINTENANCE OF FLUORIDE CONCENTRATION.

Plant or equipment shall not be approved under Section 12(1) unless the Committee is satisfied that it is capable of maintaining, at all times and in all circumstances, a concentration in the public water supply in connection with which it is installed of not less than 0.6 parts of fluoride, or more than 0.8 parts of fluoride, per 1,000,000 parts of water.

14. GENERAL TESTING.

A Water Supply Authority authorized to add fluoride to a public water supply must–

(a) carry out such approved tests in relation to the water supply as are required by the Committee; and

(b) as often as required by the Committee, advise the Committee of the results of the tests.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K100.00.

15. PARTICULAR TESTING.

Without limiting the generality of Section 14, a Water Supply Authority authorized to add fluoride to a public water supply must, during the six months after the commencement of the operation of adding fluoride to its public water supply–

(a) test the water supply for its fluoride content and record the results of tests from–

(i) a sample of water taken each day from the plant where the fluoride is added to the water supply; and

(ii) a sample of water taken each day in rotation from supply points, specified by an Inspector, within the system of the water supply; and

(b) forward the results of the tests to the Committee.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K100.00.

16. RECORDS.

The Water Supply Authority must maintain such records in relation to the operation of adding fluoride to its public water supply as are required by the Committee, and in particular such records as will account, to the satisfaction of the Committee, for the receipt and disposition of fluoride used in connection with the addition of fluoride to the public water supply.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K100.00.

17. INSPECTORS.

(1) An Inspector may–

(a) inspect and examine any plant or equipment used by a Water Supply Authority in or in connection with the fluoridation of a public water supply; and

(b) direct a person apparently in charge of any such plant or equipment to dismantle the whole or a portion of the plant or equipment for the purpose of facilitating the inspection; and

(c) direct a person specified in Paragraph (b) to clean, or carry out any operation in relation to, the plant or equipment.

(2) A person who, without lawful excuse (proof of which is on him)–

(a) obstructs or hinders an Inspector in the exercise of his powers under this section; or

(b) refuses or fails to carry out a direction of an Inspector under Subsection (1),

is guilty of an offence.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K100.00.

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