OHS - Unit-6 - Course Content - OHS Legislation in India PDF

Unit 6 Occupational Health and safety Legislation in India 1
Certificate Programme
Occupational Health and Safety:

Legal and Operational Guide
Unit 6
Occupational health and safety legislation in India
Occupational Health and Safety: Legal and Operational Guide
©2014 PRIA International Academy

Units of Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety

Unit 1: Introduction to occupational health and safety
• Definition of occupational health and safety
• Occupational health and safety in developing countries
• Occupational hazards
• Occupational hygiene
• Ergonomics
Unit 2: Sector specific occupational health and safety issues
• Health and safety risks in mining
• Health hazards in electronics industry
• Health hazards in the food processing industry
• Health hazards in textile industry
• Health and safety hazards in construction industry
Unit 3: Socio-economic aspects of occupational health and safety
• Women and occupational health safety
• Child labour and occupational health
• Health problems in unorganised sector
Unit 4: Basics of preventive techniques
• Accident analysis
• Monitoring of hazards
• Reporting and investigation of accidents
• Prevention and control of accidents
• Ensuring safety measure
Unit 5: Health screening measures
• Stages of medical examination
• Occupational history
• Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)
• Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)
Unit 6: Occupational health and safety legislation in India
• Overview of the existing OHS legislation in India
• The Factories Act
• The Mines Act
• The Workmen’s Compensation Act
• The Employees’ State Insurance Act
• Present status of OHS legislation in India
Unit 7: Participatory research in occupational health
• Philosophy of participatory research
• Use of participatory research methods in occupational health
• Conducting participatory research for OHS

Table of Contents
S. No. Contents Page No.

Introduction 4
Learning Objectives 5
6.1 Overview of Existing OHS Legislation in India 6
6.2 Relevant Legislation in India 10
6.2.1 The Factories Act 10
6.2.2 The Mines Act 11
6.2.3 The Workmen’s Compensation Act 12
6.2.4 The Employees’ State Insurance Act 13
6.3 Inadequacy of OHS Legislation in India 15
Summary 17
Glossary of Terms 17
References 19
Recommended Readings 20
Annexures 21
Annexure-I: Guidelines from the Factories Act 21
Annexure-II: Guidelines from the Mines Act 35

Introduction
The Constitution of India enshrines detailed provisions for the rights of citizens (and
other persons) and the principles to be followed by states in the governance of the
country, known as the “Directive Principles of State Policy”. These Directive Principles
provide for securing the health of workers, both men and women, ensuring that children
are not abused at a tender age; that citizens are not forced by economic necessity to
enter into vocations which are not suited to their age or strength; that just and humane
conditions and maternity relief are provided at the workplace; and that the government
shall take steps, by suitable legislation or in any other way, to secure the participation of
workers in the management of undertakings, establishments or other organisations
engaged in any industry. On the basis of these Directive Principles, the Government of
India declares its policies, priorities, strategies and purpose through the exercise of its
power. It is committed to regulate all economic activities among the states and with
foreign nations for the management of occupational safety and health risks and to
provide measures for the protection of national assets, for general welfare and to
assure, as far as possible, every working man and woman in the nation a safe and
healthy working condition to preserve human resources.
Like most other countries, India thus tries to reinforce occupational health and safety
(OHS) by implementing laws which regulate the measures that companies have to take.
In order to guarantee a sufficient level of OHS throughout the country, these Acts lay
down very basic minimum requirements. In this way, the differences between states in
the administration of the Act can be minimised. Another intention of these detailed
provisions is to streamline the work of inspectors who have to examine the conditions of
work in factories, thereby implying that inspectors have expert knowledge of the subject.
The formulation of policies, priorities and strategies in OHS and the environment at
workplace is not undertaken by national authorities alone, but is done in consultation
with social partners, i.e., employees’ organisations, employers’ organisations,

autonomous and voluntary organisations, the public, etc, to ensure that the set
goals/objectives are met. The Government of India firmly believes that without safe and
healthy working conditions, social justice cannot be achieved and that the attainment of
safety and health at work is fundamental to economic growth.
Learning Objectives
After completing this Unit, you should be familiar with the following concepts and issues.
 The legislation available in India in relation to OHS

 Guidelines of major OHS legislation in India, namely, the Factories Act, the Mines
Act, the Employees’ State Insurance Act and the Workmen’s Compensation Act.
 Inadequacy of OHS legislation in India.

6.1 Overview of Existing OHS Legislation in India
The basic aim of the concerned law making and amending authorities is to devise laws
which provide safety standards to protect the basic needs of workers and take care of
their welfare. These laws are flexible enough to create rather than destroy jobs, and
increase the overall wellbeing of workers.
The main objectives of OHS related legislation are:
 Providing a statutory framework including the enactment of a general enabling

legislation on OHS in respect of all sectors of economic activities, and designing
suitable control systems of compliance, enforcement and incentives for better
compliance.
 Providing administrative and technical support services.
 Providing a system of incentives to employers and employees so that they achieve

higher health and safety standards.
 Establishing and developing research and development capabilities in emerging

areas of risk and effective control measures.
 Reducing the incidence of work related injuries, fatalities and diseases.
 Reducing the cost of workplace injuries and diseases.
 Increasing community awareness regarding areas related to OHS.

Table 1- List of OHS Related Legislation in India
1. Laws related to working hours, conditions of services and employment
1 The Factories Act, 1948
2 The Dock Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act, 1948
3 The Plantation Labour Act, 1951
4 The Mines Act, 1952
5 The Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service and
Misc. Provisions) Act, 1955
The Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service and
Misc. Provisions) Rules, 1957
6 The Merchant Shipping Act, 1958
7 The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961
8 The Beedi & Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966
9 The Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970
10 The Sales Promotion Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 1976
The Sales Promotion Employees (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1976
11 The Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service)

Act, 1979
12 The Shops and Establishments Act
13 The Cinema Workers and Cinema Theatre Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act, 1981
The Cinema Workers and Cinema Theatre Workers (Regulation of Employment) Rules,
1984
The Cine Workers’ Welfare Fund Act, 1981
14 The Dock Workers (Safety, Health & Welfare) Act, 1986
15 The Building & Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment & Conditions of
Service) Act, 1996
16 The Dock Workers (Regulation of Employment) (Inapplicability to Major Ports) Act, 1997

2. Laws related to equality and empowerment of women

1 The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961
2 The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
3 The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal)

Act, 2013
3. Laws related to equality and empowerment of children

1 The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976
2 The Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986
4. Laws related to social security

1 The Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923
2 The Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948
3 The Employees’ Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952
4 The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972
5. Laws related to labour welfare

1 The Mica Mines Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1946
2 The Limestone & Dolomite Mines Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1972
3 The Beedi Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1976
4 The Beedi Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1976
5 The Iron Ore Mines, Manganese Ore Mines & Chrome Ore Mines Labour Welfare Fund
Act, 1976
6 The Iron Ore Mines, Manganese Ore Mines & Chrome Ore Mines Labour Welfare Cess
Act, 1976
7 The Cine Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1981
8 The Cine Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1981
9 The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act,
1993

6. Laws related to employment & training
1 The Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Act, 1959
The Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Rules, 1959
2 The Apprentices Act, 1961
7. Other Relevant Legislation
1 The Fatal Accidents Act, 1855
2 The War Injuries Ordinance Act, 1941
3 The Weekly Holiday Act, 1942
4 The National and Festival Holidays Act
5 The War Injuries (Compensation Insurance) Act, 1943
6 The Personal Injuries (Emergency) Provisions Act, 1962
7 The Personal Injuries (Compensation Insurance) Act, 1963
8 The Coal Mines (Conservation and Development) Act, 1974
9 The Emigration Act, 1983
The Emigration Rules, 1983
10 The Labour Laws (Exemption from Furnishing Returns and Maintaining Register by
Certain Establishments) Act, 1988
11 The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991

6.2 Relevant Legislation in India
6.2.1 The Factories Act
This is an Act to consolidate and amend the law regulating labour in factories. It came
into force on the 1st day of April, 1949 as the Factories Act, 1948 and extends to the
whole of India (Government of India, 1948).
The legislation for labour welfare, known as the Factories Act, 1948, was enacted with
the prime objective of protecting workmen employed in factories against industrial and
occupational hazards. With that intent it imposes upon owners and occupiers certain
obligations to protect unwary as well as negligent workers and to secure employment
for them which is conducive and safe. The Act’s objective is to protect human beings
from being subjected to unduly long hours of bodily strain and manual labour. It
provides that employees should work in healthy and sanitary conditions as far as the
manufacturing process will allow and that precautions be taken for their safety and for
the prevention of accidents. In order to ensure that the objectives are carried out, local
governments are empowered to appoint inspectors to call for returns and to ensure that
the prescribed registers are duly maintained.
The Act provides for the health, safety, welfare and other aspects of OHS for workers in
factories. It is enforced by the state governments through their factory inspectorates. It
also empowers the state governments to frame rules, so that local conditions prevailing
in the state are appropriately reflected in the enforcement, to make the punishments
provided in the Act stricter and that opportunities are taken advantage of to make
certain other amendments found necessary in the implementation of the Act.
It should not be forgotten that the Act sanctions interference with the ordinary rights of
the citizen and that the inquisitorial powers that are given should be used with tact and
circumspection.

The provisions for workers’ safety, health and welfare are generally found to be
inadequate and unsatisfactory and even such protection as is provided by this
legislation does not extend to the large mass of workers employed in workplaces not
covered by the Act. In view of the large and growing industrial activities in the country, a
radical overhauling of the Factories Act is called for and cannot be delayed.
Some important provisions of this Act are available in Annexure I.
6.2.2 The Mines Act
This is an Act to amend and consolidate the law relating to the regulation of labour and
safety in mines and extends to the whole of India.
The Indian Mines Act which is related to the regulation and inspection of mines was
passed in 1923. Although it has since been amended in certain respects, the general
framework has remained unchanged. Experience of the Act’s working revealed a
number of defects and deficiencies which hampered its effective administration. Some
of these necessitated new forms of control, while others required the tightening of
existing legal provisions. Therefore, it was considered necessary to thoroughly overhaul
the existing Act to amend and consolidate the laws relating to the regulation of labour
and safety in mines, which resulted in the enactment of the Mines Act, 1952
(Government of India, 1952).
The significant obligations under the Mines Act and the Mines Rules, 1955 include the
formation of safety committees in every mine where more than 100 persons are
employed; providing a notification of accidents and the appointment of workmen’s
inspectors by the manager (one inspector for every 500 miners) (Government of India,
1952; Government of India, 1955). According to this Act the owner, agent or manager
has to remove any dangerous or defective situation, as per the directions of the
inspector. Further, the Act states that adolescents (not completed 15 years) are
prohibited from any mining operation; the initial and periodical examination of miners is
to be conducted and notice has to be provided for any notifiable diseases.

The Directorate of Mines is empowered to undertake safety and occupational health

surveys in the mines and the central government is empowered to appoint a
“competent” person for inquiring into the occupational diseases that have been
detected.
Some important provisions of this Act are available in Annexure II.
6.2.3 The Workmen’s Compensation Act
This is an Act that provides for the payment of compensation for injury by accident by
certain classes of employers to their workmen.
The objective of the Workmen’s Compensation Act is to make provision for the payment
of compensation to a workman only, i.e., to the concerned employee himself in case of
his surviving the injury in question and to his dependants in the case of his death
(Government of India, 1923).
An additional advantage of this type of legislation is that by increasing the importance of

adequate safety devices, it reduces the number of accidents that workmen have in a
manner that cannot be achieved by official inspection. Further, the encouragement
given to employers to provide adequate medical treatment for their workmen should
mitigate the effect of those accidents which occur very often. The benefit so conferred
on the workmen, added to the increased sense of security which they will enjoy, should
render industrial life more attractive and thus increase the available supply of labour. At
the same time, a corresponding increase in the efficiency of the average workman may
be expected. A system of insurance would prevent the burden from pressing too heavily
on any particular employer (Government of India, 1923).
The Act provides for cheaper and quicker disposal of disputes relating to compensation
through special tribunals are possible under the civil law. The passage of time has
widened the courts’ approach and their approach has become more liberal, leaning
towards the workman.

The Act relates to workers and the entire purpose of the statute is to see that the
weaker section of the community, namely, the working class is not caught in a tangle of
litigation which involves a protracted course of appeal.
6.2.4 The Employees’ State Insurance Act
This Act provides certain benefits to employees in case of sickness, maternity and
employment injury and makes provision for certain other matters in relation thereto. It
extends to the whole of India and shall apply in the first instance to all factories
(including factories belonging to the government) other than seasonal factories
(Government of India, 1948).1
The Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 is a piece of social welfare legislation
enacted primarily with the objective of providing certain benefits to employees in case of
sickness, maternity and employment injury and also to make provisions for certain other
matters incidental thereto. The Act tries to attain the goal of socio-economic justice
enshrined in the Directive Principles of State Policy under Part IV of the Constitution, in
particular, Articles 41, 42 and 43 which enjoin the State to make effective provision for
securing the right to work, to education and public assistance in cases of
unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, and in other cases of any
undeserved want, to make provision for securing just and human conditions of work and
maternity relief, and to secure by suitable legislation or economic organisation or in any
other way, to all workers, a living wage, decent standard of life and full enjoyment of
leisure and social and cultural activities. The Act strives to materialise these avowed
objectives though only to a limited extent.
The Act covers a wider spectrum than the Factories Act, in the sense that while the
Factories Act is concerned with the health, safety, welfare, leave, etc, of the workers
employed in a factory premises only, the benefits of the Employees’ State Insurance Act
extend to employees whether working inside the factory establishment or elsewhere, or
1
A factory which is exclusively engaged in one or more of the following manufacturing processes, namely, cotton,
jute processing, manufacture of coffee, indigo, lac, rubber, sugar (including gur) or tea (esi Coimbatore, 2014)

if they are directly employed or employed by the principal employer or through an

intermediate agency, if the employment is incidental or in connection with the work in
the factory or establishment, meaning thereby, under this Act, it is not the place of work,
but the nexus between the work and the factory or establishment which is important.
Elaborate machinery has been provided for the effective administration of the Act, the
apex body being the ESI Corporation, subordinate to which are the Standing Committee
and Medical Benefit Council. The Corporation is a public corporation controlled and
subsidised by the government for the benefit of employees. Its objective is to render
service to a penurious section of the public. The funds required for the scheme’s
functioning are raised from contributions, both from employers and employees, grants,
donations and gifts from governments, local bodies, individuals or bodies whether
corporate or not (ESI Fund). For adjudication of disputes and claims Employees’
Insurance Courts are being created. Provision for recovery of contribution, penalty and
damages for default, prosecution and punishment, etc, have also been provided as a
part of this Act.

6.3 Inadequacy of OHS Legislation in India
India has a large number of labour legislation enacted for the promotion and protection
of workers’ welfare. However, most of these labour laws look good only on paper,
because neither workers nor their representative unions are completely aware about
their ramifications nor do they take advantage of them. Consequently, despite
comprehensive legislation, the number of accidents in India is very high.
One of the reasons for this failure is the lack of enforcement; in such a case any law
would be useless. It has also been observed that in India the number of health and
factory inspectors is inadequate. Due to the scarcity of staff, it becomes impossible to
conduct regular visits to organisations/companies. In addition, inspectors respond only
when complaints are lodged or when accidents are reported. Also the inspectors are not
adequately equipped to respond to a complaint or an accident.
The other major reason for the non-satisfactory levels of OHS in factories is the
unsuitability of the centrally drafted regulations to local situations. Legislation are either
unrelated to the danger or do not take into account distinctive work situations.
Obviously, workplaces differ from one another. Legislation, which neglects these
differences, imposes very high costs on some workplaces, while others still remain
unsafe, despite complying with the requirements. For example, the Factories Act
requires minimum space for each worker to prevent overcrowding – 14.2 cubic metres
for factories built after the commencement of this Act and 9.9 cubic metres for older
ones. The actual checking of this requirement is carried out by the health inspector
based on the building plan of the facility. So, the total available space is divided by the
number of workers, and thus violations for single work spaces cannot be discovered.
Furthermore, the levied penalties are insignificant. Inspectors are in conflict between
being too easy on firms and bankrupting them. Especially in poor areas, where
unemployment plays an important role, the inspector would not only consider the health
of the employers, but also the security of their workplaces. The expected costs of non-
compliance with legislation (the product of fine and probability of being convicted)

therefore would be small compared to the expenses of improving the working

conditions.
Lastly, it takes time to formulate legislation in response to constantly changing

technologies. Laws are only made when safety problems have already occurred. They
are thus always some years behind the actual occurrence of hazards.
Only a small section on the Indian labour force is employed in the organised sector;
therefore the law does not necessarily cover a larger part of the workforce. In the
context of Indian situations, then, maybe, OHS hazards can be mitigated through
economic incentives. Economic incentives in this realm have several advantages over
regulations.
 First, in countries like India, where the enforcement of existing labour laws is lax,
firms tend to ignore regulations on OHS. Signals from the markets cannot be
ignored.
 Second, regulations prescribe a minimum level of measures for OHS. Once this
level is reached, there is no reason for further improvement. Economic incentives
do not stop at a certain level.
 Third, adapting the laws to new risks takes time. Economic incentives apply to new
hazards as well as old ones.
 Fourth, economic incentives measure the outcome of OHS, not the means.
Regulations prescribe certain means, which are intended to be effective.

Summary
In this Unit we have learnt about legislation in India in the context of ensuring OHS. The
key provisions within each legislation were highlighted. In conclusion, although these
laws exist, they remain inadequate.
Glossary of Terms
 Directive Principles of State Policy: Directive Principles of State Policy, given in

Part IV of the Constitution of India are certain directions to the central and state
governments to establish a just society in the country. The government must keep
them in mind while framing laws or policies. They are non-justiciable in nature and
they aim at achieving social and economic democracy for establishing a welfare
state. Directive Principles of State Policy have been borrowed from the Irish
Constitution. Directive Principles are classified under the following categories –
Gandhian, economic and socialistic, political and administrative, justice and legal,
environmental, protection of monuments, and peace and security.
 Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR): Established in 1965, and

formerly known as Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, the IITR, Lucknow, a
constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), is
dedicated to providing health safeguards to industrial and agricultural workers
through its rich knowledge base created painstakingly over the years. The main
campus is located on Mahatma Gandhi Marg in the city, while another campus is in
village Gheru on the Lucknow-Kanpur highway about 22 kilometres from the main
campus.
 National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH): Located in Ahmedabad, the

NIOH came into being in 1966. Originally designated as the Occupational Health
Research Institute, it was designated as the National Institute of Occupational

Health (NIOH) in 1970. NIOH has been carrying out significant studies on various
aspects of occupational/industrial health involving epidemiological studies and
surveillance of hazardous occupations including air pollution, noise pollution,
agricultural hazards and industrial hazards in organised sectors as well as small
scale industries, carcinogenesis, pesticide toxicology, etc, in different parts of
India, apart from laboratory and clinical studies for the recognition and evaluation
of risk factors for occupation/environment related diseases and designing of
appropriate measures for prevention of hazards and/or control of the risk factors at
workplaces. The NIOH has set up two regional centres, one at Bangalore
(southern region) and the other at Calcutta (eastern region), to deal with the
specific environmental health problems of these regions. The institute and its
regional centres’ research and development activities are directed at promoting the
health of the working population including women and ensuring a safe working
environment. The institute has achieved international status as a WHO
collaborative centre for occupational health for the South East Asia region and as
the lead institute for the international programme on chemical safety under IPCS
(WHO).
 National Labour Institute: The V.V. Giri National Labour Institute is a premier
national institution involved with research, training, education, publication and
consultancy on labour related issues. The institute, established in 1974, is an
autonomous body of the Ministry of Labour, Government of India.

References
ESI Coimbatore. (2014, January 28). Seasonal factory. Retrieved January 28, 2014,
from ESI Coimbatore: http://www.esicoimbatore.org/info/def_sfactory.htm
Government of India. (1923, March 5). The workmen's compensation act, 1923.
Retrieved June 3, 2014, from Ministry of Labour and Employment, Govt of India:
http://labour.nic.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/ActsandRules/SocitySecurity/TheWorkmenAc
t1923.pdf
Government of India. (1948, April 19). Employees' state insurance act, 1948. Retrieved
June 2, 2014, from Employees' State Insurance Corporation, Karnataka:
http://www.esickar.gov.in/esi_act.pdf
Government of India. (1948, September 23). The factories act. Retrieved June 3, 2014,
from Dept of Labour, Government of Punjab:
http://pblabour.gov.in/pdf/acts_rules/factories_act_1948.pdf
Government of India. (1952, March 15). The mines act. Retrieved June 3, 2014, from
Legal Office: FAOLEX: http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/ind132410.pdf
Government of India. (1955, July 2). The mines rules. Retrieved June 3, 2014, from
Ministry of Coal, Govt of India: http://coal.nic.in/weboflife-minesafety/mr.pdf

Recommended Readings
 Government of India, 2005, Bare Act: The Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948
(Act No. 34 of 1948). Commercial Law Publishers (India) Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
 Government of India. 2005, Bare Act: The Factories Act, 1948 (Act No. 63 of
1948), Commercial Law Publishers (India) Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, Government of
India 2005, Bare Act: The Mines Act, 1952 (Act No. 35 of 1955), Commercial
Law Publishers (India) Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
 Government of India 2005, Bare Act: The Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923
(Act No. 8 of 1923), Commercial Law Publishers (India) Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
 Ontario Federation of Labour 1982, Occupational Health and Safety: A Training

Manual, Copp Clark Pitman, Toronto
 Pandey Rajesh, Kanhere Vijay, July 1993, Activists’ Handbook of Occupational

Health and Safety, PRIA, New Delhi
 Kanhere Vijay, February 1995, Compensation is not a dirty word, Bulletin on

occupational and environmental health, PRIA, New Delhi
 Kulkarni G. K., March 2009, Implementation of occupational health legislation at
workplace, issues and concerns, www.ijoem.com

Annexures
Annexure-I
The Factories Act

Some important provisions of the Factories Act are given below.
Section 2: According to Section 2 of this Act:
“Hazardous process” means any process or activity in relation to an industry specified

in the First Schedule where, unless special care is taken, raw materials used therein or
the intermediate or finished products, by-products, wastes or effluents thereof would
cause material impairment to the health of the persons engaged in or connected
therewith, or result in the pollution of the general environment.
“Day” means a period of 24 hours beginning at midnight.
“Machinery” includes prime movers, transmission machinery and all other appliances
whereby power is generated, transformed, transmitted or applied.
“Manufacturing process” means any process for making, altering, repairing,

ornamenting, finishing, packing, oiling, washing, cleaning, breaking up, demolishing, or
otherwise treating or adapting any article or substance with a view to its use, sale,
transport, delivery or disposal, or pumping oil, water, sewage or any other substance; or
generating, transforming or transmitting power; or composing types for printing, printing
by letter press, lithography, photogravure or other similar processes or book binding; or
constructing, reconstructing, repairing, refitting, finishing or breaking up ships or
vessels; or preserving or storing any article in cold storage.
“Worker” means a person [employed, directly or by or through any agency (including a

contractor) with or without the knowledge of the principal employer, whether for
remuneration or not], in any manufacturing process, or in cleaning any part of the
machinery or premises used for a manufacturing process, or in any other kind of work
incidental to, or connected with the manufacturing process, or the subject of the

manufacturing process [but does not include any member of the armed forces of the
Union].
“Factory” means any premises including the precincts thereof whereon ten or more
workers are working, or were working on any day of the preceding twelve months, and
in any part of which a manufacturing process is being carried on with the aid of power,
or is ordinarily so carried on, or whereon twenty or more workers are working, or were
working on any day of the preceding twelve months, and in any part of which a
manufacturing process is being carried on without the aid of power, or is ordinarily so
carried on.
“Occupier” of a factory refers to the person who has ultimate control over the affairs of
the factory.
Section 5: Power to exempt during public emergency
In any case of public emergency the State Government may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, exempt any factory or class or description of factories from all or any of
the provisions of this Act, [except Section 67] for such period and subject to such
conditions as it may think fit, provided that no such notification shall be made for a
period exceeding three months at a time. (For the purposes of this Section “public
emergency” means a grave emergency whereby the security of India or of any part of
the territory thereof is threatened, whether by war or external aggression of internal
disturbance.)
Section 6: Approval, licensing and registration of factories
The State Government may make rules requiring, for the purposes of this Act, the
submission of plans of any class or description of factories to the Chief Inspector or the
State Government; requiring the previous permission in writing of the State Government
or the Chief Inspector to be obtained for the site on which the factory is to be situated
and for the construction or extension of any factory or class or description of factories;
requiring for the purpose of considering application for such permission the submission

of plans and specifications and other details relating to the registration and licensing of
factories.
Section 7A: General duties of the occupier
Every occupier shall ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and
welfare of all workers while they are at work in the factory.
Section 7B: General duties of manufactures, etc, as regards articles and

substances for use in factories
They shall ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the article is so designed
and constructed as to be safe and without risks to the health of the workers when
properly used.
Section 8: Inspectors
The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint such persons
who possess the prescribed qualification to be Inspectors for the purposes of this Act
and may assign to them such local limits as it may think fit or appoint any person to be a
Chief Inspector who shall, in addition to the powers conferred on a Chief Inspector
under this Act, exercise the powers of an Inspector throughout the State.
Section 9: Powers of Inspectors
Subject to any rules made in this behalf, an Inspector may, within the local limits for
which he is appointed, enter, with such assistants, being persons in the service of the
Government, or any local or other public authority, [or with an expert] as he thinks fit,
any place which is used, or which he has reason to believe is used, as a factory; make
examination of the premises, plant, machinery, article or substance; inquire into any
accident or dangerous occurrence, whether resulting in bodily injury, disability or not;
etc.
Section 11: Cleanliness
Every factory shall be kept clean and free from effluvia arising from any drain, privy or
other nuisance.

Section 12: Disposal of wastes and effluents
Effective arrangements shall be made in every factory for the treatment of wastes and
effluents due to the manufacturing process carried on therein, so as to render them
innocuous and for their disposal.
Section 13: Ventilation and temperature
Effective and suitable provision shall be made in every factory for securing and
maintaining in every workroom adequate ventilation by the circulation of fresh air, and
such a temperature as will secure to workers therein reasonable conditions of comfort
and prevent injury to health.
Section 14: Dust and fumes
In every factory in which, by reason of the manufacturing process carried on, there is
given off any dust or fumes or other impurities of such a nature and to such an extent as
is likely to be injurious or offensive to the workers employed therein.
Section 16: Overcrowding
No room in any factory shall be overcrowded to an extent that is injurious to the health
of the workers employed therein.
Section 17: Lighting
In every part of a factory where workers are working or passing there shall be provided
and maintained sufficient and suitable lighting, natural or artificial, or both.
Section 21: Fencing of machinery
In every factory the following, namely, every moving part of a prime mover and every
flywheel connected to a prime mover whether the prime mover or flywheel is in the
engine house or not; the headrace and tailrace of every water-wheel and water turbine;
any part of a stock-bar which projects beyond the head stock of a lathe; and unless they
are in such position or of such construction as to be safe to every person employed in
the factory as they would be if they were securely fenced, shall be securely fenced by
safeguards of substantial construction which [shall be constantly maintained and kept in
position] while the parts of machinery they are fencing are in motion or in use.

Section 22: Work on or near machinery in motion
Where in any factory it becomes necessary to examine any part of machinery referred
to in Section 21, while the machinery is in motion, such examination or operation shall
be made or carried out only by a specially trained adult male worker wearing tight fitting
clothing (which shall be supplied by the occupier) whose name has been recorded in
the register prescribed in this behalf and who has been furnished with a certificate of his
appointment.
Section 23: Employment of young persons on dangerous machines
No young person [shall be required or allowed to work] at any machine to which this
Section applies, unless he has been fully instructed as to the dangers arising in
connection with the machine and the precautions to be observed and has received
sufficient training in work at the machine.
Section 28: Hoists and lifts
In every factory every hoist and lift shall be of good mechanical construction, sound
material and adequate strength and properly maintained, and shall be thoroughly
examined by a competent person at least once in every period of six months.
Section 34: Excessive weights
No person shall be employed in any factory to lift, carry or move any load so heavy as
to be likely to cause him injury.
Section 35: Protection of eyes
In respect of any such manufacturing process carried on in any factory as may be

prescribed, being a process which involves risk of injury to the eyes from particles or
fragments thrown off in the course of the process, or risk to the eyes by reason of
exposure to excessive light, the State Government may by rules require that effective
screens or suitable goggles shall be provided for the protection of persons employed
on, or in the immediate vicinity of the process.

Section 37: Explosive or inflammable dust, gas, etc.,
Where in any factory any manufacturing process produces dust, gas, fumes or vapour
of such character and to such extent as to be likely to explode on ignition, all practicable
measures shall be taken to prevent any such explosion by effective enclosure of the
plant or machinery used in the process; removal or prevention of the accumulation of
such dust, gas, fumes or vapour; exclusion or effective enclosure of all possible sources
of ignition.
Section 38: Precautions in case of fire
In every factory, all practicable measures shall be taken to prevent outbreak of fire and
its spread, both internally and externally, and to provide and maintain safe means of
escape for all persons in the event of a fire, and the necessary equipment and facilities
for extinguishing fire.
Section 40: Safety of buildings and machinery
If it appears to the Inspector that any building or part of a building or any part of the
ways, machinery or plant in a factory is in such a condition that it is dangerous to human
life or safety, he may serve on [the occupier or manager or both] of the factory an order
in writing specifying the measures which in his opinion should be adopted, and requiring
them to be carried out before a specified date.
Section 40B: Safety Officers
In every factory, wherein one thousand or more workers are ordinarily employed, or
wherein, in the opinion of the State Government, any manufacturing process or
operation is carried on, which process or operation involves any risk of bodily injury,
poisoning or disease, or any other hazard to health, to the persons employed in the
factory, the occupier shall, if so required by the State Government by notification in the
Official Gazette, employ such number of Safety Officers as may be specified in that
notification. The duties, qualifications and conditions of service of Safety Officers shall
be such as may be prescribed by the State Government.

Section 41B: Compulsory disclosure of information by the occupier
The occupier of every factory involving a hazardous process shall disclose in the
manner prescribed all information regarding dangers, including health hazards and the
measures to overcome such hazards arising from the exposure to or handling of the
materials or substances in the manufacture, transportation, storage and other
processes, to the workers employed in the factory, the Chief Inspector, the local
authority within whose jurisdiction the factory is situated and the general public in the
vicinity.
Section 41C: Specific responsibility of the occupier in relation to hazardous

processes
Every occupier of a factory involving any hazardous process shall maintain accurate
and up-to-date health records or, as the case may be, medical records, of the workers
in the factory who are exposed to any chemical, toxic or any other harmful substances
which are manufactured, stored, handled or transported and such records shall be
accessible to the workers subject to such conditions as may be prescribed; appoint
persons who possess qualifications and experience in handling hazardous substances
and are competent to supervise such handling within the factory and to provide at the
working place all the necessary facilities for protecting the workers in the manner
prescribed.
Section 41D: Power of Central Government to appoint Inquiry Committee
The Central Government may, in the event of the occurrence of an extraordinary

situation, involving a factory engaged in a hazardous process, appoint an Inquiry
Committee to inquire into the standards of health and safety observed in the factory with
a view to finding out the causes of any failure or neglect in the adoption of any
measures or standards prescribed for the health and safety of the workers employed in
the factory or the general public affected or likely to be affected, due to such failure or
neglect and for the prevention and recurrence of such extraordinary situations in the
future in such factory or elsewhere.

41E: Emergency standards
Where the Central Government is satisfied that no standards of safety have been
prescribed in respect of a hazardous process or class of hazardous processes, or
where the standards so prescribed are inadequate, it may direct the Director-General of
Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes or any institution specialising in matters
relating to standards of safety in hazardous processes, to lay down emergency
standards for enforcement of suitable standards in respect of such hazardous
processes.
41F: Permissible limits of exposure of chemical and toxic substances
The maximum permissible threshold limits of exposure of chemical and toxic

substances in manufacturing processes (whether hazardous or otherwise) in any factory
shall be of the value indicated in the Second Schedule.
41G: Workers participation in safety management
The occupier shall, in every factory where a hazardous process takes place, or where
hazardous substances are used or handled, set up a Safety Committee consisting of an
equal number of representatives of workers and management to promote cooperation
between the workers and the management in maintaining proper safety and health at
work and to review periodically the measures taken in that behalf.
41H: Right of workers to warn about imminent danger
Where the workers employed in any factory engaged in a hazardous process have
reasonable apprehension that there is a likelihood of imminent danger to their lives or
health due to any accident, they may bring the same to the notice of the occupier,
agent, manager or any other person who is in charge of the factory or the process
concerned directly or through their representatives in the Safety Committee and
simultaneously bring the same to the notice of the Inspector. It shall be the duty of such
occupier, agent, manager or the person in charge of the factory or process to take
immediate remedial action if he is satisfied about the existence of such imminent danger
and send a report forthwith of the action taken to the nearest Inspector.

Section 45: First-aid appliances
There shall in every factory be provided and maintained, so as to be readily accessible

during all working hours, first-aid boxes or cupboards equipped with the prescribed
contents, and the number of such boxes or cupboards to be provided and maintained
shall not be less than one for every one hundred and fifty workers ordinarily employed
[at any one time] in the factory.
Section 51: Weekly hours
No adult worker shall be required or allowed to work in a factory for more than 48 hours
in any week.
Section 54: Daily hours
Subject to the provisions of Section 51, no adult worker shall be required or allowed to
work in a factory for more than nine hours in any day.
Section 55: Intervals for rest
The periods of work for adult workers in a factory each day shall be so fixed that no
period shall exceed five hours and that no worker shall work for more than five hours
before he has had an interval of rest for at least half an hour.
Section 57: Night shifts
Where a worker in a factory works on a shift which extends beyond midnight, for the
purposes of Sections 52 and 53, a holiday for a whole day shall mean in his case a
period of 24 consecutive hours beginning when his shift ends; the following day for him
shall be deemed to be the period of 24 hours beginning when such shift ends, and the
hours he has worked after midnight shall be counted in the previous day.
Section 58: Prohibition of overlapping shifts
Work shall not be carried on in any factory by means of a system of shifts so arranged
that more than one relay of workers is engaged in work of the same kind at the same
time.

Section 66: Further restrictions on employment of women
The provisions of this Chapter shall, in their application to women in factories, be

supplemented by the further restrictions, like no exemption from the provisions of
Section 54 may be granted in respect of any woman; no woman shall be [required or
allowed to work in any factory] except between the hours of 6 A.M. and 7 P.M.; there
shall be no change of shifts except after a weekly holiday or any other holiday.
Section 67: Prohibition of employment of young children
No child who has not completed his 14th year shall be required or allowed to work in any
factory.
Section 69: Certificates of fitness
A certifying surgeon shall, on the application of any young person or his parent or
guardian accompanied by a document signed by the manager of a factory that such
person will be employed therein if certified to be fit for work in a factory, or on the
application of the manager of the factory in which any young person wishes to work,
examine such person and ascertain his fitness for work in a factory.
Section 71: Working hours for children
No child shall be employed or permitted to work in any factory
a) For more than four and a half hours in any day;
b) During the night.
Section 73: Register of child workers
The manager of every factory in which children are employed shall maintain a register
of child workers, to be available to the Inspector at all times during working hours or
when any work is being carried on in a factory.
Section 75: Power to require medical examination
Where an Inspector is of the opinion that any person working in a factory without a
certificate of fitness is a young person, or that a young person working in a factory with
a certificate of fitness is no longer fit to work in the capacity stated therein he may serve

on the manager of the factory a notice requiring that such person or young person, as
the case may be, shall be examined by a certifying surgeon, and such person or young
person shall not, if the Inspector so directs, be employed, or permitted to work, in any
factory until he has been so examined and has been granted a certificate of fitness or a
fresh certificate of fitness, as the case may be, under Section 69, or has been certified
by the certifying surgeon examining him not to be a young person.
Section 87: Dangerous operations
Where the State Government is of opinion that any [manufacturing process or

operation] carried on in a factory exposes any persons employed in it to a serious risk of
bodily injury, poisoning or disease, it may make rules applicable to any factory or class
or description of factories in which the [manufacturing process or operation] is carried
on.
Section 87A: Power to prohibit employment on account of serious hazard.
(1) Where it appears to the Inspector that conditions in a factory or part thereof are such
that they may cause serious hazard by way of injury or death to the persons employed
therein or to the general public in the vicinity, he may, by order in writing to the occupier
of the factory, state the particulars in respect of which he considers the factory or part
thereof to be the cause of such serious hazard and prohibit such occupier from
employing any person in the factory or any part thereof other than the minimum number
of persons necessary to attend to the minimum tasks till the hazard is removed.
Section 88A: Notice of certain accidents
Where in any factory an accident occurs which causes death, or which causes any
bodily injury by reason of which the person injured is prevented from working for a
period of 48 hours or more immediately following the accident, or which is of such
nature as may be prescribed in this behalf, the manager of the factory shall send notice
thereof to such authorities, and in such form and within such time, as may be
prescribed.

Section 89: Notice of certain diseases
Where any worker in a factory contracts any disease specified in [the Third Schedule],
the manager of the factory shall send notice thereof to such authorities, and in such
form and within such time, as may be prescribed. If any medical practitioner attends on
a person who is or has been employed in a factory, and who is or is believed by the
medical practitioner to be, suffering from any disease [specified in the Third Schedule],
the medical practitioner shall without delay send a report in writing to the office of the
Chief Inspector stating the name and full postal address of the patient, the disease from
which he believes the patient to be suffering, and the name and address of the factory
in which the patient is, or was last, employed.
Section 90: Power to direct enquiry into cases of accident or disease
The State Government may, if it considers it expedient so to do, appoint a competent

person to inquire into the causes of any accident occurring in a factory or into any case
where a disease specified [in the Third Schedule] has been, or is suspected to have
been, contracted in a factory, and may also appoint one or more persons possessing
legal or special knowledge to act as assessors in such inquiry.
Section 91: Power to take samples
An Inspector may at any time during the normal working hours of a factory, after
informing the occupier or manager of the factory or other person for the time being
purporting to be in charge of the factory, take in the manner hereinafter provided a
sufficient sample of any substance used or intended to be used in the factory.
Section 91A: Safety and occupational health surveys
The Chief Inspector, or the Director General of Factory Advice Service and Labour
Institutes, or the Director General of Health Services, to the Government of India, or
such other officer as may be authorised in this behalf by the State Government or the
Chief Inspector or the Director General of Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes
or the Director General of Health Services may, at any time during the normal working
hours of a factory, or at any other time as is found by him to be necessary, after giving
notice in writing to the occupier or manager of the factory or any other person who for

the time being purports to be in charge of the factory, undertake safety and occupational
health surveys and such occupier or manager or other person shall afford all facilities
for such survey, including facilities for the examination and testing of plant and
machinery and collection of samples and other data relevant to the survey.
Section 92: General penalty for offences
Save as is otherwise expressly provided in this Act and subject to the provisions of
Section 93, if in, or in respect of, any factory there is any contravention of any of the
provisions of this Act or of any rules made there under or of any order in writing given
there under, the occupier and manager of the factory shall each be guilty of an offence
and punishable with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to [two years] or with
fine which may extend to [one lakh rupees] or with both, and if the contravention is
continued after conviction, with a further fine which may extend to [one thousand
rupees] for each day on which the contravention is so continued. The fine shall not be
less than [25,000 thousand rupees] in the case of an accident causing death, and [5000
rupees] in the case of an accident causing serious bodily injury.
Section 94: Enhanced penalty after previous conviction
If any person who has been convicted of any offence punishable under Section 92 is
again guilty of an offence involving a contravention of the same provision, he shall be
punishable on a subsequent conviction with imprisonment for a term which may extend
to [3 years] or with fine [which shall not be less than 10,000 rupees] but which may
extend to [2,00,000 rupees] or with both.
Section 95: Penalty for obstructing Inspector
Whoever wilfully obstructs an Inspector in the exercise of any power conferred on him
by or under this Act, or fails to produce on demand by an Inspector any registers or
other documents in his custody kept in pursuance of this Act or of any rules made there
under, or conceals or prevents any worker in a factory from appearing before, or being
examined by, an Inspector, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to [6 months] or with fine which may extend to [10,000 rupees] or with both.

Section 97: Offences by workers
Subject to the provisions of Section 111, if any worker employed in a factory

contravenes any provision of this Act or any rules or orders made there under, imposing
any duty or liability on workers, he shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to
[500 rupees].
Section 98: Penalty for using false certificate of fitness
Whoever knowingly uses or attempts to use, as a certificate of fitness granted to himself

under Section 70, a certificate granted to another person under that Section, or who,
having procured such a certificate, knowingly allows it to be used, or an attempt to use it
to be made, by another person, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which
may extend to [2 months] or with a fine which may extend to [1,000 rupees] or with both.
Section 111A: Right of workers
Every worker shall have the right to obtain from the occupier, information relating to
workers’ health and safety at work, get trained within the factory wherever possible, or,
to get himself sponsored by the occupier for getting trained at a training centre or
institute, duly approved by the Chief Inspector, where training is imparted for workers’
health and safety at work and represent it to the Inspector directly or through his
representative in the matter of inadequate provision for protection of his health or safety
in the factory.
Section 112: General power to make rules
The State Government may make rules providing for any matter which, under any of the
provisions of this Act, is to be or may be prescribed or which may be considered
expedient in order to give effect to the purposes of this Act.
Section 113: Powers of Centre to give directions
The Central Government may give directions to a State Government as to the carrying
out of the execution of the provisions of this Act.

Annexure-II
The Mines Act
Some important provisions of the Mines Act are given below.
Section 2: According to Section 2 of this Act:
A person is said to be “employed” in a mine who works as the manager or who works
under appointment by the owner; agent or manager of the mine or with the knowledge
of the manager, whether for wages or not.
“Mine” means excavation where any operation for, the purpose of searching for or
obtaining minerals has been or is being carried on.
“Minerals” means all substances which can be obtained from the earth by mining,
digging, drilling, dredging, hydraulics, quarrying or by any other operation and includes
mineral oils (which in turn include natural gas and petroleum).
“Reportable injury” means any injury other than a serious bodily injury which involves,
or in all probability will involve, the enforced absence of the injured person from work for
a period of 72 hours or more.
“Serious bodily injury” means any injury which involves, or in all probability will
involve, the permanent loss of any part or section, of a body, or the use of any part or
section of a body, or the permanent loss of or injury to the sight or hearing or any
permanent physical incapacity or the fracture of any bone or one or more joints or
bones of any phalanges of the hands or feet.
Section 5: Chief Inspector and Inspectors
The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint such a
person as possesses the prescribed qualifications to be Chief Inspector of Mines for all
the territories to which this Act extends and such persons that possess the prescribed
qualifications to be Inspectors of Mines subordinate to the Chief Inspector. No person

shall be appointed to be Chief Inspector or an Inspector, or having been appointed shall

continue to hold such office, who is or becomes directly or indirectly interested in any
mine or mining rights in India.
Section 6: Functions of Inspectors
The Chief Inspector may, with the approval of the Central Government and subject to
such restrictions or conditions as he may think fit to impose, by order in writing,
authorise any Inspector named or any class of Inspectors specified in the order to
exercise such of the powers of the Chief Inspector under this Act (other than those
relating to appeals) as he may specify. The Chief Inspector may, by order in writing,
prohibit or restrict the exercise by any Inspector named or any class of Inspectors
specified in the order of any power conferred on Inspectors under this Act. Subject to
the other provisions contained in this Section, the Chief Inspector shall declare the local
area or areas within which or the group or class of mines with respect to which
Inspectors shall exercise their respective powers.
Section 7: Powers of Inspectors of Mines
The Chief Inspector and any Inspector may make such examination and inquiry as he
thinks fit in order to ascertain whether the provisions of this Act and of the regulations,
rules and bye laws and of any orders made there under are observed in the case of any
mine; with such assistants, if any, as he thinks fit, enter, inspect and examine any mine
or any part thereof at any time by day or night, provided that the power conferred by this
clause shall not be exercised in such a manner as to be unreasonable and to impede or
obstruct the working of the mine.
Section 9: Facilities to be afforded to Inspectors
Every owner, agent and manager of a mine shall afford the Chief Inspector and every
Inspector and every person authorised under Section 8 all reasonable facilities for
making any entry, inspection, survey, measurement, examination or inquiry under this
Act.

Section 9A: Facilities to be provided for occupational health survey
The Chief Inspector or an Inspector or other officer authorised by him in writing in this
behalf may, at any time during the normal working hours of the mine or at any time by
day or night as may be necessary, undertake a safety and occupational health survey in
a mine after giving notice in writing to the manager of the mine; and the owner, agent or
manager of the mine shall afford all necessary facilities (including facilities for the
examination and testing of plant and machinery, for the collection of samples and other
data pertaining to the survey and for the transport and examination of any person
employed in the mine chosen for the survey) to such Inspector or officer.
Section 10: Secrecy of information obtained
All copies of, and extracts from, registers or other off appertaining to any mine and all
other information acquired by the Chief Inspector or an Inspector or by any one
assisting him in the course of the inspection of any mine under this Act or acquired by
any person authorised under Section 9A in the exercise of his duties there under shall
be regarded as confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person or authority unless
the Chief Inspector or the Inspector considers disclosure necessary to ensure the health
safety or welfare of any person employed in the mine or in any other mine adjacent
thereto.
Section 18: Duties and responsibilities of owners, agents and managers
The owner and agent of every mine shall each be responsible for making financial and
other provisions and for taking such other steps as may be necessary for compliance
with the provisions of this Act and the regulations, rules, bye-laws and orders made
there under.

Section 21: Medical appliances
In every mine there shall be provided and maintained so as to be readily accessible

during all working hours such number of first-aid boxes or cupboards equipped with
such contents as may be prescribed. Nothing except the prescribed contents shall be
kept in a first-aid box or cupboard or room. Every first-aid box or cupboard shall be kept
in the charge of a responsible person who is trained in such first-aid treatment as may
be prescribed and who shall always be readily available during the working hours of the
mine. In every mine there shall be made so as to be readily available such
arrangements as may be prescribed for the conveyance to hospitals or dispensaries of
persons who, while employed in the mine, suffer bodily injury or become ill. In every
mine wherein more than 150 persons are employed, there shall be provided and
maintained a first-aid room of such size with such equipment and in the charge of such
medical and nursing staff as may be prescribed.
Section 22: Powers of Inspectors when causes of danger not expressly provided
against exist or when employment of persons is dangerous
If, in respect of any matter for which no express provision is made by or under this Act,
it appears to the Chief Inspector or an Inspector that any mine or part thereof or any
matter, thing or practice in or connected with the mine, or with the control, supervision,
management or direction thereof, is dangerous to human life or safety or defective so as
to threaten, or tend to, the bodily injury of any person, he may give notice in writing
thereof to the owner, agent or manager of the mine and shall state in the notice the
particulars in respect of which he considers the mine or part thereof or the matter, thing
or practice to be dangerous or defective and require the same to be remedied within
such time and in such manner as he may specify in the notice. If the Chief Inspector, or
an Inspector authorised on this behalf, is of opinion that there is urgent and immediate
danger to the life or safety of any person employed in any mine or part thereof, he may,
by order in writing containing a statement of the grounds of his opinion, prohibit, [until he
is satisfied that the danger is removed] the employment in or about the mine or any part

thereof of any person whose employment is not in his opinion reasonably necessary for
the purpose of removing the danger.
Section 23: Notice to be given of accidents
Whenever there occurs in or about a mine an accident causing loss of life or serious
bodily injury, or an explosion, ignition, spontaneous heating, outbreak of fire or eruption
or inrush of water or other liquid matter, or an influx of inflammable or noxious gases, or
a breakage of ropes, chains or other gear by which persons or materials are lowered or
raised in a shaft or an incline, or an over winding of cages or other means of
conveyance in any shaft while persons or materials are being lowered or raised, or a
premature collapse of any part of the workings, any other accident which may be
prescribed, the owner, agent or manager of the mine shall give notice of the occurrence
to such authority in such form and within such time as may be prescribed, and he shall
simultaneously post one copy of the notice on a special notice board in the prescribed
manner at a place where it may be inspected by trade union officials, and shall ensure
that the notice is kept on the board for not less than fourteen days from the date of such
posting.
Section 24: Power of government to appoint a court of inquiry in cases of

accidents
When any accident occurs in or about a mine, the Central Government may, if it is of
opinion that a formal inquiry into the causes of and circumstances attending the
accident ought to be held, appoint a competent person to hold such inquiry and may
also appoint one or more persons possessing legal or special knowledge to act as
assessor or assessors in holding the inquiry.
Section 25: Notice of certain diseases
Where any person employed in a mine contracts any disease notified by the Central
Government in the Official Gazette as a disease connected with mining operations, the
owner, agent or manager of the mine, as the case may be, shall send notice thereof to

the Chief Inspector and to such other authorities, in such form and within such time as
may be prescribed. If any medical practitioner attends on a person who is or has been
employed in a mine and who is or is believed by the medical practitioner to be suffering
from any disease notified under sub section (1), the medical practitioner shall without
delay send a report in writing to the Chief Inspector stating the name and address of the
patient, the disease from which the patient is or is believed to be suffering, and the
name and address of the mine in which the patient is or was last employed. Where the
report under sub-section is confirmed to the satisfaction of the Chief Inspector by the
certificate of a certifying surgeon or otherwise that the person is suffering from a
disease notified under sub-section (1), the Chief Inspector shall pay to the medical
practitioner such fee as may be prescribed, and the fee so paid shall be recoverable as
an arrear of land revenue from the owner, agent or manager of the mine in which the
person contracted the disease. If any medical practitioner fails to comply with the
provisions of sub-section (2), he shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to 50
rupees.
Section 26: Power to direct investigation of causes of disease
The Central Government may, if it considers it expedient to do so, appoint a competent

person to inquire into and report to it on any case where a disease notified under sub
section (1) of Section 25 has been or is suspected to have been contracted in a mine,
and may also appoint one or more persons possessing legal or special knowledge to
act as assessors in such an inquiry.
Section 27: Publication of reports
The Central Government may cause any report submitted by a Committee under 2
[Section 12] or any report or extracts from any report submitted to it under Section 26,
and shall cause every report submitted by a court of inquiry under Section 24 to be
published at such time and in such manner as it may think fit.

Section 31: Hours of work below ground
No adult employed below ground in a mine shall be allowed to work for more than 48
hours in any week or for more than eight hours in any day, provided that, subject to the
previous approval of the Chief Inspector, the daily maximum hours specified in this sub-
section may be exceeded in order to facilitate the change of shifts.
Section 34: Prohibition of employment of certain persons
No person shall be required or allowed to work in a mine if he has already been working
in any other mine within the preceding 12 hours.
Section 43: Power to require medical examination

Where an Inspector is of the opinion that any person employed in a mine otherwise than
as an apprentice or other trainee is not an adult or that any person employed in a mine
as an apprentice or other trainee is either below 16 years of age or is no longer fit to
work, the Inspector may serve on the manager of the mine a notice requiring that such
person shall be examined by a certifying surgeon and such person shall not, if the
Inspector so directs, be employed or permitted to work in any mine until he has been so
examined and has been certified that he is an adult or, if such person is an apprentice
or trainee, that he is not below 16 years of age and is fit to work.
Section 45: Prohibition of the presence of persons below 18 years of age in a

mine
After such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette,
appoint in this behalf, no person below 18 years of age shall be allowed to be present in
any part of a mine above ground where any operation connected with or incidental to
any mining operation is being carried on.
Section 46: Employment of women

No woman shall, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, be employed in
any part of a mine which is below ground; in any mine above ground except between

the hours of 6 A.M. and 7 P.M. Every woman employed in a mine above ground shall be
allowed an interval of not less than 11 hours between the termination of employment on
any one day and the commencement of the next period of employment.
Section 70: Notice of accidents

Whoever in contravention of the provision of Section 23 fails to give notice of any
accidental occurrence or record in the prescribed register, or to post a copy of the notice
on the special notice board referred to in that sub section and to keep it there for the
period specified shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to
three months, or with a fine which may extend to 500 rupees, or with both.
Section 72C: Special provision for contravention of law with dangerous results
Whoever contravenes any provision of this Act or of any regulation, rule or bye-law shall
be punishable if such contravention results in loss of life, with imprisonment which may
extend to two years, or with a fine which may extend to 5000 rupees, or with both; or if
such contravention results in serious bodily injury, with imprisonment which may extend
to one year, or with a fine which may extend to 3000 rupees, or with both; or if such
contravention otherwise causes injury or danger to persons employed in the mine or
other persons in or about the mine, with imprisonment which may extend to three
months, or with a fine which may extend to 1000 rupees, or with both.
The Mines Rules, 2nd July 1955
Section 23: Powers of certifying surgeon
A certifying surgeon may within the local limits of his jurisdiction or in respect of mines
or class or description of mines assigned to him make such inspection, examination or
inquiry as the thinks fit for the purpose of the Act and it shall be the duty of owner, agent
or manager of the mine concerned to afford the certifying surgeon all reasonable
facilities for carrying out such inspections, examination or inquiry as the case may be.

Section 29B: Initial and periodical medical examinations
After such date or dates as the Central Government may by notification in the Official
Gazette appoint in this behalf, the owner, agent or manager of every mine shall make
arrangements for the initial medical examination of every person employed in the mine
within a period of five years of the date so notified and the said examination shall be so
arranged over a period of five years that one-fifth of the persons employed at the mine
undergo the examination every year.
Section 29 Q: Workmen’s Inspector
For every mine wherein 500 or more persons are ordinarily employed, the owner, agent
or manager shall designate three suitably qualified employees of the mine in
consultation with the registered trade union in the mine and where there are more than
one registered trade union the union recognised as per procedure in practice or the
most representative union as per the membership records available at that point of time
and if there are no registered trade unions, in consultation with the elected
representative of the workmen, as technical experts to carry out inspection of the mine
on behalf of the workers employed therein, one each for mining operations, electrical
installations and mechanical installations. When the number of persons employed in a
mine exceeds 1500, the Workmen’s Inspector shall be assisted by one additional
Workmen’s Inspector in mining discipline for every additional 1000 persons or part
thereof.
No person shall act as a Workmen’s Inspector of a mine unless he possesses an

Overman’s or Foreman’s Certificate granted under the Act, he has at least five years of
experience in mines including at least two years in workings of the mines for which he is
nominated; and he has undergone an orientation training course for Workmen’s
Inspector consisting of not less than thirty lectures and demonstrations, of not less than
two hours duration each, in accordance with the syllabus specified by and at a centre
approved by the Chief Inspector by a general or special order.

Section 29 R: Duties of Workmen’s Inspector
The duties of the Workmen’s Inspector of workers are to inspect all shafts, inclines,
roads, workplaces and the equipment thereat including the equipment for conveyance
and transport of workers; in case of any urgent and immediate danger that comes to his
notice he is supposed to inform the manager and the inspector about the same; and to
suggest remedial measures necessary to avoid the danger. The Workmen’s Inspector
shall record a full report of the matters ascertained as a result of this inspection in an
interleaved paged and bound register kept for the purpose at the mine. The Workmen’s
Inspector making the entry in the register aforesaid shall duly sign such entries with
date and take a copy of the entries for his record.
Section 29T: Safety Committee
For every mine wherein more than 100 persons are ordinarily employed, the owner,
agent or manager shall constitute a Safety Committee for promoting safety in the mine.
Section 35: Signboards to be displayed
Where persons of both sexes are employed, there shall be displayed outside each
latrine a signboard in the language understood by the majority of work persons “For
Male”, “For Females” as the case may be. Each signboard shall also have the figure of
a man or a woman as the case may be.
Section 40: Arrangements for training persons in first-aid, etc.
It shall be the duty of the owner, agent or manager of a mine to see that adequate and
suitable arrangements are made for the training of persons in first-aid and the provision
of such equipment as is prescribed in these rules and to see that adequate and suitable
arrangements are made for the speedy removal from the mine to a dispensary or
hospital of persons employed in the mine who while on duty suffers from serious bodily
injury or illness of a serious nature.

Section 76: Registers of reportable and minor accidents
The register required by sub-section (1A) of Section 23 shall be maintained in Form J

and a copy thereof shall be sent to the concerned Inspector of Mines. The register,
required by sub-section (3) of Section 23 of the Act shall be maintained in Form K.
Section 82: Occupational diseases – Fees for medical practitioner
A medical practitioner making an examination in accordance with subsection (2) Section

25, shall be paid a fee not exceeding 16 rupees for each clinical examination/X-ray
examination.
Section 82A: Disability allowance and compensation for occupational diseases
The disability allowance payable under the first provision to sub-section (5) of Section
9A of the Act shall be at the rate of 50 per cent of the monthly wages that he was in
receipt of immediately before presenting himself for the medical examination under sub-
section (2) of Section 9A of the Act. If a person decides to leave his employment in the
mine, he shall be entitled to compensation as may be admissible under the provisions of
the Workmen’s Compensation deemed to be an injury by accident under that Act. In
case the disease is not covered under Schedule III of that Act, he shall be paid by way
of disability compensation at the same rates as provided under that Act as if it is an
injury. The lump-sum compensation payable under this rule shall not be in addition to
the compensation payable under that Act.
Section 83 A: Appeals to the Chief Inspector
Against an order made by the Inspector under any of these rules, an appeal shall be
made to the Chief Inspector who may confirm or modify or cancel the order. Every such
appeal shall be referred within 30 days of the receipt of the order by the appellant.

Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holders and the publishers
I. Kanhere Vijay, February 1995, Compensation is not a dirty word. Bulletin in

occupational and environmental health, PRIA, New Delhi
II. Kulkarni G K, 2008, Implementation of occupational health legislation at workplace,
issues and concerns

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Unit 6 Occupational Health and safety Legislation in India 1

Occupational Health and Safety:

Occupational Health and Safety: Legal and Operational Guide

©2014 PRIA International Academy

Units of Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety

Occupational Health and Safety: Legal and Operational Guide

©2014 PRIA International Academy

S. No. Contents Page No.

Occupational Health and Safety: Legal and Operational Guide

©2014 PRIA International Academy

Occupational Health and Safety: Legal and Operational Guide

©2014 PRIA International Academy

 The legislation available in India in relation to OHS

Occupational Health and Safety: Legal and Operational Guide

©2014 PRIA International Academy

6.1 Overview of Existing OHS Legislation in India

The main objectives of OHS related legislation are:

 Providing a statutory framework including the enactment of a general enabling

 Providing administrative and technical support services.

 Providing a system of incentives to employers and employees so that they achieve

 Establishing and developing research and development capabilities in emerging

 Reducing the incidence of work related injuries, fatalities and diseases.

 Reducing the cost of workplace injuries and diseases.

 Increasing community awareness regarding areas related to OHS.

Occupational Health and Safety: Legal and Operational Guide

©2014 PRIA International Academy

Table 1- List of OHS Related Legislation in India

1. Laws related to working hours, conditions of services and employment

1 The Factories Act, 1948

2 The Dock Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act, 1948

3 The Plantation Labour Act, 1951

4 The Mines Act, 1952

6 The Merchant Shipping Act, 1958

7 The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961

8 The Beedi & Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966

9 The Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970

10 The Sales Promotion Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 1976

The Sales Promotion Employees (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1976

11 The Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service)

12 The Shops and Establishments Act

The Cine Workers’ Welfare Fund Act, 1981

14 The Dock Workers (Safety, Health & Welfare) Act, 1986

Occupational Health and Safety: Legal and Operational Guide

©2014 PRIA International Academy

2. Laws related to equality and empowerment of women

2 The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976

3 The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal)

3. Laws related to equality and empowerment of children

2 The Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986

4. Laws related to social security

2 The Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948

3 The Employees’ Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952

4 The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972

5. Laws related to labour welfare

3 The Beedi Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1976

4 The Beedi Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1976

7 The Cine Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1981

8 The Cine Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1981

Occupational Health and Safety: Legal and Operational Guide