Contents of the OSH (Central) Rules

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026

Rule 131. Equipment

Chapter XIPart IV — MinesMade under The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020G.S.R. 345(E), 8 May 2026

Official text

(1) At every rescue station and rescue room, there shall be provided and maintained for immediate use, apparatus and equipment as may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator through general or special order.

(2) A below ground mine, where no rescue room is located, there shall be apparatus and equipment as may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator through general or special order issued from time to time and shall be maintained at the entrance of such mine.

(3) Self- contained breathing apparatus shall be provided at a rescue station and that at rescue rooms under it shall be of the same type and make.

(4) The following apparatus and equipments provided under of sub-rules (1),(2) and (3), shall be of a type or standard approved by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator, namely:-

(a) breathing apparatus;

(b) smoke helmets, tube apparatus and apparatus serving the same purpose;

(c) reviving apparatus;

(d) electric safety lamps and flame safety lamps;

(e) gas detector; and

(f) self-rescuers.

(5) All breathing apparatus and every flow meter shall be adjusted and tested and the purity of oxygen for use in breathing apparatus shall be tested in such manners as may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator through general or special order issued from time to time.

(6) In event of an accident in a below ground mine arising out of the use of any rescue apparatus, a written report thereof shall be sent, within 24 hours of such accident, by the manager of the mine to the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator and Inspector-cum-Facilitator in the form, as may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator through general or special order issued from time to time.

(7) In case of an accident in a rescue station or rescue room arising out of the use of any rescue apparatus a written report thereof shall be sent electronically, within 24 hours of such accident, by the Superintendent to the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator and Inspector-cum-Facilitator in the form, as may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator through general or special order issued from time to time.

(8) No absorbent charges, chemicals, self-rescuer and gas detector tubes shall be kept at any rescue station, rescue room or below ground mine for use beyond the expiry date, which shall be legibly marked on the boxes thereof.

Source: The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026, G.S.R. 345(E) — Gazette of India, pp. 214–215 of the PDF. Open our copy at p. 214 · official download · all sources

Notifications under this section

  • G.S.R. 571(E), 1 Jul 2026: Notification i.r.o. under Rule 131(1) of OSH&WC Rules, 2026
  • G.S.R. 572(E), 1 Jul 2026: Mines: rescue apparatus at the entrance of a belowground mine (rule 131(2))
  • G.S.R. 573(E), 1 Jul 2026: Mines: testing breathing apparatus (rule 131(5))
  • G.S.R. 574(E), 1 Jul 2026: Mines: reporting accidents involving rescue apparatus (rule 131(6) and (7))