Rule 110. Standards for the health and safety under sub-section (1) of section 86

The standards for the health and safety of the workers employed in every factory shall be as follows: -Cleanliness (1) Every factory shall be kept clean and free from effluvia arising from any drain, privy or other nuisance, and in particular,-(a) accumulation of dirt and refuse shall be removed daily by sweeping or by any other effective method from the floors and benches of workrooms and from staircases and passages, and disposed off in a suitable manner;

(b) the floor of every workroom shall be cleaned at least once in every week by washing, using disinfectant, where necessary, or by some other effective method;

(c) where a floor is liable to become wet in the course of any manufacturing process to such extent as is capable of being drained, effective means of drainage shall be provided and maintained;

(d) all inside walls and partitions, all ceilings or tops of rooms and all walls, sides and tops of passages and staircases shall,-(i) where they are painted otherwise than with washable water-paint or varnished, be repainted or re-varnished at least once in every period of five years;

(ii) where they are painted with washable water-paint, be repainted with at least one coat of such paint at least once in every period of three years and washed at least once in every period of six months; ‍587

(iii) where they are painted or varnished or where they have smooth impervious surfaces, be cleaned at least once in every period of fourteen months;

(iv) in any other case, be kept whitewashed, or colour washed, and the whitewashing or colour washing shall be carried out at least once in every period of fourteen months;

(v) all doors and window frames and other wooden or metallic framework and shutters shall be kept painted or varnished and the painting or varnishing shall be carried out at least once in every period of five years; Disposal of wastes and effluents

(2) 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.

Ventilation and temperature

(3) Effective and suitable provision shall be made in every factory for securing and maintaining in every workroom,-

(a) adequate ventilation by the circulation of fresh air, and

(b) such a temperature as will secure to workers therein reasonable conditions of comfort and prevent injury to health; and in particular, —

(i) walls and roofs shall be of such material and so designed that such temperature shall not be exceeded but kept as low as practicable;

(ii) where the nature of the work carried on in the factory involves, or is likely to involve the production of excessively high temperatures, such adequate measures as are practicable shall be taken to protect the workers therefrom, by separating the process which produces such temperatures from the workroom, by insulating the hot parts or by other effective means.

Dust and fume

(4) In every factory in which, by reason of the manufacturing process carried on, there is given off any dust or fume or other impurity of such a nature and to such an extent as is likely to be injurious or offensive to the workers employed therein, or any dust in substantial quantities, effective measures shall be taken to prevent its inhalation and accumulation in any workroom, and if any exhaust appliance is necessary for this purpose, it shall be applied as near as possible to the point of origin of the dust, fume or other impurity, and such point shall be enclosed so far as possible.

(5) In any factory no stationary internal combustion engine shall be operated unless the exhaust is conducted into the open air, and no other internal combustion engine shall be operated in any room unless effective measures have been taken to prevent such accumulation of fumes therefrom as are likely to be injurious to workers employed in the room.

Overcrowding

(6) No room in any factory shall be overcrowded to an extent injurious to the health of the workers employed therein.

(7) there shall be in every workroom of a factory in existence on the date of the commencement of these rule at least 9.9 cubic metres and of a factory built after the commencement of these rules at least 14.2 cubic metres of space for every worker employed therein, and for the purposes of this sub-rule no account shall be taken of any space which is more than 4.2 metres above the level of the floor of the room.

Lighting

(8) 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.

(9) In every factory all glazed windows and skylights used for the lighting of the workrooms shall be kept clean on both the inner and outer surfaces and, so far as is practicable, free from obstruction.

(10) In every factory effective provision shall, so far as is practicable, be made for the prevention of,-

(a) glare, either directly from a source of light or by reflection from a smooth or polished surface;

(b) the formation of shadows to such an extent as to cause eye-strain or the risk of accident to any worker.

Drinking water

(11) In every factory effective arrangements shall be made to provide and maintain at suitable points conveniently situated for all workers employed therein a sufficient supply of wholesome drinking water.

(12) All such points shall be legibly marked “drinking water” in a language understood by a majority of the workers employed in the factory, and no such point shall be situated within six metres of any washing place, urinal, latrine, spittoon, open drain carrying sullage or effluent or any other source of contamination unless a shorter distance is approved in writing by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator.

(13) In every factory wherein more than two hundred and fifty workers are ordinarily employed, provision shall be made for cool drinking water during hot weather by effective means and for distribution thereof.

Latrines and urinals

(14) In every factory,-

(a) sufficient latrine and urinal accommodation shall be provided conveniently situated and accessible to workers at all times while they are at factory;

(b) separate enclosed accommodation shall be provided for male and female workers; ‍589

(c) such accommodation shall be adequately lighted and ventilated, and no latrine or urinal shall, unless specially exempted in writing by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator, communicate with any work room except through an intervening open space or ventilated passage;

(d) all such accommodation shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times;

(e) sanitary napkins of adequate quantity conforming to Indian Standards shall be provided and maintained in the women’s toilets for their use, and the same replenished on daily basis; and

(f) disposable bins with lids shall be provided within the women’s toilets for the collection of used napkins and used napkins shall be disposed off properly.

Safety

(15) In every factory the following, namely:-

(a) 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;

(b) the headrace and tailrace of every water-wheel and water turbine:

(c) any part of a stock-bar which projects beyond the head stock of a lathe; and

(d) 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, the following, namely:-(i) every part of an electric generator, a motor or rotary converter;

(ii) every part of transmission machinery; and

(iii)every dangerous part of any other machinery,

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:

Provided that for the purpose of determining whether any part of machinery is in such position or is of such construction as to be safe as aforesaid, account shall not be taken of any occasion when,-I. (I) it is necessary to make an examination of any part of the machinery aforesaid while it is in motion or, as a result of such examination, to carry out lubrication or other adjusting operation while the machinery is in motion, being an examination or operation which it is necessary to be carried out while that part of the machinery is in motion, or (II) in the case of any part of a transmission machinery used in such process as being a process of a continuous nature the carrying on of which shall be or is likely to be substantially interfered with by the stoppage of that part of the machinery, it is necessary to make an examination of such part of machinery while it is in motion or, as a result of such examination, to carry out any mounting or shipping of bells or lubrication, or other adjusting operation while the machinery is still in motion. Work on or near machinery in motion

(16) Where in any factory it becomes necessary to examine any part of machinery referred to in sub-rule (15), while the machinery is in motion, or, as a result of such examination, to carry out any mounting or shipping of belts or lubrication or other adjusting operation, while the machinery is in motion, such examination or operation shall be made or carried out only by a specially trained worker wearing tight fitting clothing, which shall be supplied by the occupier.

(17) No adolescent shall be allowed to clean, lubricate or adjust any part of a prime mover or of any transmission machinery while the prime mover or transmission machinery is in motion, or to clean, lubricate or adjust any part of any machine if the cleaning, lubrication or adjustment thereof would expose the woman or adolescent to risk of injury from any moving part either of that machine or of any adjacent machinery.

Striking gear and devices for cutting off power

(18) In every factory,-

(a) suitable striking gear or other efficient mechanical appliance shall be provided and maintained and used to move driving belts to and from fast and loose pulleys which form part of the transmission machinery, and such gear or appliances shall be so constructed, placed and maintained as to prevent the belt from creeping back on the fast pulley;

(b) driving belts when not in use shall not be allowed to rest or ride upon shafting in motion.

(c) In every factory suitable devices for cutting off power in emergencies from running machinery shall be provided and maintained in every workroom.

(d) When a device, which can inadvertently shift from “off” to “on” position, is provided in a factory to cut off power, arrangements shall be provided for locking the device in safe position to prevent accidental starting of the transmission machinery or other machines to which the device is fitted.

Self-acting machines

(19) No traversing part of a self-acting machine in any factory and no material carried thereon shall, if the space over which it runs is a space over which any person is liable to pass, whether in the course of his employment or otherwise, be allowed to run on its outward or inward traverse within a distance of forty-five centimetres from any fixed structure which is not part of the machine.

Casing of new machinery

(20) In all machinery driven by power and installed in any factory,-

(a) every set screw, bolt or key on any revolving shaft, spindle, wheel or pinion shall be so sunk, encased or otherwise effectively guarded as to prevent danger; ‍591

(b) all spur, worm and other toothed or friction gearing which does not require frequent adjustment while in motion shall be completely encased, unless it is so situated as to be as safe as it would be if it were completely encased.

Hoists and lifts

(21) In every factory,-

(a) every hoist and lift shall be,-(i) of good mechanical construction, sound material and adequate strength;

(ii) properly maintained, and shall be thoroughly examined by a competent person at least once in every period of six months;

(b) every hoist way and lift way shall be sufficiently protected by an enclosure fitted with gates, and the hoist or lift and every such enclosure shall be so constructed as to prevent any person or thing from being trapped between any part of the hoist or lift and any fixed structure or moving part;

(c) the maximum safe working load shall be plainly marked on every hoist or lift, and no load greater than such load shall be carried thereon;

(d) the cage of every hoist or lift used for carrying persons shall be fitted with a gate on each side from which access is afforded to a landing;

(e) every gate referred to in clause (b) or clause (d) shall be fitted with interlocking or other efficient device to secure that the gate cannot be opened except when the cage is at the landing and that the cage cannot be moved unless the gate is closed.

Lifting machines, chains, ropes and lifting tackles

(22) In any factory the following provisions shall be complied with in respect of every lifting machine, other than a hoist and lift, and every chain, rope and lifting tackle for the purpose of raising or lowering persons, goods or materials,-

(a) all parts, including the working gear, whether fixed or movable, of every lifting machine and every chain, rope or lifting tackle shall be,-(i) of good construction, sound material and adequate strength and free from defects;

(ii) properly maintained; and

(iii)thoroughly examined by a competent person at least once in every period of twelve months, or at such intervals as the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may specify in writing; and a register shall be kept containing the particulars of every such examination;

(b) no lifting machine and no chain, rope or lifting tackle shall, except for the purpose of test be loaded beyond the safe working load which shall be plainly marked thereon together with an identification mark and duly entered in a register; and where this is not practicable, a table showing the safe working loads of every kind and size of lifting machine or chain, rope or lifting tackle in use shall be displayed in prominent positions on the premises;

(c) while any person is employed or working on or near the wheel track of a travelling crane in any place where he would be liable to be struck by the crane, effective measures shall be taken to ensure that the crane does not approach within six metres of that place.

Revolving machinery

(23) In every factory in which the process of grinding is carried on there shall be permanently affixed to or placed near each machine in use a notice indicating the maximum safe working peripheral speed of every grindstone or abrasive wheel, the speed of the shaft or spindle upon which the wheel is mounted, and the diameter of the pulley upon such shaft or spindle necessary to secure such safe working peripheral speed.

(24) The speeds indicated in notices under sub-rule (23) shall not be exceeded.

(25) Effective measures shall be taken in every factory to ensure that the safe working peripheral speed of every revolving vessel, cage, basket, flywheel, pulley, disc or similar appliance driven by power is not exceeded.

Pressure plant

(26) If in any factory, any plant or machinery or any part thereof is operated at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, effective measures shall be taken to ensure that the safe working pressure of such plant or machinery or part is not exceeded;

(27) every pressure plant shall be,-(i) of good construction with proper safety devices, sound material and adequate strength and free from defects;

(ii) properly maintained; and

(iii)thoroughly examined by a competent person at least once in every period of twelve months, or at such intervals as the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may specify in writing; and a register shall be kept containing the particulars of every such examination.

Floors, stairs and means of access

(28) In every factory,-

(a) all floors, steps, stairs, passages and gangways shall be of sound construction and properly maintained and shall be kept free from obstructions and substances likely to cause persons to slip, and where it is necessary to ensure safety, steps, stairs, passages and gangways shall be provided with substantial handrails;

(b) there shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, be provided and maintained safe means of access to every place at which any person is at any time required to work.

(c) when any person has to work at a height from where he is likely to fall, provision shall be made, so far as is reasonably practicable, by fencing or otherwise, to ensure the safety of the person so working. ‍593

Pits, sumps openings in floors, etc.

(29) In every factory every fixed vessel, sump, tank, pit or opening in the ground or in a floor which, by reason of its depth, situation, construction or contents, is or may be a source of danger, shall be either securely covered or securely fenced.

Excessive weights

(30) 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.

(31) No person, unaided by another person, or mechanical aid, be required or allowed to lift, put down, carry or move any load of material, article, tools or appliance exceeding the maximum limit in weight as set out in the following schedule:-