University School of

Business
Bachelor of Business
Administration

Industrial Relations and

Labor Laws
20BAT 375
Safety
Measures of DISCOVER . LEARN .
Employees EMPOWER
 Safety
Measures of
Employees
Course Outcome
CO Title Level
Number
CO1 Understanding of the concept of Rememb
industrial relations, functioning of trade er
unions and legal Machinery for handling   Will be covered in this
industrial disputes.
lecture
CO2 Knowledge of protective and social Understa
security laws of India and their nd
application.  
CO3 Understanding of the role of ILO in Apply http://ehsforum.com/key-
regulating industrial relations, importance elements-of-factories-act-
of collective bargaining and workers’ 1948/
participation.

2
 Introduction

Objectives of the Indian Factories Act, 1948 includes special provisions

regarding safety welfare of who work in the factories.

 1. Fencing of Machinery
Section 21 (1) requires that in every factory, the following must be
securely fenced by safe guards of substantial construction while the
machinery is in motion or use:
(i) every moving part of a prime mover and fly wheel connected to prime
mover, whether the prime mover or fly-wheel is in the engine house or not;
(ii) the headrace and tailrace of every water-wheel and water turbine;
 1. Fencing of Machinery
(iii) any part of stock-bar which projects beyond the head stock of a lathe;
and
(iv) 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,
-every part of electric generator, a motor or rotary converter;
-every part of transmission machinery; and
-every dangerous part of any other machinery;
 2. Work on or Near Machinery
in Motion
Section 22 (1) requires that, where in the factory it is essential to examine
any part of the machinery (referred to in Section 21) while it is in motion
or as a result of such examination, it is necessary to carry out:

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) which name has been recorded in the
register prescribed in this behalf and who has been furnished with a
certificate of his appointment, and while he is so engaged:
3. Employment of Young Person
on Dangerous Machine
Section 23 prohibits the employment of a young person on dangerous
machine unless he has been fully instructed as to the dangers arising from
machine and the precautions to be observed and

(i) has received sufficient training in work at the machine, or

(ii) is under adequate supervision by a person who has a thorough
knowledge and experience of the machine
4. Striking Gear and Devices for
Cutting off Power
• In order to move the driving belt to and from fast and loose pulleys in
transmission machine and prevent the belt from creeping back onto
the fast pulley, suitable striking gear or other efficient mechanical
appliance shall be provided, maintained and used.

• No driving belt when mused shall be allowed to rut or ride upon

shafting in motion. Suitable devices are also maintained in every
workroom for cutting off power emergencies.
 5. Self-acting Machines
• Section 25 of the Factories Act provides further safeguards to the workers
injured by self-acting machines.

• 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.
 6. Casing of New Machinery
Section 26 (1) provides that in all machinery driven by power, after the
commencement of the Factories Act, 1948, every set screw; bolt or key on
any revolving shaft, spindle, wheel or pinion shall be sunk, encased or
effectively guarded as to prevent danger.

[Section 26 (2)]. Further, all spur, worm and other toothed or friction
gearing not requiring frequent adjustment while in motion shall be
completely encased, unless they are safely situated.
 7. Prohibition of Employment of
Women and Children near Cotton
Openers
The Factories Act, 1948 prohibits the employment of women and children
in any part of the factory for pressing cotton where the cotton opener is at
work.

But if the feed-end of the cotton-opener is in a room separated from the

delivery and by a partition extending to the roof or to such height as the
inspector may in any particular case specify in writing, women and
children may be employed on the side of the partition where feed-end is
situated. (Section 27).
 8. Roust and Lifts
Section 28 (I) requires that hoists and lifts must be of good mechanical
construction, sound material and adequate strength. They should not ‘only
be properly maintained but also thoroughly examined at least twice a year
by competent persons.
 9. Revolving Machinery
Section 30 (1) provides that a notice indicating the maximum safe working
peripheral speed of the grindstone or abrasive wheel the speed of the shaft,
or spindle, must be permanently affixed on all rooms in a factory where
grinding is carried on the speeds indicated in notices under sub-section (1)
shall not be exceeded.
 10. Pressure Plant
Section 31 (1) provides that effective measures should be taken to ensure
safe working pressure of any part of the plant or machinery used in the
manufacturing process operating at a pressure above the atmospheric
pressure.
 11. Pits, Sump and Opening in
Floors
Section 33(1), of the Factories Act, 1948 requires that every fixed vessel,
sump, tank, pit or opening in the ground or in the floor in every factory
should be covered or securely fenced, if be reason of its depth, situation,
construction or contents, they are or can be a source of danger.

Section 33(2) empowers the State Government to grant exemption from

compliance of the provision of this section (i) in respect of any item
mentioned in the section, (ii) to any factory or class of factories, and (iii)
on such condition as may be provided in the rules.
 12. Precautions against
Dangerous Fumes, and Gases
No person shall be required or allowed to enter any confined space such as
is referred to in sub-section (1) until all practicable measures have been
taken to actually remove the gas, fumes or dust, which may be present so
as to bring its level within the permissible limits and to prevent any ingress
of such gas, fume, vapour or dust unless [Section 36 (2)].
 13. Precaution Against Using
Portable Electric Light
The Act prohibits any factory to use portable electric light or any other
electric appliance of voltage exceeding 24 volts in any chamber, tank, vat,
pipe, flue or other confined space unless adequate safety devices are
provided [Section 36A (a)]

The Act further prohibits the factory to use any lamp or light (other than
that of flame-proof construction if any inflammable gas, fume or dust is
likely to be present in such chamber, tank, vat, pet, pipe, flue or other
confined space. [Section 36A (b)].
 14. Explosive or Inflammable
Materials
These measures include: (i) effective enclosures of the plant or machinery
used in the process;

(ii) removal or prevention of the accumulation of such dust, gas or vapour;

(iii) exclusion or effective enclosure of all possible sources of ignition.
[Section 37 (i)]
 15. Precaution in Case of Fire
In every factory all practical measures shall be taken to prevent outbreak of
fire and its spread, both internally and externally, and to provide and
maintain (i) safe means of escape for all persons in the event of fire, and
(ii) the necessary equipment and facilities for extinguishing fire.

Further effective measures should be taken to ensure that in every factory

all the workers are familiar with the means of escape in case of fire and
have been trained in the routine to be followed in such cases. (Section 38).
 16. Safety of Building and
Machinery
If it appears to the Inspector that any building or part of 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 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 40 (1)].
 17. Maintenance of Buildings
In order to ensure safety, the inspector is empowered to serve on the
occupier or Manager (or both) of the factory an order specifying the
measures to be taken and requiring the same to be carried out if it appears
to him that any building or part of a building in a factory is in such a state
of disrepair as is likely to lead to conditions detrimental to the health and
welfare of the workers. (Section 40A).
 18. Safety Officers
In order to prevent accidents, the Act provides for the appointment of
Safety Officers in factories employing 1,000 or more workers or where 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. (Section
40B).
 Summary
• Provisions ensuring the safety and health of workers are given under
the Factories Act, 1948. These provisions apply to premises where ten
or more workers worked in the past twelve months when
manufacturing is carried out with aid of power.
Assessment Pattern

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 Applications

• •HRWorkplace
Budgetingsafety

• •Manpower
Workers rights protection
allocation

• •Performance management
Quality of work life

25
 REFERENCES

• Reference Books- Mamoria &Mamoria, Dynamic of Industrial Relations

in India, Himalaya Publishing House, New Delhi

• Reference Journal for advance study- Industrial Relations,Sage Journals

• Reference Website-
https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/1530?
sam_handle=123456789/1362
https://labour.gov.in/sites/default/files/Factories_Act_1948.pdf

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THANK YOU

For queries
Email: amrit.usb@cumail.in

Jaspreet.mba@cumail.in