A 1 The Factories Act, 1956: Brief Details of The Section
A 1 The Factories Act, 1956: Brief Details of The Section
A 1 The Factories Act, 1956: Brief Details of The Section
Objectives
To ensure adequate safety measures and to promote the health and
welfare of the workers employed in factories.
Overcrowding
Overcrowding shall be restricted by providing a minimum working space of
14.2 cu.m per worker at the factory. The area of each workplace shall be
displayed.
A notice specifying the maximum number of workers that can be
employed in the work room shall be displayed, where directed by the
chief inspector.
Lighting
Sufficient and suitable lighting shall be provided at all working places in
the factory. Further glare due to excessive lights or from reflection and
shadows causing eye strains shall be prevented.
Drinking water
EID Parry I Ltd, Parry Co Ltd Statutory Compliance Manual
Sanitation facilities
Latrines and urinals separate for ladies and gents shall be provided at
convenient locations which shall be kept clean at all times.
The method of construction and facilities vary with number of workmen
employed which can be refered from the section.
II. Safety
Fencing of machinery
Certain types of machinery or their parts (Pl refer section for details of
Machinery) shall be securely fenced by safeguards of substantial
construction and shall be constantly maintained and kept in position.
Pressure Plant
Effective measures to ensure that safe working pressure of any plant and
machinery, used in manufacturing process operated at pressure above
atmospheric pressure, does not exceed the limits.
The Pressure Vessels or Plant shall be subject to the following tests to be
carried out by a Notified Person :
- Externally, once in 6 months and internally once in 12 months or in the
event of impossibility of such an exercise a hydrostatic test once in
every 2 years.
- Hydrostatically tested once in every 4 years
- Hydrostatic test before being brought into use in the Factory
Protection of eyes
Effective screens or suitable goggles for the protection of persons,
employed shall be provided where:
- Risk of injury to the eyes from particles or fragments thrown off in the
course of process.
- Risk to the eyes by reason of exposure to excessive light.
III. Welfare
Washing facilities
Every factory should provide and maintain adequate and suitable washing
and drying facilities at conveniently accessible places.
Canteens
Canteen facilities shall be provided and maintained by the occupier in any
factory which employs more than 250 workers. Further the rules laid down
by the State Government for operating the canteen needs to be followed.
A Canteen Management Committee shall be constituted in line with the
provisions of Rule 70.
Crèches
In every factory wherein more than 30 women workers are ordinarily
employed, the facilities of suitable rooms should be maintained for the
use of children under six years of age of such women.
Welfare Officers
In every factory wherein 500 or more workers are ordinarily employed, the
occupier should appoint such numbers of welfare officers, as may be
prescribed. This provision shall also apply to seasonal factories like
sugar factories.
Weekly Holidays
No adult worker shall work for more than 6 days consecutively without a
holiday for the whole day. Where the holiday is maintained on any day
other than the first day of the week, notice shall be delivered at the
inspector's office and also displayed at the factory.
Compensatory Holidays
Compensatory holidays shall be provided to workers who are deprived of
their weekly holidays as per sec 52, within the next two months
immediately following that month.
Daily Hours for an adult worker shall not exceed 9 hrs, which can be
exceeded to facilitate change of shifts.
Spread overs
Inclusive of rest intervals, the daily working hours cannot exceed 10.5
hours.
Night shifts
Where a worker works in a factory works in night shifts, i.e.., shift
extending beyond midnight the weekly or compensatory holiday shall be a
period of 24 consecutive hours beginning when his shift end.
An Overtime Slip shall be prepared and one copy shall be handed over to
the concerned employee.
- The total number of hours or work in any day shall not exceed ten.
- The spreadover inclusive of intervals for rest should not exceed 12
hours in any one day.
- The total number of hours of overtime shall not exceed fifty for any one
quarter.
- The total number of weekly hours, including overtime shall not exceed 60
General prohibition
Children who have not completed 14 years of age, shall not be employed.
Certificate of fitness
A certifying surgeon shall certify that such young person is fit for the
work, before such person in employed.
Basis of leave
Where a worker has worked for a minimum period of 240 days or more
during any calendar year, he is entitled to leave with wages.
- For adults - 1 day for every 20 days of work performed during the
previous calendar year.
- For children - 1 day for every 15 days of work performed during the
previous calendar year.
EID Parry I Ltd, Parry Co Ltd Statutory Compliance Manual
Availment of Leave
1. For the availment of leave, an application in writing must be made
atleast 15 days before the date of availment of leave.
2. Annual leave with wages cannot be available for more than three
times during any year.
Application to avail annual leave with wages for illness purposes can be
made at any time.
Scheme of leave
The manager or occupier should prepare a scheme in writing to regulate
the grant of leave to workers and lodge it with chief inspector.
Wages during leave period
The Workers shall be entitled to wages at a rate equal to the daily
average of the total full time earnings for the day on which he actually
worked during the month immediately preceding his leave. Such full time
earning will also include the dearness allowance but will not include
overtime wage and bonus.
Dangerous Operations
Certain class of industries are declared as dangerous industries and
specified procedures and safeguards shall be followed. For EID Parry,
Ceramics, Chemical Works and Pesticides attracts these provisions.