The Factories Act 1948

ACT NO. 63 OF 1948
[23 rd September, 1948.]

An Act to consolidate and amend the law regulating labour in factories.

WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate and amend the law regulating labour in factories;
It is hereby enacted as follows:--

CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY

Section 1. Short title, extent and commencement.

(1) This Act may be called the Factories Act, 1948.

(2) It extends to the whole of India

(3) It shall come into force on the 1st day of April 1949.

Section 2  Interpretation

Section 3  References to time of day

Section 4  Power to declare different departments to be separate factories or two or more factories to be a single

Section 5  Power to exempt during public emergency

Section 6  Approval, licensing and registration of factories

Section 7  Notice by occupier

 

CHAPTER II THE INSPECTING STAFF

Section 7A  General duties of the occupier

Section 7B  General duties of manufacturers, etc., as regards articles and substances for use in factories

Section 8  Inspectors

Section 9  Powers of Inspectors

Section 10  Certifying surgeons

 

CHAPTER III HEALTH

Section 11  Cleanliness

Section 12  Disposal of wastes and effluents

Section 13  Ventilation and temperature

Section 14  Dust and fume

Section 15  Artificial humidification

Section 16  Overcrowding

Section 17  Lighting

Section 18  Drinking water

Section 19  Latrines and urinals

Section 20  Spittoons

 

CHAPTER IV SAFETY

Section 21  Fencing of machinery

Section 22  Work on or near machinery in motion

Section 23  Employment of young persons on dangerous machines

Section 24  Striking gear and devices for cutting off power

Section 25  Self-acting machines

Section 26  Casing of new machinery

Section 27  Prohibition of employment of women and children near cotton-openers

Section 28  Hoists and lifts

Section 29  Lifting machines, chains, ropes and lifting tackles

Section 30  Revolving machinery

Section 31  Pressure plant

Section 32  Floors, stairs and means of access

Section 33  Pits, sumps openings in floors, etc

Section 34  Excessive weights

Section 35  Protection of eyes

Section 36  Precautions against dangerous fumes, gases, etc

Section 36A  Precautions regarding the use of portable electric light

Section 37  Explosive or inflammable dust, gas, etc

Section 38  Precautions in case of fire

Section 39  Power to require specifications of defective parts or tests of stability

Section 40  Safety of buildings and machinery

Section 40A  Maintenance of buildings

Section 40B  Safety officers

Section 41  Power to make rules to supplement this Chapter

 

CHAPTER IVA PROVISION RELATING TO HAZARDOUS PROCESSES

Section 41A  Constitution of Site Appraisal Committee

Section 41B  Compulsory disclosure of information by the occupier

Section 41C  Specific responsibility of the occupier in relation to hazardous processes

Section 41D  Power of Central Government to appoint Inquiry Committee

Section 41E  Emergency standards

Section 41F  Permissible limits of exposure of chemical and toxic substances

Section 41G  Workers participation in safety management

Section 41H  Right of workers to warn about imminent danger

 

CHAPTER V WELFARE

Section 42  Washing facilities

Section 43  Facilities for storing and drying clothing

Section 44  Facilities for sitting

Section 45  First-aid appliances

Section 46  Canteens

Section 47  Shelters, rest rooms and lunch rooms

Section 48  Creches

Section 49  Welfare officers

Section 50  Power to make rules to supplement this Chapter

 

CHAPTER VI WORKING HOURS OF ADULTS

Section 51  Weekly hours

Section 52  Weekly holidays

Section 53  Compensatory holidays

Section 54  Daily hours

Section 55  Intervals for rest

Section 56  Spread over

Section 57  Night shifts

Section 58  Prohibition of overlapping shifts

Section 59  Extra wages for overtime

Section 60  Restriction on double employment

Section 61  Notice of periods of work for adults

Section 62  Register of adult workers

Section 63  Hours of work to correspond with notice under section 61 and register under section 62

Section 64  Power to make exempting rules

Section 65  Power to make exempting orders

Section 66  Further restrictions on employment of women

 

CHAPTER VII EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG PERSONS

Section 67  Prohibition of employment of young children

Section 68  Non-adult workers to carry tokens

Section 69  Certificates of fitness

Section 70  Effect of certificate of fitness granted to adolescent

Section 71  Working hours for children

Section 72  Notice of periods of work for children

Section 73  Register of child workers

Section 74  Hours of work to correspond with notice under section 72 and register under section 73

Section 75  Power to require medical examination

Section 76  Power to make rules

Section 77  Certain other provisions of law not barred

 

CHAPTER VIII ANNUAL LEAVE WITH WAGES

Section 78  Application of Chapter

Section 79  Annual leave with wages

Section 80  Wages during leave period

Section 81  Payment in advance in certain cases

Section 82  Mode of recovery of unpaid wages

Section 83  Power to make rules

Section 84  Power to exempt factories

 

CHAPTER IX SPECIAL PROVISIONS

Section 85  Power to apply the Act to certain premises

Section 86  Power to exempt public institutions

Section 87  Dangerous operations

Section 87A  Power to prohibit employment on account of serious hazard

Section 88  Notice of certain accidents

Section 88A  Notice of certain dangerous occurrences

Section 89  Notice of certain diseases

Section 90  Power to direct enquiry into cases of accident or disease

Section 91  Power to take samples

Section 91A  Safety and occupational health surveys

 

CHAPTER X PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE

Section 92  General penalty for offences

Section 93  Liability of owner of premises in certain circumstances

Section 94  Enhanced penalty after previous conviction

Section 95  Penalty for obstructing Inspector

Section 96  Penalty for wrongfully disclosing results of analysis under section 91

Section 96A  Penalty for contravention of the provisions of sections 41B, 41C and 41H

Section 97  Offences by workers

Section 98  Penalty for using false certificate of fitness

Section 99 Penalty for permitting double employment of child

Section 101 Exemption of occupier or manager from liability in certain cases

Section 102 Power of Court to make orders

Section 103 Presumption as to employment

Section 104 Onus as to age

Section 104A Onus of proving limits of what is practicable, etc

Section 105 Cognizance of offences

Section 106 Limitation of prosecutions

Section 106A Jurisdiction of a court for entertaining proceedings, etc., for offence

 

CHAPTER XI SUPPLEMENTAL

Section 107 Appeals

Section 108 Display of notices

Section 109 Service of notices

Section 110 Returns

Section 111 of Factories Act - Obligations of workers

Section 111A of Factories Act - Obligations of workers

Section 112 of Factories Act - General power to make rules

Section 113 of Factories Act - Powers of Centre to give directions

Section 114 of Factories Act - No charge for facilities and conveniences

Section 115 of Factories Act - Publication of rules

Section 116 of Factories Act - Application of Act to Government factories

Section 117 of Factories Act - Protection to persons acting under this Act

Section 118 of Factories Act - Restrictions on disclosure of information

Section 118A of Factories Act - Restriction on disclosure of information

Section 119 of Factories Act - Act to have effect notwithstanding anything contained in Act 37 of 1970

Section 120 of Factories Act - Repeal and savings