11. 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 of 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 3
[painted otherwise than with washable water-paint] or varnished, be repainted or re-varnished at least once in every period of five years;
1. Ins. by Act 94 of 1976, s. 7 (w.e.f. 26-10-1976).
2. See now the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956).
3. Subs. by Act 94 of 1976, s. 8, for “painted” (w.e.f. 26-10-1976).
16
1
[(ia) where they are painted with washable water-paint, be re-painted 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;]
(ii) where they are painted or varnished or where they have smooth impervious surfaces be
cleaned at least once in every period of fourteen months by such method as may be prescribed;
(iii) in any other case, be kept white washed or colour washed, and the whitewashing or
colour washing shall be carried out at least once in every period of fourteen months;
2
[(dd) 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;]
(e) the dates on which the processes required by clause (d) are carried out shall be entered in the
prescribed register.
(2) If, in view of the nature of the operations carried on 3
[in a factory or class or description of
factories or any part of a factory or class or description of factories], it is not possible for the occupier to
comply with all or any of the provisions of subsection (1), the State Government may by order exempt
such factory or class or description of factories 4
[or part] from any of the provisions of that sub-section
and specify alternative methods for keeping the factory in a clean stale.
12. Disposal of wastes and effluents.—5
[(1) 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.]
(2) The State Government may make rules prescribing the arrangements to be made under sub-section
(1) or requiring that the arrangements made in accordance with sub-section (1) shall be approved by such
authority as may be prescribed.
13. Ventilation and temperature.—(1) Effective and suitable provision shall be made in ever
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 bill kept as tow 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.
(2) The State Government may prescribe a standard of adequate ventilation and reasonable
temperature for any factory or class or description of factories or parts thereof and direct that6
[proper me
assuring instruments, at such places and in such position as may be specified, shall be provided and such
records, as may be prescribed, shall be maintained.]
7
[(3) If it appears to the Chief Inspector that excessively high temperatures in any factory can be
reduced by the adoption of suitable me assures, he may, without prejudice to the rules made under
1. Ins. by Act 94 of 1976, s. 8 (w.e.f. 26-10-1976).
2. Ins. by s. 8, ibid. (w.e.f. 26-10-1976).
3. Subs. by s. 8,ibid.,for “in a factory” (w.e.f. 26-10-1976).
4. Ins. by s. 8, ibid. (w.e.f. 26-10-1976).
5. Subs. by s. 9, ibid., for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 26-10-1976).
6. Subs. by Act 20 of 1987, s. 6, for certain words (w.e.f. 1-12-1987).
7. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for “sub-section (3) (w.e.f. 1-12-1987).
17
sub-section (2), serve on the occupier, an order in writing specifying the me assures which, in his opinion,
should be adopted, and requiring them to be carried out before a specified date.]
14. Dust and fume.—(1) 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.
(2) 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.
15. Artificial humidification.—(1) In respect of all factories in which the humidity of the air is
artificially increased, the State Government may make rules,—
(a) prescribing standards of humidification;
(b) regulating the methods used for artificially increasing the humidity of the air;
(c) directing prescribed tests for determining the humidity of the air to be correctly carried out
and recorded;
(d) prescribing methods to be adopted for securing adequate ventilation and cooling of the air in
the workrooms.
(2) In any factory in which the humidity of the air is artificially increased, the water used for the
purpose shall be taken from a public supply, or other source of drinking water, or shall be effectively
purified before it is so used.
(3) If it appears to an Inspector that the water used in a factory for increasing humidity which is
required to be effectively purified under sub-section (2) is not effectively purified he may serve on the
manager of the factory an order in writing, specifying the measures which in his opinion should be
adopted, and requiring them to be carried out before specified date.
16. Overcrowding.—(1) No room in any factory shall be overcrowded to an extent injurious to the
health of the workers employed therein.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-section (1) there shall be in every workroom of a
factory in existence on the date of the commencement of this Act at least1
[9.9 cubic meters] and of a
factory built after the commencement of this Act at least
2
[14.2 cubic meters] of space for every worker
employed therein, and for the purposes of this sub-section no account shall be taken of any space which is
more than3
[4.2 meters] above the level of the floor of the room.
(3) If the Chief Inspector by order in writing so requires, there shall be posted in each workroom of a
factory a notice specifying the maximum number of workers who may, in compliance with the provisions
of this section, be employed in the room.
(4) The Chief Inspector may by order in writing exempt, subject to such conditions, if any, as he may
think fit to impose, any workroom from the provisions of this section, if he is satisfied that compliance
therewith in respect of the room is unnecessary in the interest of the health of the workers employed
therein.
17. Lighting.—(1) In every pan of a factory where workers are working of passing there shall be
provided and maintained sufficient and suitable lighting, natural or artificial, or both.
1. Subs. by Act 20 of 1987, s. 7 for “three hundred and fifty cubic feet” (w.e.f. 1-12-1987).
2. Subs. by s. 7, ibid., for “five hundred cubic feet” (w.e.f. 1-12-1987).
3. Subs. by s. 7, ibid., for “fourteen feet” (w.e.f. 1-12-1987).
18
(2) 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 compliance with the provisions of any rules
made under sub-section (3) of section 13 will allow, free from obstruction.
(3) In even 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.
(4) The State Government may prescribe standards of sufficient and suitable lighting for factories or
for any class or description of factories or for any manufacturing process.
18. Drinking water.—(1) 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.
(2) 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 1
[six meters of any
washing place, urinal, latrine, spittoon, open drain carrying sull age or effluent or any other source of
contamination] unless a shorter distance is approved in writing by the Chief Inspector.
(3) 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.
(4) In respect of all factories or any class or description of factories the State Government may make
rules for securing compliance with the provisions of sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) and for the examination
by prescribed authorities of the supply and distribution of drinking water in factories.
19. Latrines and urinals.—(1) In every factory—
(a) sufficient latrine and urinal accommodation of prescribed types 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;
(c) such accommodation shall be adequately lighted and ventilated, and no latrine or urinal shall,
unless specially exempted in writing by the Chief Inspector, 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) sweepers shall be employed whose primary duty it would be to keep clean latrines, urinals and
washing places.
(2) In every factory wherein more than two hundred and fifty workers are ordinarily employed—
(a) all latrine and urinal accommodation shall be of prescribed sanitary types;
(b) the floors and internal walls, up to a height of2
[ninety centimeters], of the latrines and urinals
and the sanitary blocks shall be laid in glazed tiles or otherwise finished to provide a smooth polished
impervious surface;
(c) without prejudice to the provisions of clauses (d) and (e) of sub-section (1), the floors,
portions of the walls and blocks so laid or finished and the sanitary pans of latrines and urinals shall
be thoroughly washed and cleaned at least once in every seven days with suitable detergents or
disinfectants or with both.
1. Subs. by Act 20 of 1987, s. 8, for “twenty feet of any washing place, urinal or latrine” (w.e.f. 1-12-1987).
2. Subs. Act 20 of 1987, by s. 9, “three feet” (w.e.f. 1-12-1987).
19
(3) The State Government may prescribe the number of latrines and urinals to be provided in any
factory in proportion to the numbers of male and female workers ordinarily employed therein, and
provide for such further mailers in respect of sanitation in factories, including the obligation of workers in
this regard, as it considers necessary in the interest of the health of the workers employed therein.
20. Spittoons.—(1) In every factory there shall be provided a sufficient number of spittoons in
convenient places and they shall be maintained in a clean and hygienic condition.
(2) The State Government may make rules prescribing the type and the number of spittoons to be
provided and their location in any factory and provide for such further matters relating to their
maintenance in a clean and hygienic condition.
(3) No person shall spit within the premises of a factory except in the spittoons provided for the
purpose and a notice containing this provision and the penalty for its violation shall be prominently
displayed at suitable places in the premises.
(4) Whoever spits in contravention of sub-section (3) shall be punishable with fine not exceeding five
rupees.