A GUIDE TO THE FACTORIES ACT, 1948, THE KARNATAKA FACTORIES RULES, 1969

PREFACE
Factories Act is one of the earliest welfare legislation. The Factories Act, 1948 (Act No. 63 of 1948), as amended by the Factories (Amendment) Act, 1987 (Act 20 of 1987), serves to assist in formulating national policies in India with respect to occupational safety, health, welfare, proper working hours and other benefits  in factories  in India. It deals with various problems concerning safety, health, efficiency and well-being of the persons at work places.

The Act is administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in India through its Directorate General Factory Advice Service & Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) and by the State Governments through their factory inspectorates. DGFASLI advises the Central and State Governments on administration of the Factories Act and coordinating the factory inspection services in the States. 

Though lot of books on Factories Act and Rules are already available in the market, most of them are written in traditional way. But this book is designed to profess the subject matter in the form of a guide with case laws and notifications and is user friendly. 

This book is a handy volume containing Factories Act, 1948 as amended by Act 20 of 1987 with Indian case laws. The Karnataka Factories Rules 1969 and notifications corrected up to September 2019 are all incorporated. The case laws referred to is up-to-date. The commentary is aimed at supplying the necessary cases in shortest and quickest manner. The Act underwent considerable changes by the amendment Act 20 of 1987. The amendments are indicated in the foot notes for ready reference. 

As a regulatory authority, I feel myself that we have the onus of responsibility to make our readers aware of the rule position at the moment. I hope all our readers appreciate this job and make good use of this edition.

I will deem myself amply  rewarded if this book serves the needs of the stake holders like Factories, Labours, Safety professionals, Regulatory agencies and those that concern with safety and health of the workers working in the factories.
I hope that the users will find this book useful in their day to day professional activity, any constructive suggestions are highly appreciated with due consideration.

Dr. T.V. Narayanappa, B.E, M.E, Ph.D
Deputy Director of Factories
Bangalore

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgement

PART - I
THE FACTORIES ACT, 1948
1. History

CHAPTER 1, PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement
2. Interpretation
3. References to time of day
4. Power to declare different departments to be separate  factories or two or more factories to be  a  single  factory.
5. Power to exempt during public emergency
6. Approval, licensing and registration of factories
7. Notice by occupier
7A. General duties of the occupier
7B. General duties of manufacturers, etc. as regards articles and substances for use in factories

CHAPTER II, THE  INSPECTING STAFF
8. Inspectors
9. Powers of Inspectors
10. Certifying surgeons
​
CHAPTER III, HEALTH
11. Cleanliness 
12. Disposal of wastes and effluents
13. Ventilation and temperature 
14. Dust and fume 
15. Artificial humidification 
16. Over-crowding 
17. Lighting 
18. Drinking water
19. Latrines and urinals 
20. Spittoons 

CHAPTER IV, SAFETY
21. Fencing of machinery 
22. Work on or near machinery in motion
23. Employment of young persons on dangerous machines 
24. Striking gear and devices for cutting off power 
25. Self-acting machines 
26. Casing of new machinery 
27. Prohibition of employment of women and children near cotton- openers 
28. Hoists and lifts
29. Lifting machines, chains, ropes and lifting tackles 
30. Revolving machinery
31. Pressure Plant 
32. Floors, stairs and means of access 
33. Pits, sumps, openings in floors, etc 
34. Excessive weights
35. Protection of eyes 
36. Precautions against dangerous fumes, gases,  etc 
36A. Precautions regarding the use of portable electric light 
37. Explosive or inflammable dust, gas, etc 
38. Precautions in case of fire 
39. Power to require specifications of defective parts or test of stability 
40. Safety of buildings and machinery 
40A. Maintenance of buildings 
40B. Safety Officers 
41. Power to make rule to supplement this chapter 

CHAPTER IV-A, PROVISIONS RELATING TO HAZARDOUS PROCESSES
41A. Constitution of Site Appraisal Committees 
41B. Compulsory disclosure of information by the occupier 
41C. Specific responsibility of the occupier in relation to hazardous processes 
41D. Power of Central Government to appoint Inquiry Committee
41E. Emergency standards 
41F. Permissible limits of exposure of chemical and toxic substances 
41G. Workers’ participation in safety management 
41H. Right of workers to warn about imminent danger 

CHAPTER V, WELFARE
42. Washing facilities 
43. Facilities for storing and drying of wet clothing 
44. Facilities for sitting
45. First aid appliances
46. Canteens
47. Shelters, rest rooms and lunch rooms
48. Crèches 
49. Welfare officers 
50. Power to make rules to supplement this Chapter 

CHAPTER VI, WORKING HOURS OF ADULTS
51. Weekly hours 
52. Weekly holidays 
53. Compensatory holidays 
54. Daily hours 
55. Intervals for rest 
56. Spread over
57. Night shifts 
58. Prohibition of overlapping shifts
59. Extra wages for overtime
60. Restriction on double employment 
61. Notice of periods of work for adults 
62. Register of adult workers 
63. Hours of work to correspond with notice under section 61 and register under section 62 
64. Power to make exempting rules 
65. Power to make exempting orders
66. Further restrictions on employment of women 

CHAPTER VII, EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG PERSONS
67. Prohibition of employment of young children 
68. Non-adult workers to carry tokens 
69. Certificates of fitness 
70. Effect of certificate of fitness granted to adolescent
71. Working hours for children 
72. Notice of periods of work for children 
73. Register of child workers
74. Hours of work to correspond with notice under section 72 and register under section 73 
75. Power to require medical examination
76. Power to make rules
77. Certain other provisions of law not barred 

CHAPTER VIII, ANNUAL LEAVE WITH WAGES
78. Application of Chapter
79. Annual leave with wages 
80. Wages during leave period 
81. Payment in advance in certain cases 
82. Mode of recovery of unpaid wages
83. Power to make rules
84. Power to exempt factories 

CHAPTER IX, SPECIAL PROVISIONS
85. Power to apply the Act to certain premises 
86. Power to exempt public institutions
87. Dangerous operations 
87A. Power to prohibit employment on account of serious hazard 
88. Notice of certain accidents 
88A. Notice of certain dangerous occurrences
89. Notice of certain diseases 
90. Power to direct enquiry into cases of accident or disease 
91. Power to take samples
91A. Safety and occupational health surveys 

CHAPTER X, PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE
92. General penalty for offences 
93. Liability of owner of premises in certain circumstances 
94. Enhanced penalty after previous conviction
95. Penalty for obstructing Inspector 
96. Penalty for wrongfully disclosing results of analysis under  section 91 
96A. Penalty for contravention of the provisions of Sections 41B, 41C 41C and 41H 
97. Offences by workers
98. Penalty for using false certificates of  fitness
99. Penalty for permitting double employment of child 
100. [***] 
101. Exemption of occupier or manager from liability in certain cases 
102. Power of Court to make orders
103. Presumption as to employment
104. Onus as to age 
104A.Onus of proving limits of what is practicable, etc 
105. Cognizance of offences 
106. Limitation of prosecutions 
106A. Jurisdiction of a court for entertaining proceedings, etc. for offence
​
CHAPTER XI, SUPPLEMENTAL
107. Appeals
108. Display of notices 
109. Service of notices 
110. Returns 
111. Obligations of workers 
111A. Right of workers, etc 
112. General power to make rules 
113. Powers of Centre to give directions 
114. No charge for facilities and conveniences 
115. Publication of rules 
116. Application of Act to Government factories 
117. Protection to persons acting under this Act
118. Restriction on disclosures of information 
118A.Restriction on disclosure of information 
119. Act to have effect not with standing anything contained in Act 37 37 of 1970 
120. Repeal and savings
The First Schedule [See Section 2 (CB)] List of Industries Involving Hazardous Processes
The Second Schedule (See Section 41F) Permissible Levels of Certain Chemical Substances in Work Environment
The Third Schedule (See Section 89 and 90) List of Notifiable Diseases 

PART - II
THE KARNATAKA FACTORIES RULES, 1969
CHAPTER I, PRELIMINARY
1. Title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Approval of site, construction or extension of a factory
3A. Recognising a Competent Person
4.    Application for registration and grant of licence 
5. Grant of Licence 
6. Amendment of Licence 
7. Renewal of Licence
7A. Revocation of licence 
8. Transfer of Licence 
9. Procedure on death or disability of licensee 
10. Loss of Licence 
11. Payment of Fees
12. Notice of occupation and change of Manager 

CHAPTER II, INSPECTING STAFF
13. Appointment of Inspectors 
14. Powers of  Inspectors
15. Duties of Certifying Surgeons

CHAPTER III, HEALTH
16. Cleanliness of walls and ceilings 
17. Record of white washing, etc 
18. Disposal of trade wastes and effluents 
19. General Ventilation 
20. Measures required for cooling 
21. Ventilation in new Factories or Rooms 
22. When artificial humidification not allowed 
23. Provision of hygrometer 
24. Exemption from maintenance of hygrometers 
25. Copy of table in rule 22 to be affixed near every hygrometer 
26. Temperature to be recorded at each hygrometer 
27. Specifications of Hygrometer 
28. Thermometers to be maintained in efficient order 
29. An inaccurate thermometer not to be used without fresh Certificate 
30. Hygrometer not to be affixed to wall, etc., unless protected by wood 
31. No reading to be taken within fifteen minutes of renewal of water 
32. Introducing steam for humidification 
33. Provisions of rules 34 to 37 to apply in certain cases 
34. Lighting of interior parts 
35. Prevention of Glare 
36. Power of Chief Inspector to exempt
37. Exemption from rule 34 
38. Quantity of drinking water
39. Source of supply 
40. Storage of water
41. Cleanliness of Well or Reservoir 
42. Report from Health Officer
43. Cooling of Water 
44. Latrine Accommodation 
45. Latrines to conform to Public Health requirements
46. Privacy of Latrines 
47. Sign boards to be displayed
48. Urinal accommodation 
49. Urinals to conform to public health requirements
50. Certain latrines and urinals to be connected to sewerage System 
51. White washing, colour washing of latrines and urinals 
52. Construction and maintenance of drains
53. Water taps in latrines 
54. Number and location of Spittoons 
55. Type of Spittoons
56. Cleaning of Spittoons 

CHAPTER IV, SAFETY
57. Further Safety Precautions 
58. Register of specially trained adult workers
59. Employment of young persons on dangerous Machinery 
60. Guarded Machinery 
61. Hoists Examination—Particulars of 
62. Exemption of certain Hoists and Lifts 
63. Cranes and other lifting machinery 
64. Examination required
65. Pressure vessels or plant 
65A. Reaction vessels and Kettles 
65B. Examination of eyesight of certain workers 
65C. Railways in factories 
65D. Quality of personal protective equipment 
65E. Protective equipment 
66. Excessive weights 
67. Protection of Eyes 
68. Minimum Dimensions of Man holes 
69. Water sealed Gas holder 
70. Exemptions 
71. Fire protection 
72. Proof against fire 
73. Buckets 
74. Chemical Extinguishers 
75. Provision for Chemical Fire Extinguisher
76. Special provision for match factories 
77. Fire Fighting Apparatus and Water Supply 
78. Means of escape for Cotton Ginning Factories 
79. Buildings and structures
79A. Fragile roofs 
80. Belts, etc., to be regularly examined
81. Tight fitting clothing 
82. Service Platforms, etc 
83. Machinery and Plant 
84. Methods of work 
85. Stocking and storing of materials, etc 
86. Electricity 
87. Motor Vehicles Speed and light 
88. Means of internal transport and layout 
88A. (1) Qualifications 
88B. Ovens and Driers 
88C. Safety Committee 
88D. Application to Site Appraisal Committee 
88-E. The Health and Safety Policy 
88F. Collection and development and dissemination of information 
88G.Disclosure of information to workers 
88H.Disclosure of Information to the Chief Inspector 
88I. Information on Industrial Wastes
88J. Review of the Information furnished to workers, etc 
88K.Confidentiality of Information 
88L. Medical Examination 
88M.Occupational Health Centres
88N.Ambulance Van 
88O. Decontamination facilities
88P. Making available Health Records to workers
88Q.Qualifications, etc., of Supervisors 

CHAPTER V, WELFARE
89. Washing Facilities 
90. Facilities for storing and drying clothing 
91. First aid appliance 
91A. Notice regarding first aid 
92. Ambulance Room 
93. Canteens 
94. Dining Hall 
95. Canteen Equipment 
96. Prices to be charged in canteen 
97. Canteen accounts 
98. Canteen Managing Committee 
99. Food-stuffs to be served and prices to be charged 
100. Shelters, rest rooms and lunch rooms 
101. Creches
102. Washroom 
103. Supply of Milk and Refreshment
104. Creche Staff 
104A. Exemption from the provision of creche 
104B. Exemption from the provision of creche in certain cases 

CHAPTER VI, WORKING HOURS FOR ADULTS
105. Compensatory Holidays
106. Exemption from Section 58
107. Muster Roll for exempted factories 
108. Cash equivalent how determined
109. Overtime work 
110. Restriction of double employment
111. Notice of periods of work 
112. Register of Adult Workers
113 to 115.x x x x x x 
116. Exemption of certain adult worker 

CHAPTER VII, EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG PERSONS
117. Notice of periods of work for children
118. Register of child workers 

CHAPTER VIII, LEAVE WITH WAGES
119. Leave with Wages Register 
120. Preservation of Register 
121. Leave Book 
122. Medical Certificate 
123. Notice to Inspector of involuntary unemployment 
124. Notices by worker and Manager 
125. Suitability of Leave period
126. Payment of Wages if a worker dies 
127. Register to be maintained in case of exemption under Section 84
128. Exemption from the provisions of Rules 119 to 127 

CHAPTER IX, SPECIAL PROVISIONS
129. Dangerous manufacturing processes or operations 
130. Notification of Accidents and dangerous occurrences 
131. Notice of poisoning or disease 
131A.Precaution against certain chemical substances in work location 

CHAPTER X
132. Procedure in appeals
133. Display of notices 
134. Returns
135. Service of notices
136. Information required by the Inspector 
137. Muster Roll
138. Register of accidents and dangerous occurrences 
139. Maintenance of Inspection Book
140. The particulars of measurements of each room in the factory 
141. The maximum number of workers who may be employed in each work-room or work-hall
142. Intimation of intended closure of factory 

FORMS
Form No.1 
Form No.1A 
Form  No. 1B
Form No. 1C
Form  No. 1D 
Combined Application Form 
Form No. 2 
Form No. 3
Form No. 3A 
Form No. 4 
Form No. 5
Form No. 6 
Form No. 7
Form No. 8
Form No. 9 
Form No. 10 
Form No. 11
Form No. 12 
Form No. 13 
Form No. 14 
Form No. 15 
Form No. 16
Form No. 17 
Form No. 17A 
Form No. 18 
Form No. 19 
Combined Annual Return - Form 20
Form No. 21 
Form No.  22
Form No. 23 
Form No. 24 
Form No. 25 
Form No. 26 
Form No. 27 
Form No. 28 
Form No. 29 
Form No. 30 
Form No. 31 
Form No. 32 
Form No. 33 
Form No. 34 
Form No. 35 
Form No. 36 
Form No. 37 
Form No. 39 
Form No. 40

PART - III
ALLIED RULES FRAMED UNDER THE FACTORIES ACT, 1948 AND THE KARNATAKA FACTORIES RULES, 1969 
(1) The Karnataka Welfare Officers (Duties, Qualifications and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1963
1. Title 
2. Definitions 
3. Number of Welfare Officers 
4. Qualifications
5. Recruitment of Welfare Officers 
6. Conditions of Service of Welfare Officer 
7. Duties of Welfare Officers
7A. Welfare Officers not to deal with disciplinary cases or appear on behalf of Occupiers against workers
8. Powers of exemption 
9. Repeal and Savings 

(2) The Karnataka Factories (Defining the Persons Holding Position of Supervision or Management) Rules, 1981
1. Title and Commencement 
2. Definition 
3. Persons defined to hold positions of supervision or management 
4. Persons holding confidential position 
5. List be maintained of persons holding confidential positions or position of supervision or management
6. Omission of rules 113, 114, 115 of the Karnataka Factories Rules, 1969 

(3) The Major Accident Hazards Control (Karnataka) Rules, 1994 
1. Title and Commencement
2. Definitions 
3. Collection, development 5a (or) dissemination of information 
3A. Duties of Inspector
4. General responsibilities of the occupier 
5. Notification of major accidents 
6. Industrial activities, industrial activity and isolated storage to which Rules 7 to 15 apply
7. Notification of sites 
8. Updating of site notification 
9. Omitted 
10. Safety report and Safety audit report 
11. Updating of safety reports under Rule 10 
12. Requirement for further information to be sent to the Inspector and the Chief Inspector
13. Preparation of on-site emergency plan by occupier 
14. **** 
15. Information to be given to persons liable to be affected by a major accident 
16. Disclosure of information 
17. Omitted 
18. Power of the State Government to modify the Schedules

(4) The Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, 1996
1. Short Title and Commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Constitution of Central Crisis Group
4. Constitution of Crisis Alert System
5. Functions of the Central Crisis Group
6. Constitution of State Crisis Group
7. Functions of the State Crisis Group 
8. Constitution of the District and Local Crisis Group 
9. Functions of the District Crisis Group 
10. Functions of the Local Crisis Group 
11. Powers of the Members of the Central, State and District Crisis Groups
12. Aid and assistance for the functioning of the District and Local Crisis Group’s
13. Information to the Public 

(5) The Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989
1. Short Title and Commencement 
2. Definitions
3. Duties of Authorities 
4. General Responsibility of the Occupier During Industrial Activity
5. Notification of Major Accident 
6. Industrial Activity to Which Rules 7 to 15 Apply 
7.  Approval and Notification of Sites
8. Updating of the Site Notification Following Changes in the Threshold Quantity
9. Transitional Provisions-Where 
10. Safety Reports and Safety Audit Reports 
11. Updating of Reports Under Rule 10 
12. Requirement for Further Information to be Sent to the Authority
13. Preparation to On-Site Emergency Plan by the Occupier 
14. Preparation of Off-Site Emergency Plan by the Authority 
15. Information to be Given to Persons Liable to be Affected by a Major Accident
16. Disclosures of Information 
17. Collection, Development and Dissemination of Information 
18. Import of Hazardous Chemicals 
19. Improvement Notices
20. Power of the Central Government to Modify the Schedules 

PART - IV
NOTIFICATIONS AND GOVERNMENT ORDERS ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA 
1. No. LD 31 KABASE 2015 (Part-1)/1, BENGALURU, DATED:25/02/2017 
Sub: Classification of industries to streamline and simplify the inspection system
2. No. LD 31 KABASE 2015 (Part-1)/2, BENGALURU, DATED: 25/02/2017 
The Karnataka Factories (Safety Audit) Rules, 2016.
3. No. KAE 102 KABANI 99, Bangalore, Dated, 30th March 2002. 
NOTIFICATION ISSUED UNDER PROVISO TO CLAUSE (cb) OF SECTION 2 OF THE FACTORIES ACT, 1948
4. No. KAE 102 KABANI 99, Bangalore, Dated, 3rd April 2002. 
NOTIFICATION ISSUED UNDER PROVISO TO CLAUSE (cb) OF SECTION 2 OF THE FACTORIES ACT, 1948 
5. No. SWL 52 LFB 82, Bangalore, dated, 27th June 1983. 
NOTIFICATION ISSUED UNDER SECTION 40B (1) (i) OF THE FACTORIES ACT, 1948
6. No. SWL 119 LLE 89, Bangalore, dated, 7th June 1990 
DETAILS OF CERTAIN MANUFACTURING PROCESS DE-NOTIFIED/RESCINDED, UNDER SECTION 85 (1) OF FACTORIES ACT, 1948, READ WITH SECTION 21 OF THE GENERAL CLAUSES ACT, 1897
7. No. KaE 39 KaBaNI 95 (P), Bangalore, dated, 5th November 1996. 
NOTIFICATION ISSUED UNDER SECTION 85 (1) OF THE FACTORIES ACT, 1948
8. ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ: ಸಕಕಾ 62 ಕಾಬಿನಿ 91, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು, ದಿನಾಂಕ: 16-1-92. 
NOTIFICATION ISSUED UNDER SECTION 66(1) (b) OF FACTORIES ACT,1948,VARYINGTHE LIMITS OF HOURS OF EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN WORKERS WORKING IN CERTAIN FACTORIES CARRYING ON SPECIFIED MANUFACTURING PROCESS
9. First published in the Karnataka Gazette Extraordinary on the Tenth day of January, 2003
The Factories (Karnataka Amendment) Act, 2002. 
10. New Delhi, the 25th October 1976
NOTIFICATION ON DATE OF : ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THE FACTORIES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1976 (94 OF 1976) MINISTRY OF LABOUR
11. Government of India/Bharat Sarkar, Ministry of Labour/Shram Mantralaya
New Delhi, the 29th October, 1987. 
NOTIFICATION ON DATE OF ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THE FACTORIES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1987 (20 OF 1987) 
12. No. SWL 117 LET 85, Bangalore, dated, 5th May, 1988
NOTIFICATION ISSUED UNDER SECTION 85 (1) OF THE FACTORIES ACT, 1948
13. No. LD 10 LFB 95 
NOTIFICATION ISSUED UNDER SECTION 85 (1) OF THE FACTORIES ACT, 1948 : GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA
14. No. KAE 62 KARANT 99 
NOTIFICATION ISSUED UNDER SECTION 85 (1) OF THE FACTORIES ACT, 1948: GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA 
15. No. SWL 34 LFB 75, Bangalore, dated, 3rd March 1976
NOTIFICATION ISSUED UNDER SECTION 85 (1) OF THE FACTORIES ACT, 1948
16. GOVERNMENT ORDER NO.LD 07 KABASE 2003, BANGALORE,
DATED; 7th August, 2003
Subject: Re-designating of the Head of the Department and his subordinate officers-issue of orders regarding. 
17. No. LD 04 KABANI 2015, Bengaluru, Dated: 25/01/2017. 
Karnataka State Factories Self Certification Scheme-2016

PART - V
COMPARISON OF THE FACTORIES ACT, 1948 WITH SIMILAR OTHER SOCIAL WELFARE ENACTMENTS

SUBJECT INDEX