FACTORY ACT REGULATIONS WITH REGARD TO SAFETY:

The primary goal of adhering to regulations such as the Workman Compensation Act-1923 and the Factory Act of 1948 is to prevent loss of lives and industrial accidents. The Factory Act defines terms, sets rules for machinery fencing, and includes extensive safety regulations for workers' health. The Indian Factory Act of 1949 further addresses cleanliness, ventilation, working hours, and welfare, collectively contributing to safe working conditions. Various global safety organizations, such as the National Safety Council of the U.S.A and the World Health Organization, conduct research on accident prevention, providing valuable insights through periodic bulletins. The overarching objective of the Factory Act is to safeguard workers from industrial hazards and ensure a secure and improved working environment, with specific provisions outlined for the fencing of machinery and other safety measures.

This act also specify some important regulations with regard to the age of employees for specific nature of jobs and also their respective permissible working hours in a day, week and month in order to avoid excessive fatigue and ensure more safety. It also covers some additional regulations regarding welfare of workers, their overtime duties, wages, first-aid provisions and conditions of employment of young persons and women. All such provisions collectively contribute to safe working conditions in the factories.Beside above, various safety organizations in different parts of the world carry on regular studies and research in causes of accidents and the methods of their prevention. These organizations regularly issue their periodical bulletins in respect of their achievements regarding safety.

These bulletins can be referred frequently for keeping in touch with the latest techniques and measures of safety. Few well known such organizations are Safety First Association of India, National Safety Council of U.S.A, International Labor Office, Geneva, Factory Department, Ministry of Labor, H.M.S.O., (U.K.), National Safety Council, Bombay, Industrial Health Organization, Kanpur, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Calcutta. Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi., Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, World Health Organization, The Royal Society for tile prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) London., British Standards, Institution, London., Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Washington D.C, U.S.A., Bureau of Labor Standards, U.S.A, American Society of Safety Engineers, Commonwealth Department of Labor and National Service, Australia. Canadian Industrial Safety Association (CISA), Ontario, Canada, World Safety Organization (WSO), Manila, International Occupational Safety and Health Information Center, Switzerland.

The primary aims of the Factory Act are to safeguard workers in factories from industrial hazards and ensure enhanced working conditions. The general provisions within the Factory Act concerning the enclosure of machinery and additional safety precautions are outlined as follows:

Each mobile component of a prime mover, flywheels linked to prime movers, head and tail races of all waterwheels and turbines, any section of bar stock extending beyond the headstock of a lathe in each factory must be securely enclosed by durable safety guards. These guards must consistently remain in place whenever the part or machinery is operational or in motion.

1. All parts of an electric motor, generator and converter, all parts of transmission machinery, all dangerous parts of any other machinery should be securely fenced by means of safety guards unless they are located in such positions and/or their construction ensures adequate safety for every person employed in the factory.
2. In case it becomes necessary to examine any part or parts of machinery while being in motion only a specially trained adult worker should be deputed for the work.
3. Precautions against dangerous fumes.

Adequate protection should always be provided against dangerous fume. No person be allowed to enter confined spaces, chamber, tanks etc. in which dangerous fumes are likely to be present. If a manufacturing process is producing dust, fumes, or vapors, sufficient measures should always be taken to prevent inhalation of the same by industrial personnel.

Scope of Factory Act Regulation:

The Factory Act Regulation applies to every industrial establishment engaging ten or more workers in manufacturing processes with power and twenty or more workers without power for manufacturing processes. It encompasses all seasonal and perennial factories without discrimination. The enforcement of the Factory Act extends to all states in India. To establish an industry, governmental approval, licensing, and factory registration are mandatory under the Factory Act Regulation. Each industry must undergo registration by submitting registration documents to the chief inspector of the factory, accompanied by a written notice specifying factory details, including the factory's name, owner's name and address, power details, and production type.