Provisions of Factories Act 1948

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Explain the provisions of Factories Act 1948

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The Act is a piece of social welfare legislation. It governs working conditions of workmen in factories. It deals mainly with-
1. Health, welfare and safety of workmen. The Act aims to protect workers employed in factories against industrial and occupational hazards and ensure safe and healthy conditions of life and work. It makes detailed provisions regarding health, safety and welfare of workers in order to provide good working conditions and other facilities to enhance then welfare.
2. Working hour of adults and annual leave with wages. The act imposes certain restriction as to hours of work and also makes provisions for leave and rest.
3. Employment of women and young persons. The Act makes some more stringent provisions, particularly with regard to length of working hours, in regard to women and young persons.
Following are the important provisions of Factories Act 1948.
Age of employment
No child has completed his 14th year can be appointed (Sec. 67). Children who have completed their fourteenth year and adolescents who have completed fifteenth year of age but the still below 18 years cannot be employed in a factory unless they have been granted a certificate of fitness (Sec.£8).The certificate of fitness is a certificate granted to a child or adolescent by a Certifying Surgeon after the medical examination. The certificates of fitness have renewed to be annually and shown by a child or adolescent person at the time of their work.
Working Hours
The act lays down 48 hours a week and 9 hours a day for adult workers (Sec. 51).-For persons below IS years of age, the hours of work are fixed at 4 '/2 hours a day (Sec. 71). Employment of children and  women 7.00 p.m. and 6.00 a.m. is prohibited. For overtime work Iwice the normal rate of wage has to be paid.
Health: Hygiene and Environment (Sees. 11 to 20)
The Act has provided for the health of the workers while at work Sec. 11 provides that every factory must be kept clean.
Accumulated dirt and refuse must be removed daily. Floor of every workroom should be cleaned effectively. Drainage, urinals etc. must be kept clean and disinfectants shall be used, for the purpose.
Sec. 12 provides for disposal of wastes and affluents, Sec,13 requires maintenance of adequate ventilation and proper temperature and Sec.14 requires effective measures for prevention of inhalation or accumulation of dust and fumes in workroom Sec. 15 provides for the control of artificial humidification so that pure water is used for the purpose. Sec. 16 provides for avoiding overcrowding of any workroom of the factory Sec. XI provides for maintenance of sufficient and suitable lighting. Prevention of Tire, formation of shadows, Sec, 18 requires very factory lo make effective arrangements for sufficient supply ol pure drinking water. Provision of latrines and urinals (Sec. 19) separately for male and female workers and sufficient number of spit rooms (Sec. 20) are the other provision.
Safety and Protection
Sees, 21 to 40 of Act, arc devoted to the provisions for safety and protection of the workers while at work.
Sec. 21 makes, it obligatory for a factory owner to fence securely every dangerous part of every machine. Sec. 22 provides that only specially trained adult male worker. In right clothings can work on or near any machinery in motion. Any women or young person must not be allowed to clean, lubricate or adjust any part of such a machinery in motion. Sec.23 provides that young person must not be asked to work on dangerous machines without sufficient training to work on such a machine. Adequate supervision of a person possessing thorough knowledge and experience of such a machine is compulsory.
Other provisions cover provisions of striking gear and devices for culling off power (Sec. 24) controlling self-acting machines (Sec. 25) and causing of new machinery (Sec. 26). Sec. 28 provides that A hoists and lifts must be of sufficient strength and sufficiently protected by enclosures having gates. Sec. 29 requires lifting machines (such as cranes), chains, ropes and lifting tackles to be strong and properly maintained and Sec. 30 requires a notice indicating speed of each revolving machine permanently kept near such machine.
The Act has covered in detail all the aspects of factory situation affecting safety, such as floors, stairs and passages and gangways (Sec. 32). Pits, openings in floors, etc. (Sec. 35), precaution against dangerous fumes (Sec. 36). Explosive or inflammable dust, gas, etc., (Sec. 37) Precaution against fire (Sec. 38) etc. Sec. 40 makes provision for safely of buildings and machinery.
Welfare Measures
These include adequate washing facilities separately for male and female workers (Sec. 42), facilities for storing and drying clothes (Sec. 43), and facilities for siting (Sec. 44) for all those workers who have to work in standing position.
Sec.45 makes it obligatory to provide and maintain first-aid-box at the rate of one such box for every 150 workers. Every factory with more than 500 workers must maintain an ambulance room with adequate medical and nursing staff.
Provision of canteens in factories with more than 250 workers (Sec. 46) shelters, rest-room and lunch rooms in factory with more than 150 worker (Sec. 47) and crèches in every factory with more than 50 women workers (Sec. 48) are the other requirements. Sec. 49 provides that every factory with 500 or more workers must have welfare officers (the number of such officers is to be determined by the State Government)