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Unit 1: The Factories Act, 1948

(vii) Prohibition of Employment of Women and Children near Cotton Openers Notes

The Factories Act, 1948 prohibits the employment of women and children in any part of the
factory for pressing cotton where the cotton opener is at work. But if the feed-end of the
cotton-opener is in a room separated from the delivery and by a partition extending to the roof
or to such height as the inspector may in any particular case specify in writing, women and
children may be employed on the side of the partition where feed-end is situated. (Section 27)

(viii) Roust and Lifts

Section 28 (I) requires that hoists and lifts must be of good mechanical construction, sound
material and adequate strength. They should not only be properly maintain but also thoroughly
examined at least twice a year by competent persons.
(ix) Revolving Machinery

Section 30 (1) provides that a notice indicating the maximum safe working peripheral speed of
the grindstone or abrasive wheel the speed of the shaft, or spindle, must be permanently affixed
on all rooms in a factory where grinding is carried on the speeds indicated in notices under
sub-section (1) shall not be exceeded [Sub-section (2) of Section 30]. Similarly, care shall be taken
not to exceed the safe working peripheral speed of every revolving machine like revolving
vessel, cage, basket, fly-wheel, pulley, disc or similar appliances run by power. [Sub-section (3)
of Section 30]

(x) Pressure Plant

Section 31 (1) provides that effective measures should be taken to ensure safe working pressure
of any part of the plant or machinery used in the manufacturing process operating at a pressure
above the atmospheric pressure.
(xi) Pits, Sump and Opening in Floors

Section 33 (1), of the Factories Act, 1948 requires that every fixed vessel, sump, tank, pit or
opening in the ground or in the floor in every factory should be covered or securely fenced, if be
reason of its depth, situation, construction or contents, they are or can be a source of danger.
Section 33 (2) empowers the State Government to grant exemption from compliance of the
provision of this section (i) in respect of any item mentioned in the section, (ii) to any factory or
class of factories, and (iii) on such condition as may be provided in the rules.

(xii) Precautions against Dangerous Fumes, and Gases

In order to prevent the factory workers against dangerous fumes, special measures have been
taken under the Factories Act. The Act prohibits entry in any chamber, tank, vat, pit, pipe, flue,
or other confined space in any factory in which any gas, fume, vapour or dust is likely to be
present, to such an extent as to involve risk to persons being overcome thereby, except in cases
where there is a provision of a manhole of adequate size or other effective means of egress
[Section 36 (1)]. No person shall be required or allowed to enter any confined space such as is
referred to in sub-section (1) until all practicable measures have been taken to Actually remove
the gas, fumes or dust, which may be present so as to bring its level within the permissible limits
and to prevent any ingress of such gas, fume, vapour or dust unless [Section 36 (2)].

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