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Unit 1: The Factories Act, 1948

(i) Washing Facilities Notes

In every factory
 adequate and suitable facilities for washing shall be provided and maintained for use of
the workers therein;

 separate and adequately screened facilities shall be provided for the use of male and
female workers;
 such facilities shall be conveniently accessible and shall be kept clean.

The State Government may, in respect of any factory or class or description of factories or of any
manufacturing process, prescribe standards of adequate and suitable facilities for washing.
(Section 42)
(ii) Facilities for Storing and Drying Clothing

The State Government may, in respect of any factory or class or description of factories make
rules requiring the provision therein of suitable place for keeping clothing not worn during
working hours and for the drying of wet clothing. (Section 43)

(iii) Facilities for Sitting

In every factory suitable arrangements for sitting shall be provided and maintained for all
workers obliged to work in a standing position, in order that they may take advantage of any
opportunities for rest which may occur in the course of their work. If, in the opinion of the Chief
Inspector, the workers in any factory engaged in a particular manufacturing process or working
in a particular room, are able to do their work efficiently in a sitting position, he may, by order
in writing, require the occupier of the factory to provide before a specified date such seating
arrangements as may be practicable for all workers so engaged or working. The State Government
may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that the provisions of sub-section (1) shall
not apply to any specified factory or class or description of factories or to any specified
manufacturing process. (Section 44)

(iv) First-aid-appliances

There shall, in every factory, be provided and maintained so as to be readily accessible during
all working hours first-aid boxes or cupboards equipped with the prescribed contents, and the
number of such boxes or cupboards to be provided and maintained shall not be less than one for
every one hundred and fifty workers ordinarily employed at any one time in the factory.
Nothing except the prescribed contents shall be kept in a first-aid box or cupboard. Each first-aid
box or cupboard shall be kept in the charge of a separate responsible person, who holds a
certificate in first-aid treatment recognized by the State Government and who shall always be
readily available during the working hours of the factory. In every factory wherein more than
five hundred workers are ordinarily employed there shall be provided and maintained an
ambulance room of the prescribed size, containing the prescribed equipment and in the charge
of such medical and nursing staff as may be prescribed and those facilities shall always be made
readily available during the working hours of the factory. (Section 45)

(v) Canteens

The State Government may make rules requiring that in any specified factory wherein more
than two hundred and fifty workers are ordinarily employed, a canteen or canteens shall be

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