REPORT ON FACTORY ACT 2000
CHAPTER-7
7.1 With the continuous increase in the use of machinery, the arrangements for ensuring safety in factories have assumed immense significance. The Factories Act, 1948 has provided for several measures to ensure safety of the workers. Some of these are: (i) Fencing of machines of all sorts is compulsory, (ii) No person shall be employed in any factory to lift, carry or move any load so heavy as to be likely to cause him injury, (iii) if it appears to the Inspector that any building or part of a building or any part of the ways, machinery or plant in a factory is in a condition that it is dangerous to human life or safety, he may serve on the Manager of the factory an order in writing specifying the measure which in his opinion should be adopted and requiring them to be carried out before a stipulated date.
7.2 The important measures taken by different Factory Inspectorates in this direction during the year 2000 are summarised below: -
ANDHRA PRADESH
The department made arrangements to educate, advice and help the management in adhering to the statutory provisions of the Act.
ASSAM
The Inspectorate took special care for the implementation of safety provisions of the Factories Act and rules during the year 2000. The department organised ‘National Safety Day’ and Safety Seminars and imparted safety training to the workers and management to create safety consciousness and as a result of which the number of accidents came down. The Inspectorate Officers regularly inspected the chemical and other factories dealing with dangerous operations to examine the safety measures and related control measures, which resulted in reduction of high rise eventualities. The Factories Act provides for setting up the Safety Committee and this Inspecatorate played a major role in setting up 11 Safety Committees in various factories of the State during the year. In addition to this, Mock-Drills were carried out in major accident hazard units from time to time to give them sufficient practical training to enlighten the workers and management with the safety measures to be adopted in such eventualities. Out of 11 Major Accident Hazard Units in the state, all of them submitted the on-site emergency plan. Off-site emergency plans are yet to be submitted and they have been asked to submit the same alongwith disclosures of information as required under Section 41-B.
KERALA
During the year, the Director of Factories and Boilers who is responsible for the inspections of factories in the State conducted inspections in 14748 factories and 30 convictions were made during the years 2000.
The State Safety Cell supplements the enforcement machinery to regulate the provisions of safety measures provided under the Factories Act, 1948 in all the factories registered under the Factories Act in the State of Orissa. Sixteen Safety Training Programmes were conducted in different factories in the State. These training programmes benefited 757 workers and shop floor level supervisors. Besides, safety films were also screened in 13 different factories in the state and 1980 workers of these factories witnessed the film shows in 2000. Apart from these, safety posters were also supplied free of cost for display in different factories in the state and safety pamphlets were distributed to workers and managers for their guidance for safe working and safety management. The State cell in collaboration with Multi Disciplinary Centers has conducted 7 Basic First Aid Training Programmes in different Industries during the year 2000.
TRIPURA
In the striking gear and device for cutting power (Section 24), arrangements were found to be satisfactory except new factories for which remedial measures have been instructed. In some tea manufacturing factories, arrangements for hand holds in the stairs were not satisfactory. The managements were instructed to provide secured hand holds in such cases. In a few factories covering the fencing of openings were not satisfactory. Instructions have been given to the defaulting Management to improve the condition.
In factories, which were equipped with old machines, violation of the provisions of fencing of Machinery was generally found. Sometimes even workers did not take proper care in replacing the guard on the machines after repair work. As a result, accidents of various natures took place. However, the managements are being persuaded to take suitable steps to avoid industrial accidents. In cases where units were involved in operation such as emission of dangerous fumes and dust, etc., exhaust fans were provided. Workers were issued protective equipment and safety goggles.
With a view to arrest the increasing trend of accidents in factories, the Inspectorate Staff continued to have close liaison and personal discussions with the management. As a result, the total number of accidents was significantly brought down. In about 41, giving lectures, Audio Visual Aids such as screening of safety films slides, etc. to create safety awareness among the workers, benefited factories, 2828 workers. The Inspectorate in publishing quarterly Bulletin namely “Pondicherry Industrial Safety News” from the year 2001 which contains causes of the accidents remedial measures based on the accidents occurred, safety related matters articles etc.