Occupational health and safety

 What are the laws related to occupational health and safety in Pakistan?

 

Pakistan has not yet enacted independent and permanent legislation on occupational health and safety. Chapter 3 of the Factories Act 1934 deals with health and safety. All provincial governments have also made rules and regulations under the Act. The Dangerous Occupations Rules 1963, enacted under the Factories Act, also deals with occupational health and safety. These rules not only apply to hazardous occupations but also allow the Chief Inspector of Factories to declare another occupation or process (work) as hazardous. These rules will apply to this process.

 

Other occupational health and safety laws are:

 

The Port Workers Act (Postal Labor Act) 1934

Mines Act 1923

Workers' Compensation Act 1923

Provincial Employees Social Security Ordinance 1965

West Pakistan Shops and Establishments Ordinance 1969

Boilers and Pressure Vessels Ordinance 2002

 

Can you tell us about the occupational health and safety provisions of the Factories Act?

 

Chapter 3 of the Factories Act contains general provisions regarding workplace health and safety. Provincial governments are allowed to make rules and regulations under the Act and factory inspectors may also make rules under the provisions of this chapter. The list below lists all the health and safety provisions in Chapter 3 of the Factories Act. It is also meant to show that although there is no separate law on health and safety in Pakistan, all these issues have been carefully covered.

 

Cleaning

Disposal of waste and waste products

Skylights and temperature

Dust and vapor

Artificial moisture

The crowd

Light

Drinking water

Toilets and urinals

اگالدان

Precautions against infectious and contagious diseases

Mandatory vaccination (at the expense of the employer)

Canteen

Welfare Officer

Precautions in case of fire

Machine rails

About moving machines or working on them

Minor work on risky machines

Gear arrangement and power off measures

Automatic machines

Casing of new machines (cover or sheathing)

Prohibition of employment of women and adolescents near the cotton bale

Cranes and other lifting machinery

Elevator and elevator

Rotating machines

Pressure plant

Floors, stairs and passages

Pits, sewage ponds, cracks in the floor, etc.

Too much weight (weight limit set)

Eye protection

Option to ask for details of inspector's defective parts and to review sustainability

Safety of building, machinery and product manufacturing process

Precautions against harmful health vapors

Explosive or flammable dust, gas, etc.

Prohibition of entry of teenagers

 

Notice of some accidents

 

Similarly, Chapter 5 of the Mines Act deals with health and safety arrangements. Provisions regarding the health and safety of postal workers are found in the Pakistan Postal Labor Regulations.

 

How does the government ensure that these laws are fully complied with in the workplace?

 

Under these laws, provincial or federal governments have the responsibility to appoint qualified persons as inspectors. It is now the duty of inspectors to enforce these laws without discrimination. The inspectors' powers include entering, inspecting and inspecting any place (whether used as a factory or believing it is used as a factory) and taking statements / testimonials from workers in the performance of their duties. ۔ No such person may be appointed as an inspector or remain in the post of inspector if he has a direct or indirect interest in the place of work or business. The site could be a factory under the Factories Act, a port or a ship under the Postal Workers Act, and a mine under the Mines Act.

 

Do employers or government agencies provide workers with occupational health and safety training?

 

Government agencies such as the National Institute of Labor Administration and the Directorate of Workers' Education provide training for workers on these issues. The Directorate of Postal Workers Safety, the Central Inspectorate of Mines provides training to port workers and miners. The Center for the Improvement of Working Conditions and the Environment, which operates under the Directorate of Labor Welfare, Punjab, also provides training and information to workers on occupational health and safety issues, in addition to professionalism in businesses and factories. It is also working as a research institute for the promotion of occupational health and safety and better working environment. You can also get training material / curriculum, safety posters / signs from this center.