Factories Act 1937

1. Introductory Text

2. Part I Health (General Provisions)

   1. 1. Cleanliness

   2. 2. Overcrowding

   3. 3. Temperature

   4. 4. Ventilation

   5. 5. Lighting

   6. 6. Drainage of floors

   7. 7. Sanitary conveniences

   8. 8. Enforcement by district councils of certain provisions of Part I

   9. 9. Powers of inspector as to sanitary defects remediable by district council

   10. 10. Powers in case of default of a district council

   11. 11. Power to require medical supervision

3. Part II Safety (General Provisions)

   1. 12. Prime movers

   2. 13. Transmission machinery

   3. 14. Other machinery

   4. 15. Provisions as to unfenced machinery

   5. 16. Construction and maintenance of fencing

   6. 17. Construction and sale of new machinery

   7. 18. Vessels containing dangerous liquids

   8. 19. Self-acting machines

   9. 20. Cleaning of machinery by women and young persons

   10. 21. Training and supervision of young persons working at dangerous machines

   11. 22. Hoists and lifts

   12. 23. Chains, ropes and lifting tackle

   13. 24. Cranes and other lifting machines

   14. 25. Construction and maintenance of floors, passages and stairs

   15. 26. Safe means of access and safe place of employment

   16. 27. Precautions in places where dangerous fumes are liable to be present

   17. 28. Precautions with respect to explosive or inflammable dust, gas, vapour or substance

   18. 29. Steam boilers

   19. 30. Steam receivers and steam containers

   20. 31. Air receivers

   21. 32. Exceptions as to steam boilers, steam receivers and containers, and air receivers

   22. 33. Precautions as respects water-sealed gasholders

   23. 34. Means of escape in case of fire

   24. 35. Regulations and byelaws as to means of escape in case of fire

   25. 36. Safety provisions in case of fire

   26. 37. Instruction as to use of means of escape in case of fire

   27. 38. Power of Secretary of State to require special safety arrangements for the prevention of accidents

   28. 39. Power of court of summary jurisdiction to make orders as to dangerous conditions and practices

   29. 40. Power of court of summary jurisdiction to make orders as to dangerous factory

4. Part III Welfare (General Provisions)

   1. 41. Supply of drinking water

   2. 42. Washing facilities

   3. 43. Accommodation for clothing

   4. 44. Facilities for sitting

   5. 45. First-aid

   6. 46. Welfare regulations

5. Part IV Health, Safety and Welfare (Special Provisions and Regulations)

   1. Special Provisions

      1. 47. Removal of dust or fumes

      2. 48. Meals in certain dangerous trades

      3. 49. Protection of eyes in certain processes

      4. 50. Shuttle threading by mouth suction

      5. 51. Prohibition of use of white phosphorus in manufacture of matches

      6. 52. Humid factories

      7. 53. Underground rooms

      8. 54. Basement bakehouses

      9. 55. Laundries

      10. 56. Lifting excessive weights

      11. 57. Prohibition of employment of female young persons where certain processes are carried on

      12. 58. Prohibition of employment of women and young persons in certain processes connected with lead manufacture

      13. 59. Provisions as to employment of women and young persons in processes involving use of lead compounds

   2. Special Regulations for Safety and Health

      1. 60. Power to make special regulations for safety and health

   3. Supplementary Provisions

      1. 61. Prohibition of importation and sale of articles made with prohibited materials

      2. 62. Power to take samples

      3. 63. Certificates required before approval of building plans relating to cotton cloth factories

6. Part V Notification and Investigation of Accidents and Industrial Diseases

   1. 64. Notification of accidents

   2. 65. Power to extend to dangerous occurrences provisions as to notice of accidents

   3. 66. Notification of industrial diseases

   4. 67. Inquest in case of death by accident or industrial disease

   5. 68. Power to direct formal investigation of accidents and cases of disease

   6. 69. Duty of examining surgeon to investigate and report in certain cases

7. Part VI Employment of Women and Young Persons

   1. Hours and Holidays

      1. 70. General conditions as to hours of employment of women and young persons

      2. 71. Reduction of weekly hours of work of young persons under sixteen

      3. 72. Notice fixing hours of employment

      4. 73. Overtime employment of women and young persons over sixteen

      5. 74. Supplementary provisions as to overtime

      6. 75. Restriction of employment inside and outside factory on same day

      7. 76. Prohibition of use of rooms during intervals

      8. 77. Prohibition of Sunday employment

      9. 78. Annual holidays

      10. 79. Exception as to women holding positions of management

      11. 80. Power to suspend certain provisions of Part VI in emergency

   2. Special Exceptions

      1. 81. Exception as to male young persons employed in shifts

      2. 82. Exception for factories operating the five-day week

      3. 83. Exception as to hour of commencement of period of employment

      4. 84. Exception as to simultaneous hours for meals and rest

      5. 85. Exception as to employment during intervals

      6. 86. Exception as to use of rooms during intervals

      7. 87. Exception as to continuous employment of male young persons employed with men

      8. 88. Exception as to male young persons employed on repairing work

      9. 89. Exception as to Saturday

      10. 90. Exception as to holidays on different days for different sets

      11. 91. Exception as to Sundays and Saturdays in Jewish factories

      12. 92. Exception as to laundries

      13. 93. Exception as to manufacture of bread or flour confectionery or sausages

      14. 94. Exception as to the preserving of fish, fruit and vegetables

      15. 95. Exception as to factories where milk is treated

      16. 96. Provision for protection of women and young persons employed under exceptions

      17. 97. Notices, registers, &c, relating to special exceptions

   3. Regulation of Employment of Young Persons in certain occupations

      1. 98. Regulation of employment of young persons in certain occupations

   4. Certificate of fitness for Employment of Young Persons

      1. 99. Certificate of fitness for employment of young persons

      2. 100. Power of inspector to require certificate of fitness for work

8. Part VII Special Applications and Extensions

   1. Premises in respect of which Owner is liable

      1. 101. Tenement factories

      2. 102. Premises where part of building is separate factory

   2. Electrical Stations

      1. 103. Application of Act to electrical stations

   3. Institutions

      1. 104. Institutions

   4. Docks, Wharves, Quays, Warehouses and Ships

      1. 105. Docks, &c

      2. 106. Ships

   5. Works of Building and Engineering Construction

      1. 107. Building operations

      2. 108. Works of engineering construction

   6. Lead Processes carried on in Places other than Factories

      1. 109. Employment of women and young persons in places other than factories in processes connected with lead manufacture or involving the use of lead compounds

9. Part VIII Home Work

   1. 110. Lists of outworkers to be kept in certain trades

   2. 111. Employment of person in unwholesome premises

10. Part IX Particulars or Piece Work and Wages

    1. 112. Particulars of work and wages to be given to piece-workers

11. Part X Miscellaneous

    1. 113. Notice of occupation of factory, and use of mechanical power

    2. 114. Posting of abstract of Act and notices

    3. 115. Provisions as to special regulations

    4. 116. General registers

    5. 117. Preservation of registers and records

    6. 118. Periodical return of persons employed

    7. 119. Duties of persons employed

    8. 120. Prohibition of deductions from wages

    9. 121. Weights, measures and weighing and measuring instruments used in ascertaining wages

12. Part XI Administration

    1. 122. Appointment and duties of inspectors and clerks and servants

    2. 123. Powers of inspectors

    3. 124. Power of inspector to conduct proceedings before magistrates

    4. 125. Certificate of appointment of inspector

    5. 126. Appointment and duties of examining surgeons

    6. 127. Fees of examining surgeons

    7. 128. Provisions as to county and district councils

    8. 129. Provisions as to regulations and orders of Secretary of State

13. Part XII Supplementary

    1. Offences, Penalties and Legal Proceedings

       1. 130. Offences

       2. 131. Fines for offences for which no express penalty provided

       3. 132. Power of court to order cause of contravention to be remedied

       4. 133. Fines in case of death or injury

       5. 134. Fine for offence by parent

       6. 135. Forgery of certificates, false entries, and false declarations

       7. 136. Penalty on persons actually committing offence for which occupier is liable

       8. 137. Power of occupier or owner to exempt himself from liability on conviction of the actual offender

       9. 138. Proceedings against persons other than occupiers or owners

       10. 139. Owner of machine liable in certain cases instead of occupier

       11. 140. Prosecution of offences and recovery and application of fines

       12. 141. Appeal from orders made on complaint

       13. 142. Special provisions as to evidence

       14. 143. Proceedings for offences in respect of the employment of children

       15. 144. Service and sending of documents, &c

       16. 145. Certificates of birth

       17. 146. Power of county court to modify agreements

       18. 147. Power of county court to apportion expenses

       19. 148. Application of Arbitration Acts

14. Part XIII Application of Act

    1. 149. General application of Act

    2. 150. Application to factories belonging to the Crown

15. Part XIV Interpretation and General

    1. Interpretation

       1. 151. Interpretation of expression "factory"

       2. 152. General interpretation

       3. 153. Application of Act to young persons employed in factories in certain occupations

    2. General

       1. 154. Inspection of certain premises

       2. 155. Expenses of Secretary of State

       3. 156. Application to Scotland

       4. 157. Substitution of corresponding provisions for certain provisions of 1 Edw.7 c.22

       5. 158. Provisions as to quarries and pit banks

       6. 159. Repeals and exclusion of certain enactments

       7. 160. Short title, commencement, extent and saving

16. 1. First Schedule

       Table of Humidity

    2. Second Schedule

       Procedure for making Special Regulations

    3. Third Schedule

       Provisions of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, to be administered by District Councils

    4. Fourth Schedule

       Enactments repealed