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 of 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 op 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. SCHEDULES.

    1. FIRST SCHEDULE

       Table of Humidity.

    2. SECOND SCHEDULE

       Procedure for making Special Regulations.

       1. 1. Before the Secretary of State makes any special regulations, he...

       2. 2. Every objection must be in writing and state—

       3. 3. The Secretary of State shall consider any objection made by...

       4. 4. If after the publication of the notice with respect to...

       5. 5. Where any such inquiry is to be held as to...

       6. 6. For the purposes of this Schedule the expression “general objection...

    3. THIRD SCHEDULE

       Provisions of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, to be administered by district councils.

       1. PART I

       2. PART II Provisions applicable in London and Scotland only.

    4. FOURTH SCHEDULE

       Enactments repealed.