HEALTH AND HYGIENE Cleanliness

Provisions of the new labour law:

Section 51 of the new labour law deals with the provisions of cleanliness. It is exactly the same as section 12 of the earlier Factories Act, 1965. The law provides for the following:

1. Every factory shall be kept clean and free from effluvia arising out of any drain, privy, or any other nuisance in the following manner:

a) Accumulation of dirt and refuge shall be moved daily by sweeping from floors and benches of workrooms, staircases and passages;

b) The floors of every work room shall be cleaned by washing at least once in a week using disinfectant;

c) Effective drainage shall be provided and maintained where the floor is liable to become wet in course of any manufacturing process to such extent as is capable of drainage;

d) All inside walls and partitions, all ceilings or tops of the rooms and walls, side and top of the passageways and staircase shall

be-* Section 94 of Labour Law, 2006 repainted or re-varnished at least once in every five years from when they are painted or varnished cleaned at least once in every fourteen

month where they are painted and varnished and have smooth impervious surfaces.

kept whitewashed or color washed at least once in every fourteen months 2. A register shall be maintained in every factory for all the required activities as described in the clause (d) above.

Drinking water

Provisions of the new labour law:

Section 58(1) of the new labour law provides for an effective arrangement of sufficient supply of wholesome drinking water conveniently located at suitable point for all workers. The section further provides for the following

(2) The word “Drinking water” shall be legibly marked on the place;

(3) Cooling the drinking water in a factory during the hot weather where more than 250 workers are employed;

(4) Oral Re-hydration Therapy for the workers, working close to the machine producing excessive heat.

Changes in the present law:

A number of changes are there in the new legislation in this regard:

 The Factories Act 1965 made a provision that the drinking water cannot be located in any place within 20 feet of distance of latrines, urinals, or washing-places, but the new law has directed for a place convenient to all.

 Oral re-hydration therapy has been instructed for installation for the employees working close to machines producing excessive heat.

Overcrowding

Provisions of the new labour law:

Section 56(1) of the labour law 2006 makes provisions for required spaces for a single worker employed in a factory. Following are the points important in this regard.

(2) 9.5 (Nine and half) cubic metres of space for every single worker in a factory;

For calculating the dimension of the aforementioned-space, ignore the height beyond 4.25 meter;

(3) The Factory shall post a notice in each workroom, specifying the maximum number of workers who can be employed therein as per the above calculation, if the Inspectors so

require;

(4) The Inspector can exempt any workroom of any factory from the compliance of this rule if satisfied that for the health of the worker it is not necessary.

Changes in the present law:

No noteworthy change is there except for the conversion of the measurement of space in the metric system from the existing British system.

Lighting

Provisions of the new labour law:

Section 57(1) of the new labour law provides for the arrangement of sufficient and suitable lighting of natural or artificial or both. The section further provides for the following:

(2) Glazed windows or skylights shall be kept clean on both the pouter and inner surface free from obstructions;

(3) Provisions shall be made

(a) to prevent glare either directly from any source of light or by reflection from a smoothened or polished surface;

(b) Provisions shall be made for the prevention of the formation of shadow to such extent

as to cause eye strain or risk of accident to any worker.

Latrines and urinals

Provisions of the new labour law:

Section 59 of the new labour law makes the provisions of the latrines and urinals for the workers employed in a particular factory. The section provides for the following:

a) Sufficient number of latrines and urinals located at convenient places and accessible to all the workers

b) Separate arrangements for male and female workers

c) Properly illuminated and ventilated and sufficient supplied with water at all times d) Clean and sanitary condition be maintained by detergents or disinfectants or with both

Dust bins and spittoons

Provisions of the new labour law:

Section 60 of the present law deals with the provisions of dustbins and spittoons. The sections provides for the following:

1. Every factory shall provide sufficient number of dustbins and spittoons at convenient places in clean and hygienic conditions

2. No person shall spit or litter except in the spittoon or bins, kept and maintained forthis purpose

3. A notice shall be posted at every conspicuous places for the workers to the effect that

“Spitting or littering in contravention of clause 2 is a punishable offence”.

Changes in the present law: Previously the provision was only for the spittoons;

however, now it is paraphrased as “Spittoons and Dustbins” to include littering as well.

The earlier laws made the provision of a Taka 2 fine for the violation of the spitting rules which is eliminated in the new law and only a notice has been provided for to that effect.