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IOHA Report to ILO on an International OHSMS - Appendix C/5
[Title page]     [Table of Contents]     Chapters: I II III     Appendices: A B C D E F G

Appendix C/5

Analysis - India

 

 

Analysis Summary

Standard/Guidance Document Origin: India
Ministry of Labour
Name of Standard/Guidance Document: The Factories Act of 1948; 1988 revision
Reference Number: Rule: 16A, 79, 82A-O

A. Review Issues and Questions

1.

Publication date.

1988 revision.

2.

Status: final, draft, other.

Final.

3.

Pending revisions.

Not known.

4.

Publishing Organization type.

Government.

5.

Type of OHSMS.

National regulation.

6.

Is it used by regulatory agencies

to achieve agency mandate?

Yes.

7.

Is it meant to be an auditable standard?

Yes.

8.

Is it used as an auditable standard?

Yes. Contains a mix of shall and should statements.

9.

Is it a management system?

Yes.

10.

Are there technical appendices?

No.

11.

Is there a companion audit guidance document?

Not known.

12.

Are there stated limitations of use?

No.

 

B. Review Comments

This is the cardinal Act on health and safety in India. It is based on the British Factories Act. The Indian Act emphasizes safety and welfare but is lacking a comprehensive approach to occupational hygiene. The central government promulgated the Act while the state governments promulgate rules on each section of the Act. The Act provides guidelines, whereas rules provide specifications.

Safety Committees are required in organisations over 250 people.

The regulation is comprehensive in the area of Emergency and Community Right-to-Know language and requirements.

For a national regulatory standard, it is strong. It has many of the components of a system. By the definition established, it is not as strong as the ISO-based management systems.

System variables missing include:

- goals and objectives

- performance measures

- OHSMS manual and procedures

- preventive and corrective actions

- continual improvement

Variables that are not presently directly or can be made by inference are:

- technical expertise and personnel qualifications

- management review.

 

C. Outline

16A Guidelines, Instructions and Records

79 Safety Committee

82A Site Appraisal Committee

82B Health and Safety Policy

82C Collection and Development and Dissemination of Information

82D Disclosure of Information to Workers

82E Disclosure of Information to General Public

82F Disclosure of Information to the Local Authority

82G Disclosure of Information to District Emergency Authority

82H Disclosure of Information to the Chief Inspector

82I Emergency Plan

82J Disaster Control and Management Plan

82K Information on Industrial Wastes

82L Review of the Information Furnished to Workers etc.

82M Confidentiality of Information

82N Medical Examination

82O Occupational Health Centres

 

D. Analysis Checklist

 

Management System Variable

 

Notes

1.0

Management Commitment and Resources

x

 

1.1

Reg. Compliance and OHSMS Conformance

x

 

1.2

Accountability, Responsibility, and Authority

x

 

2.0

Employee Participation

x

via Health & Safety Committee.

3.0

Occupational Health & Safety Policy

x

 

4.0

Goals and Objectives

 

 

5.0

Performance Measures

 

 

6.0

System Planning and Development

x

Must have organizational structures in place to carry out OHS policy.

6.1

Baseline Eval. and Hazard/Risk Assessment

x

 

7.0

OHSMS Manual and Procedures

 

 

8.0

Training System

x

 

8.1

Technical Expertise and Personnel Qualifications

x

 

9.0

Hazard Control System

x

 

9.1

Process Design

x

 

9.2

Emergency Response

x

 

9.3

Hazardous Agent Management

x

 

10.0

Preventive and Corrective Action

 

 

11.0

Procurement and Contractor Selection

x

Review contractor performance.

12.0

Communication System

x

 

12.1

Document and Record Management System

 

 

13.0

Evaluation System

x

 

13.1

Auditing and Self-Inspection

x

 

13.2

Incident Investigation and Root Cause Analysis

 

 

13.3

Medical Program and Surveillance

x

Surveillance and clinic.

14.0

Continual Improvement

 

 

15.0

Integration

x

 

16.0

Management Review

x

 

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IOHA Report to ILO on an International OHSMS - Appendix C
[Title page]     [Table of Contents]     Chapters: I II III     Appendices: A B C D E F G

Updated by AS. Approved by EC. Last update: 30.11.2004.