OSH Legislation Library

27 acts and regulations across 10 categories

Showing all 27 acts

CodeIn Force2020Min. of Labour & Employment

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020

Consolidates 13 central labour laws related to occupational safety, health, and working conditions into a single comprehensive code. Replaces the Factories Act 1948, Mines Act 1952, BOCW Act 1996, Contract Labour Act 1970, and 9 other laws. Applies to establishments with 10 or more workers.

Labour CodesOSHcodeconsolidation
Central RulesIn Force2020Min. of Labour & Employment

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2020

Rules framed under the OSH Code 2020 by the Central Government, prescribing detailed procedural and technical requirements for health, safety, and working conditions across all covered establishments. These rules replace the model rules under the Factories Act, Mines Rules, and BOCW Rules for centrally administered establishments.

Labour CodesOSHWC rulessafety rulesworking conditions
CodeIn Force2019Min. of Labour & Employment

Code on Wages, 2019

Consolidates four central labour laws — the Payment of Wages Act 1936, the Minimum Wages Act 1948, the Payment of Bonus Act 1965, and the Equal Remuneration Act 1976. Establishes a universal minimum wage floor applicable to all workers across all sectors and employment types.

Labour Codeswagesminimum wagesbonus
CodeIn Force2020Min. of Labour & Employment

Code on Social Security, 2020

Amalgamates nine central labour laws covering social security — including the EPF Act, ESI Act, Maternity Benefit Act, Gratuity Act, and others. Extends social security coverage to gig workers, platform workers, and unorganised sector workers for the first time.

Labour CodesEPFESIgratuity
CodeIn Force2020Min. of Labour & Employment

Industrial Relations Code, 2020

Consolidates three central labour laws — the Trade Unions Act 1926, the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act 1946, and the Industrial Disputes Act 1947. Introduces fixed-term employment, revises retrenchment thresholds, and streamlines dispute resolution.

Labour Codesindustrial relationstrade unionsretrenchment
Central ActPartially Repealed1948Min. of Labour & Employment

The Factories Act, 1948

The principal legislation governing working conditions in factories in India, now substantially superseded by the OSH Code 2020. The Act continues to apply in states that have not yet notified their OSHWC Rules. It lays down provisions for health, safety, welfare, working hours, and employment of young persons in factories.

Factories Actmanufacturingworkershealth
Central ActPartially Repealed1987Min. of Labour & Employment

The Factories (Amendment) Act, 1987

Introduced after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984), this amendment added Chapter IVA to the Factories Act dealing specifically with hazardous processes, safety committees, and enhanced duties of occupiers. Now substantially superseded by the OSH Code 2020, though its hazardous process provisions remain influential.

Factories Acthazardousbhopalchemical
Central RulesPartially Repealed1950Min. of Labour & Employment

The Factories Rules, 1950 (Model)

Model rules framed under the Factories Act 1948, providing detailed procedural and technical requirements. Each state has its own version. Now substantially replaced by the OSHWC (Central) Rules, 2020 and state-level OSHWC Rules for states that have notified them.

Factories Actrulesregistrationlicensing
Central ActPartially Repealed1996Min. of Labour & Employment

The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996

Regulates the employment and conditions of service of building and other construction workers and provides for their safety, health, and welfare measures. Substantially superseded by the OSH Code 2020 for safety and working conditions; welfare cess provisions continue under the Social Security Code 2020.

Construction Safetyconstructionbuildingworkers
Central RulesPartially Repealed1998Min. of Labour & Employment

The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Central Rules, 1998

Detailed rules framed under the BOCW Act 1996, specifying technical safety standards, equipment requirements, and welfare provisions for construction sites. Now substantially replaced by OSHWC Central Rules 2020 for centrally administered construction establishments.

Construction SafetyconstructionPPEscaffolding
NotificationIn Force2016Min. of Housing & Urban Affairs

National Building Code of India, 2016

The National Building Code provides comprehensive guidelines for construction, fire safety, structural design, and building services. Part 4 specifically covers fire and life safety requirements for all building types.

Fire SafetybuildingfireNOC
Central ActAmended1934Min. of Petroleum & Natural Gas

The Petroleum Act, 1934

Regulates the import, transport, storage, production, refining, and blending of petroleum. Establishes safety requirements for petroleum storage and handling to prevent fire and explosion hazards.

Fire Safetypetroleumfuelstorage
Central RulesAmended1989Min. of Environment, Forest & Climate Change

The Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989

Framed under the Environment Protection Act 1986, these rules regulate the manufacture, storage, and import of hazardous chemicals to prevent major accidents. They remain fully in force and are the primary chemical safety regulation in India.

Chemical SafetychemicalshazardousSDS
Central RulesIn Force1996Min. of Environment, Forest & Climate Change

The Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, 1996

Establishes a four-tier crisis group system for chemical accident emergency response, from site level to national level, and mandates off-site emergency plans for major accident hazard industries.

Chemical Safetychemical accidentemergencycrisis group
Central ActPartially Repealed1952Min. of Labour & Employment

The Mines Act, 1952

The principal legislation for safety, health, and welfare of persons employed in mines in India. Substantially superseded by the OSH Code 2020 for safety and working conditions. Covers coal mines, metalliferous mines, and oil mines.

Mines Safetyminescoalunderground
Central RulesAmended1955Min. of Labour & Employment

The Mines Rules, 1955

Rules framed under the Mines Act 1952 prescribing detailed requirements for the health, safety, and welfare of mine workers. Covers medical examinations, welfare facilities, working hours, and leave entitlements for all categories of mine workers.

Mines Safetymines rulesmine workerswelfare
Central RulesIn Force2017Min. of Labour & Employment

The Coal Mines Regulations, 2017

Comprehensive regulations replacing the Coal Mines Regulations 1957, incorporating modern safety standards for coal mining operations including mechanized and opencast mines. Issued by the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS).

Mines Safetycoalminesregulations
Central RulesIn Force2012Min. of Labour & Employment

The Metalliferous Mines Regulations, 2012

Comprehensive regulations replacing the Metalliferous Mines Regulations 1961, prescribing modern safety standards for metalliferous (non-coal) mines including iron ore, bauxite, limestone, and other mineral mines. Issued by the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS).

Mines Safetymetalliferous minesiron orebauxite
Central ActAmended1986Min. of Environment, Forest & Climate Change

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

The umbrella legislation for environmental protection in India, enacted after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Empowers the Central Government to take measures to protect and improve the environment and remains fully in force.

EnvironmentenvironmentpollutionEIA
Central ActIn Force2023Min. of Commerce & Industry

The Boilers Act, 2023

Replaces the century-old Boilers Act 1923, modernising the regulatory framework for steam boilers and pressure vessels in India. Introduces risk-based inspection, third-party certification, and digital registration to reduce compliance burden while maintaining safety standards.

Boilers & Pressureboilersteampressure vessel
Central RulesIn Force2022Min. of Commerce & Industry

The Indian Boiler Regulations, 2022

Updated regulations replacing the Indian Boiler Regulations 1950, prescribing modern technical standards for the design, construction, inspection, and certification of boilers and pressure vessels. Aligned with international standards (ASME, EN) and the new Boilers Act 2023.

Boilers & Pressureboiler regulationspressure vesselNDT
Central ActRepealed1923Min. of Commerce & Industry

The Boilers Act, 1923

The century-old legislation for regulation of steam boilers, now repealed and replaced by the Boilers Act, 2023. Listed here for historical reference and for understanding the legislative evolution of boiler safety regulation in India.

Boilers & Pressureboilersteampressure vessel
Central ActAmended2003Min. of Power

The Electricity Act, 2003

Consolidates laws relating to generation, transmission, distribution, trading, and use of electricity. Includes provisions for electrical safety standards and enforcement through the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

Electrical Safetyelectricityelectrical safetyCEA
Central RulesAmended2010Min. of Power

The Central Electricity Authority (Measures Relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2010

Regulations framed by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) under the Electricity Act 2003, prescribing detailed safety requirements for electrical installations, supply systems, and electrical work. These are the primary technical safety regulations for electrical installations in India.

Electrical SafetyCEA regulationselectrical safetyearthing
Central ActPartially Repealed1970Min. of Labour & Employment

The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970

Regulated the employment of contract labour in certain establishments and provided for its abolition in certain circumstances. Substantially superseded by the OSH Code 2020, which now governs safety and working conditions of contract workers.

Labour Codescontract labourcontractorwelfare
Central ActIn Force1986Min. of Labour & Employment

The Dock Workers (Safety, Health and Welfare) Act, 1986

The principal legislation governing the safety, health, and welfare of dock workers employed in major and non-major ports across India. Empowers the Central Government to make regulations for the prevention of accidents and occupational diseases among dock workers.

Dock & Port Safetydock safetyport safetydock workers
Central RulesAmended1990Min. of Labour & Employment

The Dock Workers (Safety, Health and Welfare) Regulations, 1990

Comprehensive regulations framed under the Dock Workers Act 1986, prescribing detailed requirements for safe working conditions in docks and ports. Covers lifting appliances, cargo gear, staging, lighting, fire precautions, PPE, medical facilities, and welfare amenities.

Dock & Port Safetydock regulationsport safety regulationslifting appliances