Factory Act

 The factories act in India was passed in 1881.

 The provisions of this act regarding safety, welfare and health of workers were
also found to be inadequate and unsatisfactory.
 It was, therefore, felt that in view of the large and growing industrial activities in
the country a radical overhauling of the law relating to factories was necessary.
 The factories act 1948, came into force on the 1st day of april, 1949.

What is factory?
According to section 2 (m), ‘factory’ means any premises including the precincts thereof
–
 Whereon 10 or more workers are working or were working on any day of the
preceding 12 months, and in any part of which a manufacturing process is being
carried on with the aid of power, or is ordinarily so carried on, or
 Whereon 20 or more workers are working on any day of the preceding 12 months,
and in any part of which a manufacturing process is being carried on without the
aid of power, or is ordinarily so carried on.
 The term ‘factory’ does not include a mine subject to the operation of the Indian
mines act, 1952 or a mobile unit belonging to the armed forces of the union, a
railway running shed or hotel, restaurant or eating place.

Meaning of precincts – The definition of the term ‘factory’ in sec.2(m) envisages

premises which have precincts, as the expression used in the definition is premises
including the precincts thereof.
Manufacturing process
 Making , altering, repairing, ornamenting, finishing, packing, oiling, washing,
cleaning, breaking up, or otherwise treating or adapting any article or substance
with a view to its use, sale, transport, delivery or disposal, or
 Pumping oil, water, sewage, or any other substance, or
 Composing tiles for printing, printing by letter press, lithography, photogravure or
other similar process or book binding, or
 Constructing, reconstructing, repairing, refitting, finishing, breaking up ships or
vessels, or
 Preserving or storing any article in cold storage

Some of the processes which have been held to be manufacturing processes are as
follows
Bidi making
moulding and transformation of raw cinematography films into a finish product,
work done which consist of converting of sea water into salt
use of refrigerator for treating or adapting any article with a view to its sale
work of composition in printing business
use of electric motor for the purpose of lifting or pumping water
processes of moistening stripping and packing of tobacco leaves
activities of a petrol pump

. In deciding whether a particular business is a manufacturing processes or not, regard

must be had to the circumstances of each particular case. To constitute a manufacturing
process, there must be some transformation, i.e., the article must become commercially
known as something different from which it acquires its existence

Worker
The worker means a person employed, directly or by or through any agency {including a
contractor}with or without the knowledge of principle employer

Occupier
‘Occupier’of a factory means a person who has ultimate control over the affairs of the
factory. An ‘occupier’ may be an owner, a lessee, or a mere licensee, but he must have
the right to occupy the property and dictate terms of management.

Introduction
A long time ago, when the British ruled India, a small factory was set up in the suburbs of
of Mumbai city, to manufacture sweets and toffees. The year was 1929 and the market
was dominated by famous international brands that were imported freely. Despite the
odds and unequal competition, this company called Parle Products, survived and
succeeded, by adhering to high quality and improvising from time to time.

A decade later, in 1939, Parle Products began manufacturing biscuits, in addition to

sweets and toffees. Having already established a reputation for quality, the Parle brand
name grew in strength with this diversification. Parle Glucose and Parle Monaco were the
first brands of biscuits to be introduced, which later went on to become leading names for
great taste and quality.

The strength of the Parle Brand

Over the years, Parle has grown to become a multi-million US Dollar company. Many of
the Parle products - biscuits or confectionaries, are market leaders in their category and
have won acclaim at the Monde Selection, since 1971.

Today, Parle enjoys a 40% share of the total biscuit market and a 15% share of the total
confectionary market, in India. The Parle Biscuit brands, such as, Parle-G, Monaco and
Krackjack and confectionery brands, such as, Melody, Poppins, Mangobite and Kismi,
enjoy a strong imagery and appeal amongst consumers.

Be it a big city or a remote village of India, the Parle name symbolizes quality, health and
great taste! And yet, we know that this reputation has been built, by constantly innovating
and catering to new tastes. This can be seen by the success of new brands, such as, Hide
& Seek, or the single twist wrapping of Mango bite.
In this way, by concentrating on consumer tastes and preferences and emphasizing
Research & Development, the Parle brand grows from strength to strength.

Health
  Cleanliness
Parle – G fulfills all the norms for health of the government. They provide separate
sweepers for the departments and each the sweepers also work in shifts. They have
different areas which they are supposed to clean. There are different sweepers for
washroom and the other premises. Parle – G being a consumer based company cannot use
detergents and disinfectants with strong odour, hence a particular kind of gel is used as a
disinfectant. The workers have to wash their hands with a particular germicide. They are
provided with gloves and mask and shoes.

 Disposal of waste
Durin the manufacturing process three types of waste are produced.
 The biscuits which are broken manufacturing process are crushed and again baked
and used.
 The biscuits that fall on the ground are crushed and given to cattle.
 While washing the machines, the water is supplied to the plants which serve as
manure.

 Ventilation and temperature

The Parle – G factory has huge windows which provide cross ventilation. The place
where the workers are working are provided with fans. The place where chocolates are
manufactured is fully air conditioned. The oven is provided with exhaust. It is well
insulated.

 Dust and fumes

The room adjoining the Stefan mixer whereby the mixing of ingredients take place are
provided with masks such that they do not inhale the flour.
  Overcrowding
Parle – G factory has a big premises. It has an area of 14 acres whereby 800 people work
in three shifts. Hence parle – G is not crowded.

 Lighting
Parle – G has huge windows and as there is no obstruction there sufficient amount of
light in the factory. Besides this it is well lighted with the help of tubelights and other
lights which do not provide any glare. The windows are covered with a black protective
film to stop sunlight entering in the factory.

 Drinking water
Parle – G does not have facility for drinking water in the production area. It has shelter
room, restroom, lunch room which have the provisions of cool drinking water. It is away
from the urinals and have signboards.

 Latrines ands urinals

Latrines and urinals have separate provisions for men and women. The are clean. There
was no water shortage. It was lighted and ventilated. They have provisions for sweepers
24x7.

 Spittoons
Parle – G doesn’t have provisions for spittoons. Eating gutkha in the premises is strictly
provided besides they don’t have any signboard of no spitting.
 Welfare
 Washing facilities
The company provides washing facilties to all the workers.
The washing, pressing of the workers uniforms is done free of cost by the company.
The workers are provided with two pairs of uniforms and they can give them for laundry
‘n’ number of times.

 Facility for sitting

The workers who can sit and do their work are provided with seating facility. They have
seating facilty in lunchrooms, restrooms.

 First aid
Parle – G has first aid facility in each compound. They have an ambulance room and
have two permanent nurses in case of any emergency. Besides they also have a visiting
doctor.

 Canteen
Parle- G have a well maintained, wel ventilated and lighted canteen. They have a
managing committee to look after it. The food is provided at a nominal rate to the
workers. They get the entire lunch at rs. 2. besides they can bring their tiffin too.

 Crèches
In the recent years there have been a decline in the number of women workers. The have
a well maintained crèche. At present there are no children in the crèche, but previously
they used to provide free milk and refreshments.

 Welfare officer
Parle – G have a welfare officer who looks after the welfare of the workers as well as the
company.
 Safety

 Fencing of machinery
In Parle - G all the dangerous parts of the machinery such as prime mover, flywheels,
electric generators, transmission machinery were securely fenced by safeguards of
substantial construction which are constantly maintained and kept when the parts of the
machinery they are fencing are in motion or in use.

 Work on machinery in motion

Examination of the machinery that are in motion in parle-G are looked after only by
trained adult workers. It is mandatory for them to wear a tight fit clothing.woman and
young persons are restricted from workin on the machines that are in motion as it may
lead to injury from any moving part .

 Employement of young persons on

dangerous machines
No young person is allowed to work on any machine unless he has been fully instructed
as to the dangers arising in connection with the machine and the precautions to be
observed and unless he has received sufficient training to work on the machine or is
under adequate supervision by a person who has a thorough knowledge and experience of
the machine.

 Lifting machines, chains, ropes,

and lifting tackles.
Lifting machines, chains, ropes are maintained properly by not loading them beyond the
safe working load. The machines are of good construction and are maintained once in
every 12 months.
  Floors, staircase and means of
access.

The floors, staircase and means of access in parle – G are of sound construction and are
properly maintained. They are kept free from substances that are likely to cause persons
to slip and handrails are even provided. Workin areas are fenced to ensure the safety of
the workers.

 Pits, sumps and opening in floors.

All the pits, sumps, tanks ans openings in the ground are securely fenced and covered.
Securely ‘fencing a pit’ means covering or fencing it in such a way that it ceases to be a
source of danger to those who have an occasion to go over there.
  Excessive weights.
In parle- g no person is employed to lift, carry or move any load so heavy as to be likely
to cause him injury.

 Precautions regarding the use of

portable electric lights.
No portable light or any other electric appliance in parle – G exceeds 24volts as it may
prove to be fatal.

 Precautions against dangerous

fumes.
No person is allowed to enter any chamber , tank, pit, pipe etc where any gas, fume etc. is
likely to be present to such an extent as to involve risk to persons being overcome
thereby, unless it is provided with a manhole of adequate size or other effective means of
egress.

 Precaution against explosives.

All practical measures are taken to prevent any explosion by -
 Effective enclosure of the plant or machinery used in the process,
 Removal or prevention of the accumulation of such dust, gas, fume or vapour, and
 Exclusion or effective enclosure of all possible sources of ignition.

 Precautions in case of fire.

All safety instruments like fire extinguishers are kept near possible sources where fire can
take place. All workers are made familiar with means of escape. The uniforms of the
workers are made of cotton. Ambulance facilties are also provided. Automatic water
sprinklers are also provided in every corner of the factory.
  Safety of building and machinery.
In the company if any part of the building or machinery or plant in a factory is in such a
condition that is dangerous to human life or safety, the inspector notifies and it is
renovated or repaired.

 Safety officers.
Parle- G has a safety officer in case of any bodily injury, disease, poisoning to the
persons employed in the factory.

 Metal detectors
During the production process metal detectors are provided as to detect any metal objects
in the biscuits manufactured by parle – G.

 Large open space

The factory and its surroundings have a large open space.
 Spencer and Spencer

Introduction

Spencer and spencer was started ten years ago by mr. suresh shah. He was a fresh
graduate from bhagubhai diploma and engg. College. He wanted to start a business
seeing the scope in electroplating industry. He opened his first factory in dahisar with 20
workers and now he has more than 350 workers.

Spencer and spencer does plating on all kinds of goods. Their major plants are
Reynolds and cello company.they are also export their plated goods.

They have now built up their reputation in these ten years. They are known for their
quality of work. Their slogan is “one stop shopping.”
 Health

 Cleanliness
Spencer and spencer factory had a clean surrounding. They have workers who clean it
every evening. Being an electroplating company its floors are continuously wet.

 Disposal of waste and effluents

The companies main waste is dilute sulphuric acid and nitric acid which they use for
washing the plated material. This acidified water is directly led in the sewage. Beside
these wastes nitric acid and chromium sulphate are also left out into sewage.

 Ventilation and temperature

The temperature in the factory was at normal atmospheric temperature. Fans were
provided for the people who sit and do the work. At the places where the workers sit
there was an exhaust but the ventilation through the windows was not appropriate. The
windows were not able to provide adequate ventilation and light.

 Dust and fumes

There was no dust in the factory but fumes were present. Where the cleaning of the zag
was taking place concentrated nitric acid was being used. Besides, the factory had strong
chemicals like chromium sulphate, nitric acid, sulphuric acid etc.

 Artificial Humidity
Artificial humidity is not required in manufacturing process.

 Lighting
The lighting was sufficient but only through the artificial lights. The windows were not
providing natural light.

 Drinking water
The factory had the provision for drinking water and it was at particular places stored in
drums. It was away from the urinals but the water was not cool. There was no marking or
signboards for drinking water.

 Spittoons
The factory did’nt have any spittoons nor any notice saying “spitting is prohibited”.

 Latrines and urinals

The latrines and urinals were clean but through the workers we got to know that at times
the workers we got to know that at times they are not in working conditions. They are
enclosed and separate for males and females but there is no signboard for it.
 Welfare
Half of the workers are people who are from rajasthan, Mr. suresh shah’s hometown.
These people stay in the factory itself. Besides they are provided with a separate room to
keep their belongings. Once in four months they are allowed to visit their hometown.
They don’t have any uniform.

 Washing facilities
The workers have to wash their clothes by themselves, for this they are provided with
detergents. It is for those people who are staying there.

 Facility for storage and drying

clothes
The people who stay there have this facility and are satisfied with it.

 First aid appliances

There is first aid box in the factory and every new worker is taught how to use it.

 Canteen
They have the provision of a cook who works food for the workers who stay there and
the rest have to bring tiffins.

 Shelters, restrooms and

lunchrooms
The factory has no provisions for shelters, restrooms and lunch rooms.

 Crèches

Even though the ratio of women workers more to that of men there is no provision for
crèches.

Safety

 Fencing of machinery
There are no dangerous parts in the plating industry except the heaters that are well
insulated. There is proper insulation of wires to prevent short circuit.

 Work near the machines

Only the adult male workers work in the plating department where the actual plating
process goes on. The clothes they wear are not loose but there is no provision of entering
the name of worker in registers.

 Casing of machinery
Every machinery was well encased to prevent danger.
Each and every machinery was safe.

 Floors, stairs and means of access

Floors, stairs and steps were not adequately up to the mark. Staircase did not have
handrails. Means of access had obstructions and in some places, the passages were
narrow.

 Pits, Sumps and opening in floors,

etc.
Pits, sumps and openings in the floors were covered in some places only. They was no
proper boundary around pits, openings in floors etc. also there was no noticeboards or
signs displayed.

 Protection of eyes
There was no special requirements in the factory for protection of eyes.

 Explosive
There are no explosive used in the factory .

 Precautions in case of fire

There was no proper escape route in the factory, in case of fire.
There is only one escape route. There was no proper safety devices in factory. They were
not placed where they should be. The route to reach the factory was narrow, in case of
fire, the fire brigade cannot reach the factory premises.

 Safety of building and machinery

The building and machinery were technically sound.

 Safety officers
As workers in the factory are below 500, there are no safety officers.

 Technical person (electricity).

Though the electric board was properly maintained and technically advanced there was
no separate technical officer for looking after the electric circuits who can be readily
available in case of a major short circuit, which could be fatal, due to electrical
instruments close to the chemicals kept in factory.
 Conclusion

India being the biggest democratic country in the world has the largest
number of laws. The factory act is made keeping in mind the benefit of the
owners as well as the workers as explained by my dear friends. Parle – G
follows almost all the laws whereas you can see in spencer and spencer does
not follows all the rules. Hence we would like to conclude that the
government may make many laws, only important work is its
implimentation in such that India can be a better place to live.