Factories Act 1961 - Health (general Provisions)

Health (general Provisions)

Sections 1 to 7 define general broad requirements for healthy factory working conditions:

1. Cleanliness;
2. Overcrowding;
3. Temperature;
4. Ventilation;
5. Lighting;
6. Drainage of floors; and
7. Sanitary conveniences.

These provisions were repealed and superseded, as far as they applied to "workplaces", by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 with effect from 1 January 1993 for new workplaces and 1 January 1996 for established workplaces. There is still a potential residual scope of application to "factories" that are not "workplaces" as the definition of "workplace" is in some ways limited.

Section 10A was added by the Employment Medical Advisory Service Act 1972 and gives powers to the Employment Medical Advisory Service to order medical examination and supervision of employees.

Section 11 gave the Minister of State, as of 2008 the minister at the Department for Work and Pensions, the power to order medical supervision though these powers have been largely superseded by powers granted to the Health and Safety Executive and other powers of the Minister to make orders by statutory instrument.