Section 31 of the Factories Act 1948 - Pressure Plant
Section 31 formed part of Chapter IV (Safety) of the Factories Act, 1948 and dealt with plant or machinery operated above atmospheric pressure. Its central safety requirement was that the safe working pressure must not be exceeded.
Meaning and purpose of Section 31
A pressure plant, for the purpose of this provision, is plant, machinery or a part of it that is operated at a pressure above atmospheric pressure. Section 31 required effective measures to prevent operation beyond the safe working pressure. It also empowered the State Government to prescribe examination, testing and additional safety measures, and to grant rule-based exemptions subject to conditions.
Text of Section 31 - Pressure plant
Section 31(1): If in any factory, any plant or machinery or any part thereof is operated at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, effective measures shall be taken to ensure that the safe working pressure of such plant or machinery or part is not exceeded.
Section 31(2): The State Government may make rules providing for the examination and testing of any plant or machinery referred to in sub-section (1), and may prescribe such other safety measures in relation to it as it considers necessary for any factory or class or description of factories.
Section 31(3): The State Government may, by rules and subject to specified conditions, exempt any part of plant or machinery referred to in sub-section (1) from the provisions of this section.
What Section 31 required
- Safe pressure limit: Pressure plant had to be operated so that its safe working pressure was not exceeded.
- Effective safeguards: The obligation was preventive; factories had to take effective measures rather than merely respond after an unsafe pressure event.
- Examination and testing: State Governments could prescribe how pressure plant was to be examined and tested.
- Additional safety measures: State rules could impose further safety requirements for particular factories or classes of factories.
- Conditional exemption: Exemption under sub-section (3) depended on rules made by the State Government and the conditions specified in those rules.
Amendment history
Sub-section (1) was substituted by Section 15 of Act 20 of 1987 with effect from 1 December 1987. Sub-section (3) was inserted by Act 94 of 1976, Section 13, with effect from 26 October 1976.
Current OSH Code framework for pressure plant
The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 is the current Central framework governing occupational safety and working conditions. Its Second Schedule includes pressure plant as a safety matter. Employers and occupiers should therefore read historical Section 31 together with the currently applicable provisions, rules, standards and State-specific requirements under the new framework.
For compliance work, particular attention should be given to prescribed safe operating limits, periodic examination or testing, competent-person requirements where applicable, maintenance records, protective devices and any rules or standards governing the particular type of pressure equipment.
Official legal resources
India Code - Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020
Note: This article is a legal information resource. Factory safety compliance can depend on the applicable Central rules, State rules, notifications, standards and the nature of the pressure plant.