THE BANGLADESH LABOUR ACT, 2006, CHAPTER V

CHAPTERV
HEALTH AND HYGIENE

  1. —Every establishment shall be kept clean and free from effluvia arising from any drain, privy or any other nuisance, and in particular—
  • the dirt and refuge shall be removed daily by sweeping in a suitable manner from the floors, work-rooms, staircases and passages of the establishment;
  • the floor of every work-room shall be washed at least once in every week and, if necessary, disinfectant shall be used in washing;
  • where any floor becomes wet in the course of any manufacturing process to such an extent that drainage is required thereof, effective means of drainage shall be provided and maintained;
  • all inside walls, partitions, ceilings, staircases, passages shall—
  • if they are painted or varnished, be repainted or re-varnished at least once in every 3 (three) years,
  • if they are painted or varnished and have smooth imperious surface, be cleaned at least once in every 14 (fourteen) months, by such methods as may be prescribed by rules,
  • in other cases, be white-washed or colour-washed at least once in every 14 (fourteen) months, ; and
  • the dates of completing works mentioned in clause (d) shall be

entered in the register prescribed by rules.

  1. Ventilation and temperature.—(1) Arrangements for adequate ventilation shall be made for securing and maintaining circulation of fresh air in every work-room of every establishment.
  • Suitable measures shall be taken to keep the temperature in every such room in such a condition that may secure to workers therein reasonable conditions of comfort, and prevent injury to health of the workers.
  • For the purpose of sub-section (2), the wall and roof of a room shall be so designed that such temperature does not rise, and remains low as far as possible.
  • Where the nature of the work in an establishment is such that it likely to produce excessive high temperature, the suitable measures, as far as possible shall be taken to separate the source of producing such excessive temperature or the hot part of it by insulating such source or part or by any other means from the work­room of the workers.
  • If it appears to the Government that excessively high temperature in any establishment may be reduced by white-washing, spraying or insulating or screening outside walls, roofs or windows, or by raising the level of the roof, or by other special methods, it may direct to adopt any of the suitable measures mentioned above in such establishment.
  1. Dust and fume.—(1) If in any establishment, by reason of any manufacturing process carried on, there is given off any dust or fume or other impurity of such a nature and to such an extent as is likely to be injurious to the health of, or offensive to, the workers employed therein, the effective measures shall be taken to prevent its accumulation in any work-room and its inhalation by workers, and if any exhaust appliance is necessary for this purpose, it shall be applied as near as possible to the point of origin of the dust, fume or other impurity, and such point shall be enclosed as far as possible.

(2) In any establishment no internal combustion engine shall be operated unless the exhaust is conducted into open air, and no internal combustion engine shall be operated in any work-room unless effective measures are taken to prevent such accumulation of fumes therein as are likely to be injurious to the health of the workers employed in the work-room.

  1. Disposal of wastes and effluents.—Effective arrangements shall be taken in every establishment for disposal of wastes and effluents due to manufacturing process carried on therein.
  2. Artificial humidification.—(1) If the humidity of air is artificially increased in any establishment, the water used for the purpose shall be taken from a public water supply system or other source of drinking water, or shall be effectively purified before it is so used.

(2) If it appears to the Inspector that the water used for such purpose is not effectively purified as required under sub-section (1), he may serve on the employer an order in writing to adopt measures specified therein in that order the time specified therein.

  1. —(1) No work-room in any establishment shall be overcrowded to an extent injurious to the health of the workers employed therein.
  • Without prejudice to the generality of the above provisions at least 9.5 cubic metres of space shall be provided for every worker employed in a work-room.

Explanation.—For the purpose of this sub-section, if the height of any room is more than 4.25 metres above the floor level it shall not be taken into account.

  • If the Chief Inspector by order in writing requests any employer, a notice shall be posted in each work-room of the establishment specifying the maximum number of workers who may, in compliance with the provisions of this section, be employed in that room.
  • The Chief Inspector may, by order in writing, exempt any work-room from the provision of this section if he is satisfied that compliance therewith in respect of such room is not necessary for the purpose of health of the workers employed therein.
  1. —(1) Sufficient and suitable lighting, natural or artificial, or both, shall be provided in every part of an establishment where workers are working or passing.
  • In every establishment, all glass windows and skylights used for the lighting of the work-room shall be kept clean on both surfaces, and free from obstruction as far as possible.
  • In every establishment, effective measures shall be taken for the prevention

of—

  • glare either directly from any surface of light or by reflection from any polished surface, or
  • the formation of shadows to such an extent as to cause eye strain or risk of accident to any worker.
  1. Potable water.—(1) In every establishment, arrangements shall be made at a suitable point to supply sufficient purified potable water for all workers employed therein.
  • All water supply points shall be legibly marked with “Potable water” in Bangla.
  • Where two hundred fifty or more workers are ordinarily employed in an establishment, provision shall be made for cooling the potable water during the summer.
  • Where dehydration occurs in the body of workers due to work near machineries creating excessive heat, oral re-hydration therapy shall be provided to those workers.
  1. 1[Toilets and washrooms].—In every establishment,—
  • sufficient number of 2[sanitary toilets and washrooms] of the type prescribed by rules shall be provided at the suitable places so that the workers employed therein at the time of work may use easily;
  • such 3[toilets and washrooms] shall be provided separately for male and female workers;
  • 4[toilets and washrooms] shall be adequately lighted and ventilated and water shall be provided at all times; and
  • such 5[toilets and washrooms] shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times with suitable detergents and disinfectants 6[at employer’s cost.] [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
  1. Dustbin and spittoon.—(1) Sufficient number of dustbins and spittoons shall be provided in every establishment at convenient places and these shall be maintained in a clean and hygienic condition.
  • No person shall throw any dirt or spit within the premises of an establishment except in such dustbins and spittoons.
  • A notice containing this provision and the fact that contravention thereof is a punishable offence shall be posted at different suitable places of every establishment so that it may easily comes to the notice of all.

[1]               The words “toilets and washrooms” were substituted for the words “Latrines and urinals” by section 21(a) of the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2013.

[2]The words “sanitary toilets and washrooms” were substituted for the word “latrines and urinals” by section 21(b) ofthe Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2013.

[3]The words “toilets and washrooms” were substituted for the word “latrines and urinals’ by section 21(c) ofthe Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2013.

[4]The words “toilets and washrooms” were substituted for the word “latrines and urinals’ by section 21(d) ofthe Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2013.

[5]The words “toilets and washroomS’ were substituted for the word “latrines and urinals’ by section 21(e) ofthe Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2013.

[6]The words “at employer’s cost” were added by section 21(e) ofthe Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2013.

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