Work Safety Ordinance [New Version], 5730-1970

The Chief Inspector may, by a certificate published in Reshumot (Official Gazette), exempt, wholly or subject to conditions specified in the certificate, from the provisions of Sections J to M, all or any of them, any class or type of steam boiler, steam receiver, steam container or air receiver, if satisfied that it is not reasonably practicable to apply those provisions to them.

Sections J, K and M shall not apply to a steam boiler, steam receiver or air receiver –

A person wishing to have an authorised boiler inspector who is a State employee examine a steam boiler, steam receiver or air receiver, or issue a report for taking into use in respect of a steam boiler, for the purposes of the provisions of Sections J, K and M, shall apply to the regional inspector and pay the prescribed fee, and the regional inspector shall instruct such authorised boiler inspector to carry out the examination or the tests necessary for the issue of the report, as the case may be.

Every door that may serve as a fire escape or that gives access to a fire escape, other than a door in ordinary use, shall have marked on it prominently and conspicuously a notice to that effect, in red letters of suitable size; "door", for this purpose – includes a window or other opening.

Every article in a room in which persons work shall be arranged and placed in such a manner that all the workers in the room have free passage to a fire escape.

Where a person is present in a factory or workplace that is not a factory, or where there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person is present therein, the following doors shall not be locked in a manner that prevents them from being easily opened from within, unless there is another convenient means of egress at that place:

The following doors shall open outwards if they are not sliding doors:

In a factory in which more than twenty persons work in one building, or a factory in which persons work in a building in which highly inflammable or explosive materials are in use or stored, effective arrangements shall be made for giving an alarm, clearly audible throughout the building, in the event of fire.

Effective steps, including evacuation drills, to ensure that workers are familiar with the fire escapes and their use and with the procedure established for the event of fire shall be taken –

The Minister may make Regulations regarding fire escapes to be installed for factories or for a class or description of factories.

Adequate and sufficient fire escapes shall be installed and maintained in every factory, having regard to the number of workers, the materials and the working processes.

Where the occupier of a factory has requested the regional labour inspector to cancel or amend a fire escape Order on account of a change in circumstances since the time the Order was given, and the inspector has refused to do so, the occupier of the factory may appeal against the refusal by way of action before the regional Labour Court within 30 days of the date on which written notice of the refusal was delivered to him.

An adequate supply of wholesome drinking water shall be installed and maintained at suitable points conveniently accessible to all workers, from a public main or from another source approved in writing by a physician of the district health office within whose area the factory is situated.

Drinking water that is not supplied through a pipe system shall be kept in suitable vessels and replaced at least once a day, and all practicable measures shall be taken to protect the water and the vessels from contamination.

Supply points for drinking water, whether through a pipe system or in vessels, shall be clearly marked with the words "drinking water" if the regional inspector has so directed.

If the water does not flow in an upward jet convenient for drinking, suitable drinking vessels and arrangements for rinsing them with drinking water shall be available at every supply point.

Sufficient and adequate washing facilities, including soap and clean towels or other suitable means of cleaning or drying, shall be installed and maintained for the use of workers; access to them shall be convenient and they shall be kept in a clean and orderly condition.

The Chief Inspector may by certificate exempt a factory from the requirements of Section 140, in whole or in part, where in his opinion such a requirement is unreasonable because the space in the factory is limited and other sufficient and adequate washing facilities exist to which access is convenient, or because of the difficulty of obtaining water in sufficient quantity or because of other special circumstances that shall be specified in the certificate.

Sufficient and adequate cloakroom accommodation for clothing not worn during working hours, and reasonable practicable arrangements for drying such clothing, shall be installed and maintained for the use of workers.

The Chief Inspector may by certificate exempt a factory from the requirements of Section 142, in whole or in part, where in his opinion such a requirement is unreasonable because the space in the factory is limited or because of other special circumstances that shall be specified in the certificate.

A factory shall have suitable chairs or benches with back-rests, in sufficient number and in good condition, so as to enable workers to sit when they have a reasonable opportunity to do so in the course of their work without interrupting the work.

Where it is reasonably practicable to perform part of the work in a seated position, a seat with a back-rest shall be installed and maintained for the worker performing that work, adapted in its form, structure and dimensions to the worker and to the work being performed, as well as a footrest on which the worker may rest his feet comfortably, if he is unable to do so without a footrest.

The regional inspector may grant an exemption from the requirement to install a back-rest where in his opinion it is not practicable to do so.

Where a clinic has been established in a factory and arrangements have been made to ensure prompt treatment therein of every injury occurring in the factory, the Chief Inspector may by certificate exempt the factory from the requirements of this Section to the extent and subject to the conditions specified in the certificate.

In respect of particular requirements, Regulations under this Section may be made conditional upon the submission of an application by a specified number of the workers concerned or by a specified proportion of them, and the Regulations shall prescribe the manner in which the views of the workers are to be ascertained.