Factories Act, 1955

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Citation: IR No. 10/1955
• Year: 1955

Number 10 of 1955.
FACTORIES ACT, 1955.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Part I .
PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL.
Section 1. Short title and commencement. 2. Interpretation generally. 3. Interpretation of “factory”. 4. Application of Act to young persons employed in factories in certain occupations. 5. Expenses incurred by Minister. 6. Regulations in relation to prescribed matters. 7. Repeals. 8. Continuation of certain orders, etc. 9. Construction of certain references.
Part II .
HEALTH (GENERAL PROVISIONS).
10. Cleanliness. 11. Overcrowding. 12. Temperature. 13. Ventilation. 14. Lighting. 15. Drainage of floors. 16. Slippery floors. 17. Sanitary conveniences. 18. Powers of inspector as to sanitary defects remediable by sanitary authority. 19. Powers in case of default of sanitary authority. 20. Power to require medical supervision.
Part III .
SAFETY (GENERAL PROVISIONS).
21. Prime movers. 22. Transmission machinery. 23. Machinery other than prime movers and transmission machinery. 24. Safety devices. 25. Fencing of materials or articles. 26. Provisions as to unfenced machinery. 27. Construction and maintenance of fencing. 28. Construction of machinery. 29. Vessels containing dangerous liquids. 30. Self-acting machines. 31. Cleaning of machinery by women and young persons. 32. Training and supervision of persons working at dangerous machines. 33. Hoists and lifts. 34. Chains, ropes and lifting tackle. 35. Cranes and other lifting machines. 36. Construction and maintenance of floors, passages and stairs. 37. Safe means of access and safe place of employment. 38. Precautions in places where dangerous fumes are liable to be present. 39. Precautions with respect to explosive or inflammable dust gas, vapour or substance. 40. Steam boilers. 41. Steam receivers and steam containers. 42. Air receivers. 43. Exceptions as to steam boilers, steam receivers and containers, and air receivers. 44. Precautions as respects water-sealed gasholders. 45. Means of escape in case of fire. 46. Regulations and bye-laws as to means of escape in case of fire. 47. Safety provisions in case of fire. 48. Instructions as to use of means of escape in case of fire. 49. Power of Minister to require special safety arrangements for the prevention of accidents. 50. Power of the District Court to make orders as to dangerous conditions and practices. 51. Power of the District Court to make orders as to dangerous factory.
Part IV .
WELFARE (GENERAL PROVISIONS).
52. Supply of drinking water. 53. Washing facilities. 54. Accommodation for clothing. 55. Facilities for sitting. 56. First-aid. 57. Welfare regulations.
PART V
HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE (SPECIAL PROVISIONS AND REGULATIONS)
58. Removal of dust or fumes. 59. Meals in certain dangerous trades. 60. Protection of eyes in certain processes. 61. Shuttle threading by mouth suction. 62. Prohibition of use of white phosphorus in manufacture of matches. 63. Humid factories. 64. Underground rooms. 65. Basement bakehouses. 66. Laundries. 67. Lifting excessive weights. 68. Prohibition of employment of female young persons where certain processes are carried on. 69. Prohibition of employment of women and young persons in certain processes connected with lead manufacture. 70. Provisions as to employment of women and young persons in processes involving use of lead compounds. 71. Power to make special regulations for safety and health. 72. Power to take samples. 73. Safety Committee and Safety Delegate.
PART VI .
NOTIFICATION AND INVESTIGATION OF ACCIDENTS AND INDUSTRIAL DISEASES.
74. Notification of accidents. 75. Power to extend to dangerous occurrences provisions as to notice of accidents. 76. Notification of industrial diseases. 77. Inquest in case of death by accident or industrial disease. 78. Power to direct formal investigation of accidents and cases of disease. 79. Investigation and report in certain cases.
PART VII .
CERTIFICATES OF FITNESS IN RESPECT OF YOUNG PERSONS.
80. Certificates of fitness for employment of young persons.
PART VIII .
SPECIAL APPLICATIONS AND EXTENSIONS.
81. Multiple factories. 82. Premises where part of building is separate factory. 83. Application of Act to electrical stations. 84. Institutions. 85. Certain premises subject to inspection. 86. Docks, wharves, quays and warehouses. 87. Ships. 88. Building operations. 89. Works of engineering construction. 90. Employment of women and young persons in places other than factories in processes connected with lead manufacture or involving the use of lead compounds.
PART IX .
HOME WORK.
91. Lists of outworkers to be kept in certain trades. 92. Employment of person in unwholesome promises.
PART X .
ADMINISTRATION.
93. Inspectors. 94. Powers of Inspectors. 95. Certificate of authorisation to act as inspector. 96. Appointment and duties of certifying doctors. 97. Fees of certifying doctors. 98. Provisions as to sanitary authorities. 99. Provisions as to regulations, orders and certificates of the Minister.
PART XI .
OFFENCES, PENALTIES AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
100. Offences generally. 101. Fines for offences for which no express penalty provided. 102. Power of court to order cause of contravention to be remedied. 103. Offence in case of death or injury. 104. Offence by parent. 105. Forgery of certificates, etc. 106. Offence by person actually committing offence for which occupier or owner is liable. 107. Exemption of occupier or owner in certain cases. 108. Proceedings against persons other than occupiers or owners. 109. Owner of machine liable in certain cases instead of occupier. 110. Prosecution of offences, etc. 111. Appeals from orders made on complaint. 112. Special provisions as to evidence. 113. Service and sending of documents. 114. Certificates of birth. 115. Power of Circuit Court to modify agreements. 116. Power of Circuit Court to apportion expenses.
PART XII .
APPLICATION OF ACT.
117. General application of Act. 118. Application to factories belonging to the State.
PART XIII.
MISCELLANEOUS.
119. Notice of occupation of factory, and use of mechanical power. 120. Posting of abstract of Act and notices. 121. Posting and giving copies of special regulations. 122. General registers. 123. Preservation of registers and records. 124. Periodical return of persons employed. 125. Duties of persons employed. 126. Prohibition of deductions from wages. 127. Advisory Council. 128. Provisions as to quarries and pit banks.
FIRST SCHEDULE
Enactments Repealed
SECOND SCHEDULE
Table of Humidity
THIRD SCHEDULE
Procedure for making Special Regulations
Acts Referred to Health Act, 1947 No. 28 of 1947 Health Act, 1953 No. 26 of 1953 Interpretation Act, 1937 No. 38 of 1937 Workmen's Compensation Act, 1934 No. 9 of 1934
Number 10 of 1955.
FACTORIES ACT, 1955.
AN ACT TO CONSOLIDATE, WITH AMENDMENTS, THE FACTORY AND WORKSHOP ACTS, 1901 TO 1920, AND OTHER ENACTMENTS RELATING TO FACTORIES AND FOR PURPOSES CONNECTED WITH THE PURPOSES AFORESAID. [9th June, 1955.]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:—
PART I. Preliminary and General.
	Short title and commencement.	1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Factories Act, 1955.
	(2) This Act shall come into operation on such day as the Minister appoints by order.
	(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, if it is shown to the satisfaction of the Minister, as respects any particular requirement contained in Part III of this Act, that by reason of substantial expenditure involved through the necessity of providing new, or altering existing, buildings or plant, or on account of other special difficulties, it would be right in the case either of factories generally or of any class or description of factory that the requirement should not come into operation on the day appointed under subsection (2) of this section, he may by order postpone the date of coming into operation of the said requirement, as respects factories generally or that class or description of factory, until such date as he may think fit but not later than the two years after the day appointed under subsection (2) of this section, and any such order may direct that such corresponding provisions of any enactment repealed by this Act as may be specified in the order shall apply in lieu of the postponed requirement of this Act.
	(4) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section section 127 of this Act shall come into operation on the passing of this Act.
	Interpretation generally.	2.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
	“bakehouse” means any place in which...