Health and safety Laws in Pakistan

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OHS Laws-International Perspective
Country OHS Laws

European Union Directive 89/391/EEC

United Kingdom Health & Safety at Work Act 1974

United States Occupational Safety & Health Act 1970

Malaysia Occupational Safety & Health Act 1994

China Occupational Work Safety Act 2002

Workplace Safety & Health Act

Singapore
2006

Australia Occupational Safety & Health Act 1984

New Zealand Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992

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 Situation in Pakistan
• Very high rate- occupational injuries and diseases daily Why?

• Reason-1: hundreds of labourers are exposed to the hazardous

working environment.

• Reason-2: Reliable data on OHS -- not available in Pakistan Why?

• majority of the accidents are not reported/recorded.

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 OSH Laws in Pakistan
• OHS regulation, their structure and the substructure
• Not satisfactory in Pakistan (Why?)

• 3 Reasons
(1) Regulations: Currently in much scattered form

(2) no effective implementation policy

(3) no strict requirements for recording mishaps at workplaces.

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The OHS related laws in Pakistan-32 in number
•1. Railway Act 1890
2. Mines Act, 1923

3. Workmen Compensation Act, 1923

4. Provident Funds Act 1925

5. Dock Laborers Act, 1934

6. Factories Act 1934

7. Industrial Statistics Act 1942

8. Employment (Record of Services) Act 1951

9. Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act 1952

10. West Pakistan Maternity Benefits Act 1958

11. West Pakistan Factories Canteens Rules 1959

12. Road Transport Workers Ordinance 1961

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The OHS related laws in Pakistan…(continued)
•13. Minimum Wages Ordinance 1961

14. Apprenticeship Ordinance 1962

15. Control of Employment Ordinance 1965

16. Provincial Employees Social Security Ordinance, 1965

17. Companies Profits (Workers participation) Act 1968

18. Industrial and Commercial Employment (Standing Orders) Ordinance 1968

19. West Pakistan Shops and Establishments Ordinance, 1969

20. Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) Act 1973

21. Employees’ Cost of Living (Relief) Act 1973

22. Employees’ Old Age benefit Act 1976

23. Emigration Ordinance 1979

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The OHS related laws in Pakistan…(continued)

•24. Export Processing Zone Authority Ordinance 1980

25. Disabled Persons (Employment & Rehabilitation) Ordinance 1981

26. Employment of Children Act 1991

27. Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act 1992

28. Merchant Shipping Ordinance 2001

29. Boilers and Pressure vessels Ordinance 2002

30. Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010

31. Industrial Relations Act 2012

32. Pakistani Labor Policy 2012

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No independent legislation on OHS issues in Pakistan
• The main law, which governs these issues, is the Chapter 3 of Factories Act, 1934.

Factories Act, 1934

(Federal Law)

The Hazardous
Provincial Factory Rules
Occupations Rules, 1963

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Factories Act, 1934- Overview

•General provisions on health and safety at the workplace- Chapter-3.

Provincial governments are allowed to make rules under this Act and
inspectors under this Act also have discretion in defining the rules.

It talks about various safety arrangements in factories.

List in next slide is being provided just to show various aspects covered in
this law

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 Chapter-3 in Factories Act, 1934 (amended 1997)
Main Features
13. Cleanliness 20. Drinking water 24A. Welfare officer
14. Disposal of wastes and 21. Latrines and urinals 25. Precautions in case of fire
effluents 22. Spittoons 26. Fencing of machinery
15. Ventilation and 23. Precautions against 27. Work on or near machinery
temperature contagious or infectious in motion
16. Dust and fume disease 28. Employment of young
17. Artificial humidification. 23A. Compulsory persons on dangerous
18. Overcrowding vaccination and inoculation machines

19. Lighting 24. Power to make rules for 29. Striking gear and devices
the provision of canteens for cutting off power

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Main Features of Factories Act, 1934…(Continued)
30. Self-acting machines 33C. Pressure plant 33I. Safety of building,
31. Casing of new 33D. Floors, stairs and machinery and
machinery means of access manufacturing process

32. Prohibition of 33E. Pits, sumps, opening in 33K. Precautions against

employment of women floors, etc. dangerous fumes
and children near cotton 33F. Excessive weights 33L. Explosive or
openers inflammable dust, gas, etc.
33G. Protection of eyes
33. Cranes and other lifting 33M. Notice of certain
machinery 33H. Power to require accidents
specifications of defective
33A. Hoists and lifts parts or tests of stability
33B. Revolving machinery
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Implementation Mechanism of OHS Laws in Pakistan

• Appointment of qualified individuals as inspectors (Ministry of

Lahour and human resources).

• Inspector’s enforce these laws in factories.

• Powers of inspectors:
• (1) right to enter and inspect any workplace,

• (2) taking evidence from persons for carrying out their duties.

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Govt. Organizations Providing Training related to OHS

•National Institute of Labor Directorate of Workers Directorate of Dock Workers

Administration and Training Education Safety (DDWS)

The Centre for Improvement

Central Inspectorate of
of Working Conditions and
Mines
Environment (CIWCE)

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 Applicable OHS Laws for Funded Projects
Most of the contracts of construction projects in Pakistan use International OHS regulations

•Safety and health in building and civil engineering work (ILO, 1972)

Safety and health in construction (ILO, 1992)

World Bank Group’s ‘Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines’

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Features of WBG’s EHS Guidelines

•Eliminating the
hazard

Controlling the
hazard at its source

Minimizing the
hazard

Providing
appropriate PPE

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 Contents of WBG’s EHS Guidelines
General Facility Design General Facility Design
and Operation and Operation

Integrity of Workplace
Clean Eating Area
Structures
Severe Weather and Facility
Lighting
Shutdown

Workspace and Exit Safe Access

Fire Precautions First Aid

Lavatories and Showers Air Supply

Potable Water Supply Work Env. Temp. 16

Contents of WBG’s EHS OHS Training
Guidelines

Visitors Orientation

New Task
Employee/Contractor
Training
Communication and
Training
Basic OHS Training

Area Signage

Labeling of Equipment
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Physical
Hazards Contents of WBG’s EHS
Guidelines
Moving
Equipment
•Physical
Hazards
Noise

Vehicle Driving
and Site Traffic
Vibration

Ergonomics
Electrical

Working at
Eye Hazards Heights

Welding/Hot Illumination
Work 18
 Contents of WBG’s EHS Guidelines

• Air Quality
• Fire and Explosions
• Corrosive, Oxidizing and Reactive Chemicals
•Chemical
• Asbestos Containing Materials
Hazards

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Contents of WBG’s EHS Guidelines

Biological Hazards

Radiological
Hazards

Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)

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Contents of WBG’s EHS
Guidelines
Confined Space

Special Hazard
Environments
Lone and Isolated
Workers

Compliance
Monitoring

Monitoring

Accidents &
Diseases Monitoring
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 Summary of Module-3
• OHS regulations in Pakistan need attention

• Current regulation/laws are scattered, without an effective mechanism and

policy for implementation

• Main local Law is Factories Act 1934 (amended in 1997)- Chapter 3

• Funded projects used International regulations (ILO, WBG, ITA)

• OHS regulations governing T4HP are:

1. WBG EHS Guidelines
2. Section 4 of contract agreement (Vol.2) between WAPDA and SINOHYDRO
3. International tunneling Association guidelines.

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Thank you so much

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