Factories (Amendment) Bill

Bill No. 20/1983

Read the first time on 20th December 1983.
An Act to amend the Factories Act, 1973 (No. 6 of 1973).
Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows:
Short title and commencement
1.  This Act may be cited as the Factories (Amendment) Act 1983 and shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.
Amendment of section 7
2.  Section 7(1) of the Factories Act, 1973 (referred to in this Act as the principal Act) is amended —
(a)by inserting, immediately after the definition of “driving belt”, the following definitions:
“ “electrical equipment” means any machine, appliance, apparatus or lighting fitting which consumes or utilises electricity in its operation or use and includes any cable, wire and other device necessary to enable it to be connected to a source of electricity supply;
“electrical installation” means any cable, wire, fitting, accessory, apparatus or other device used for or for purposes incidental to the conveyance, control or use of electricity;”;
(b)by deleting the definition of “lifting machine” and substituting the following definition:
“ “lifting machine” includes a crane, crab, winch, teagle, runway, transporter, piling frame and any suspended scaffold capable of being raised or lowered by climbers or winches;”; and
(c)by deleting the definition of “pressure vessel” and substituting the following definition:
“ “pressure vessel” means any container or vessel used for containing any substance under pressure and includes any steam boiler, steam receiver, steam container, cast-iron underfired vulcaniser, air receiver, refrigerating plant pressure receiver and gas cylinder;”.
Amendment of section 20
3.  Section 20 of the principal Act is amended by renumbering the section as subsection (1) of that section, and by inserting immediately thereafter the following subsection:
(2)  All practicable measures shall be taken to protect any person against the risks of electric shock arising from or in connection with the use of any electrical installation or equipment.”.
Amendment of section 33
4.  Section 33 of the principal Act is amended —
(a)by inserting, immediately after the words “access to” in the second line of subsection (3), the words “and egress from”; and
(b)by deleting subsections (7) and (7A) and substituting the following subsections:
(7)  Where any person has to work at a place from which he would be liable to fall a distance of more than 3 metres or into any substance which is likely to cause drowning or asphyxiation, secure foothold and handhold shall be provided so far as practicable at the place for ensuring his safety.
(7A)  Where it is not practicable to provide secure foothold and handhold as required under subsection (7), other suitable means such as a safety belt and fencing shall be provided for ensuring the safety of every person working at such places.
(7B)  Where a safety belt is provided pursuant to subsection (7A), there shall be sufficient and secured anchorage, by means of life line or otherwise for the safety belt, and such anchorage shall not be lower than the level of the working position of the person wearing the safety belt.
(7C)  No person shall require, permit or direct any person to work at a place from which he would be liable to fall a distance of more than 3 metres or into any substance which is likely to cause drowning or asphyxiation unless the requirements of subsection (7) or (7A) have been complied with.”.
Amendment of section 35
5.  Section 35 of the principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately after subsection (7), the following subsection:
(8)  In this section “tank” includes any pipe and valve thereof and all its fittings and attachments.”.
Amendment of section 36
6.  Section 36 of the principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately after subsection (8), the following subsection:
(8A)  The Chief Inspector may, if he thinks fit, by certificate in writing authorise, subject to any conditions specified in the certificate, a period exceeding 12 months within which the examination under subsection (8) is to be made.”.
Amendment of section 37
7.  Section 37 of the principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately after subsection (4), the following subsection:
(4A)  The Chief Inspector may, if he thinks fit, by certificate in writing authorise, subject to any conditions specified in the certificate, a period exceeding 24 months within which the examination under subsection (4) is to be made.”.
Amendment of section 39
8.  Section 39 of the principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately after subsection (4), the following subsection:
(4A)  The Chief Inspector may, if he thinks fit, by certificate in writing authorise, subject to any conditions specified in the certificate, a period exceeding 24 months within which the examination under subsection (4) is to be made.”.
New sections 40A and 40B
9.  The principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately after section 40, the following sections:
Pressure vessels containing corrosive, toxic, explosive or flammable substance
40A.  Every pressure vessel which contains any corrosive, toxic, explosive or flammable substance, and every part thereof and all its fittings and attachments, shall be of good construction, sound material, adequate strength, and free from patent defect and shall be properly maintained.
Pipelines and equipment conveying certain substances
40B.  Every pipeline, pump, compressor and other equipment which are used to convey steam, air, refrigerant or any corrosive, toxic, explosive or flammable substance, and every part thereof and all fittings and attachments thereto, shall be of good construction, sound material, adequate strength, and free from patent defect, and shall be properly maintained.”.
Amendment of section 47
10.  Section 47(1) of the principal Act is deleted and the following subsection substituted therefor:
(1)  If the Chief Inspector is satisfied that —
(a)any factory or part of a factory is in such condition, or is so placed that any process or work carried on therein cannot be so carried on with due regard to the safety, health and welfare of persons employed; or
(b)any process or work is carried on or anything is or has been done in any factory in such a manner as to cause risk of bodily injury, he may by order direct the occupier of the factory to take such steps as may be specified in the order, in remedying the danger complained of, or to cease forthwith the carrying on of any process or work indefinitely or until such steps have been taken as may be specified in the order to enable the process or work to be carried on with due regard to the safety, health and welfare of persons employed.”.
Repeal and re-enactment of section 48
11.  Section 48 of the principal Act is repealed and the following section substituted therefor:
Appeal from order made by Chief Inspector
48.—(1)  Any person aggrieved by an order made by the Chief Inspector under section 47 may within 14 days of the order appeal to the Minister who may rescind or vary the order.
(2)  Notwithstanding that an appeal has been made under subsection (1), the aggrieved person shall comply with the order pending the outcome of the appeal and the Chief Inspector may exercise the powers conferred by section 47(3).”.
Amendment of section 54
12.  Section 54 of the principal Act is amended —
(a)by inserting, immediately after the word “tested” in the third line of subsection (3), the words “by a competent person”; and
(b)by inserting, immediately after subsection (3), the following subsection:
(3A)  A record of the result of every test carried out under subsection (3) shall be kept available for inspection by an inspector for at least 3 years from the date of the test.”.
Amendment of section 56
13.  Section 56(1) of the principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately after the word “noise” in the third line, the words “or to extreme cold”.
Amendment of section 59
14.  Section 59 of the principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately after subsection (3), the following subsection:
(4)  No person shall enter or remain in, and no person shall require, permit or direct any person to enter or remain in, any room, building or premises in which any hazardous process is carried out unless he or that person is employed in the process.”.
New section 59A
15.  The principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately after section 59, the following section:
Power of Chief Inspector to require separate changing and washing facilities
59A.  The Chief Inspector may, if he thinks fit, by order in writing direct the occupier of a factory in which any process involving the manufacture, handling or use of poisonous, injurious or offensive substance is carried on to provide, within the time specified in the order, separate changing and washing facilities for persons employed in the process.”.
Amendment of section 62
16.  Section 62 of the principal Act is amended by renumbering the section as subsection (1) of that section, and by inserting immediately thereafter the following subsection:
(2)  Regulations made under this section may require the medical supervision and medical examination under the regulations to be carried out by persons registered with the Chief Inspector and may prescribe the qualifications and other conditions to be satisfied in order to be registered for the purposes of this section.”.