Factories Act, 1955

Construction and maintenance of floors, passages and stairs.

36.—(1) All floors, steps, stairs, passages and gangways shall be of sound construction and properly maintained.

(2) For every staircase in a building or affording a means of exit from a building, a substantial hand-rail shall be provided and maintained, which, if the staircase has an open side shall be on that side, and, in the case of a staircase having two open sides, or in the case of a staircase which, owing to the nature of the construction thereof or the condition of the surface of the steps or other special circumstances, is specially liable to cause accidents, such a handrail shall be provided and maintained on both sides. Any open side of a staircase shall also be guarded by the provision and maintenance of a lower rail or other effective means.

(3) All openings in floors shall be securely fenced, except in so far as the nature of the work renders such fencing impracticable.

(4) All ladders shall be soundly constructed and properly maintained.