Law
Factories Act 1961
United Kingdom · statute
Ask the law about thisMore laws of United KingdomFor machines: Markdown
In force since 2016-07-12, as the publisher states.
Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.
sha256 f4663910f20cc3bc4fa1fcc5baae8f84b66facc8a5a1100d4c6ae6dcce4a82cd
Contents: 148 provisions
- Title and introductory text
- 1 Cleanliness.
- 2 Overcrowding.
- 3 Temperature.
- 4 Ventilation.
- 5 Lighting.
- 6 Drainage of floors.
- 7 Sanitary Conveniences.
- 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 10A
- 11 Power to require medical supervision.
- 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 18 Dangerous substances.
- 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 24 Teagle openings and similar doorways.
- 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 28 Floors, passages and stairs.
- 29 Safe means of access and safe place of employment.
- 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 31 Precautions with respect to explosive or inflammable dust, gas, vapour or substance.
- 32 Steam boilers—attachments and construction.
- 33 Steam boilers—maintenance, examination and use.
- 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 36 Air receivers.
- 37 .
- 38 .
- 39 Precautions as respects water-sealed gasholders.
- 40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 56 Application of Part II to Scotland.
- 57 Supply of drinking water.
- 58 Washing facilities.
- 59 Accommodation for clothing.
- 60 Sitting facilities.
- 61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 62 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 63 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 67 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 68 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 69 Underground rooms.
- 70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 72 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 73
- 74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 76 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 77 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 79 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 81 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 83 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 84 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 110 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 112 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 117 Exemptions from provisions regulating hours of employment.
- 118 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 119 Power of inspector to require certificate of fitness for work.
- 119A Duty of factory occupier to give notice of employment of a young person.
- 120 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 121 Tenement factories—other provisions.
- 122 Parts of buildings let off as separate factories—other provisions.
- 123 Application of Act to electrical stations.
- 124 Institutions.
- 125 Docks, etc.
- 126 Ships.
- 127 Building operations and works of engineering construction.
- 128 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 129
- 130 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 131 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 132 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 133 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 134 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 135 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 136 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 137 Notice of occupation of factory, and use of mechanical power.
- 138 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 139 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 140 General registers.
- 141 Preservation of registers and records.
- 142 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 143 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 144 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 145 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 146 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 148 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 149 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 151 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 153 Provisions as to county and district councils.
- 154 Prohibition of disclosure of information
- 154A Exception to the prohibition: public authorities
- 155 Offences.
- 156 Fines for offences for which no express penalty provided.
- 157 Power of court to order cause of contravention to be remedied.
- 158 Fine for offence by parent.
- 159 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 160 Penalty on person actually committing an offence for which other person is primarily liable.
- 161 Power of person primarily liable to exempt himself from liability.
- 162 Proceedings against persons not primarily liable.
- 163 Owner of machine liable in certain cases instead of occupier.
- 164 Prosecution of offences and application of fines.
- 165 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 166 Special provisions as to evidence.
- 167 Proceedings for offences in respect of the employment of children.
- 168 Service of documents, etc.
- 169 Power of county court or sheriff to modify agreements.
- 170 Power of county court or sheriff to apportion expenses.
- 171 Application of the Arbitration (Scotland) Act 2010 or the Arbitration Act 1996.
- 172 General application.
- 173 Application to Crown.
- 174
- 175 Interpretation of expression “factory".
- 176 General interpretation
- 177 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 178 Certificates of birth.
- 179 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 180 Regulations, rules and orders.
- 181 Substitution of corresponding provisions for certain provisions of Factory and Workshop Act 1901.
- 182 General application to Scotland.
- 183 Transitional provisions and repeals.
- 184 Construction of references in other enactments to factories and workshops, etc. and exclusion of certain provisions of Public Health (London) Act 1936.
- 185 Short title, commencement and extent.
- FIRST SCHEDULE
- SECOND SCHEDULE
- THIRD AND FOURTH SCHEDULES
- FIFTH SCHEDULES Provisions of the Factory and Workshop Act 1901 applicable in London and Scotland only . . .
- SIXTH SCHEDULE Transitional Provisions
- SEVENTH SCHEDULE
Proposed changes to this act
No one has proposed a change to this act yet.
148 provisions
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Propose a change56 Application of Part II to Scotland.
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Propose a change57 Supply of drinking water.
(1) There shall be provided and maintained at suitable points conveniently accessible to all persons employed an adequate supply of wholesome drinking water from a public main or from some other source approved in writing by the district council. (2) A supply of drinking water which is not laid on shall be contained in suitable vessels, and shall be renewed at least daily, and all practicable steps shall be taken to preserve the water and vessels from contamination; and a drinking water supply (whether laid on or not) shall, in such cases as the inspector for the district may direct, be clearly marked “Drinking Water". (3) Except where the water is delivered in an upward jet from which employed persons can conveniently drink, one or more suitable cups or drinking vessels shall be provided at each point of supply with facilities for rinsing them in drinking water. (4) The approval required under subsection (1) of this section shall not be withheld except on the ground that the water is not wholesome.
Propose a change58 Washing facilities.
(1) There shall be provided and maintained for the use of employed persons adequate and suitable facilities for washing which shall include a supply of clean running hot and cold or warm water and, in addition, soap and clean towels or other suitable means of cleaning or drying; and the facilities shall be conveniently accessible and shall be kept in a clean and orderly condition. (2)—(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change59 Accommodation for clothing.
(1) There shall be provided and maintained for the use of employed persons adequate and suitable accommodation for clothing not worn during working hours; and such arrangements as are reasonably practicable or, when a standard is prescribed, such arrangements as are laid down thereby shall be made for drying such clothing. (2), (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change60 Sitting facilities.
(1) Where any employed persons have in the course of their employment reasonable opportunities for sitting without detriment to their work, there shall be provided and maintained for their use suitable facilities for sitting sufficient to enable them to take advantage of those opportunities. (2) Where a substantial proportion of any work can properly be done sitting— (a) there shall be provided and maintained for any employed person doing that work a seat of a design, construction and dimensions suitable for him and the work, together with a foot-rest on which he can readily and comfortably support his feet if he cannot do so without a foot-rest, and (b) the arrangements shall be such that the seat is adequately and properly supported while in use for the purpose for which it is provided. (3) For the purposes of subsection (2) of this section the dimensions of a seat which is adjustable shall be taken to be its dimensions as for the time being adjusted.
Propose a change61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change62 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Propose a change68 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change69 Underground rooms.
(1) The inspector for the district may certify any underground room as unsuitable for work other than work involved in the use of the room for the purpose of storage or such other purpose as the Minister may by order specify, and where such a certificate is in force with respect to any room no work for which it is certified as unsuitable shall be carried on in it. (2) Where the inspector certifies as unsuitable any room which is in actual use, he shall suspend the operation of the certificate for such period as he considers reasonable with a view to enabling the occupier to render the room suitable or to obtain other premises. (3) Except in the case of a room which on the first day of July, nineteen hundred and thirty-eight was part of a factory (within the meaning of the Factories Act 1937, as originally enacted) and was used for work for which it may be certified as unsuitable under this section, the occupier of an underground room— (a) shall, before the room is used for work for which it may be certified as unsuitable under this section, give notice in the prescribed form and containing the prescribed particulars to the inspector for the district; and (b) shall not use the room for any such process as may be prescribed, being a process of a hot, wet or dusty nature or which is liable to give off any fume, without the consent in writing of the inspector for the district. (4) If the occupier is aggrieved by any decision of an inspector under this section, he may, within twenty-one days of the date of issue of the certificate or the refusal of the consent, as the case may be, appeal to a magistrates’ court, or, in Scotland, the sheriff, and, pending the final determination of an appeal against a decision under subsection (1) of this section in the case of a room in actual use, no offence shall be deemed to be committed under that subsection in respect of the room to which the appeal relates. (5) In this section— “underground room” means any room which, or any part of which, is so situate that at least half its height, measured from the floor to the ceiling, is below the surface of the footway of the adjoining street or of the ground adjoining or nearest to the room; and “unsuitable” means unsuitable as regards construction, height, light or ventilation, or on any hygienic ground, or on the ground that adequate means of escape in case of fire are not provided. (6) Any certificate issued under this section may be withdrawn by the inspector for the district if such alterations are made as in his opinion to render the room suitable.
Propose a change70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change72 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change73
(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Propose a change110 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change112 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change117 Exemptions from provisions regulating hours of employment.
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Propose a change118 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change119 Power of inspector to require certificate of fitness for work.
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Propose a change119A Duty of factory occupier to give notice of employment of a young person.
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Propose a change120 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change121 Tenement factories—other provisions.
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Propose a change