Rule 39: Cleanliness and hygiene
Reviewed by Finin2min Editorial Desk · Last reviewed 30 August 2026
Rule 39 — Governs cleanliness and hygiene and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this rule. Key operative text: - The employer of every dock work shall ensure that: - (i) all locations in the ship or dock where dock works are carried and where dock workers are employed are kept clean and maintained in a hygienic condition;
Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026 were finally notified under G.S.R. 345(E), 8 May 2026. The Central Rules must be read with the Code and any later amendment/corrigendum.
Finin2min analysis — operative rule mechanics
Operative clauses
- - The employer of every dock work shall ensure that: - (i) all locations in the ship or dock where dock works are carried and where dock workers are employed are kept clean and maintained in a hygienic condition;
- (ii) all access routes and working areas are kept free from objects and materials that are liable to cause a person to trip or slip;
- (v) suitable safety and protective gears for use while at work wherever required are provided without expense to employees;
- (vi) where a floor is liable to become wet, effective drainage be maintained, kept in dry and non- slippery state and suitable anti-skid footwear, free of charge, be provided to employees;
Provisos / explanations
- No proviso/explanation was separately extracted from this rule.
Thresholds & timelines
- (viii) for technical reasons, cleaning must be carried out during working hours, appropriate means are used and precautions are taken to avoid contamination of the air with dust or other obnoxious substances;
Mapped Code sections
Full notified text — Rule 39
39. Cleanliness and hygiene. - The employer of every dock work shall ensure that: -
(i) all locations in the ship or dock where dock works are carried and where dock workers are
employed are kept clean and maintained in a hygienic condition;
(ii) all access routes and working areas are kept free from objects and materials that are liable to
cause a person to trip or slip;
(iii) loose gear, tools and similar equipment are kept safely or removed from working areas when
not in use;
(iv) spillages of oil or other materials likely to be a hazard are cleaned up by trained personnel as
soon as possible under the effective supervision;
(v) suitable safety and protective gears for use while at work wherever required are provided
without expense to employees;
(vi) where a floor is liable to become wet, effective drainage be maintained, kept in dry and non-
slippery state and suitable anti-skid footwear, free of charge, be provided to employees;
(vii) all plant and equipment are parked in appropriate designated areas when not in use;
(viii) for technical reasons, cleaning must be carried out during working hours, appropriate means
are used and precautions are taken to avoid contamination of the air with dust or other
obnoxious substances;
(ix) suitable arrangements for daily collection, storage, disposal or treatment of waste are made
under the effective supervision.Application and evidence
- Primary statutory test — - The employer of every dock work shall ensure that: - (i) all locations in the ship or dock where dock works are carried and where dock workers are employed are kept clean and maintained in a hygienic condition;
- Additional operative limb — (ii) all access routes and working areas are kept free from objects and materials that are liable to cause a person to trip or slip;
- Numerical or timing control — (viii) for technical reasons, cleaning must be carried out during working hours, appropriate means are used and precautions are taken to avoid contamination of the air with dust or other obnoxious substances;
- Code Section mapping — 23. Read the mapped provision together with this text rather than treating the concordance as a substitute for it.
- Evidence file — retain facts and records proving the role/status of: Employer, Employee / worker, Worker.
Cross-references & prescribed forms
Sections cited/mapped
Forms
No form is directly mapped in the current rule register.
Worked example
For an establishment affected by cleanliness and hygiene, the compliance owner should identify the applicable sector and authority, document the prescribed control/notice/record and retain inspection or training evidence. A text point to test is: “(viii) for technical reasons, cleaning must be carried out during working hours, appropriate means are used and precautions are taken to avoid contamination of the air with dust or other obnoxious substances;” Reconcile the mapped Code Section(s) 23.
Illustrative only. Use the exact notified rule, prescribed form and competent authority.
Q&A — Rule 39
What is Rule 39 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026?
Rule 39 — Governs cleanliness and hygiene and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this rule. Key operative text: - The employer of every dock work shall ensure that: - (i) all locations in the ship or dock where dock works are carried and where dock workers are employed are kept clean and maintained in a hygienic condition;
What does Rule 39 require or permit?
A principal operative clause extracted from the notified rule is: “- The employer of every dock work shall ensure that: - (i) all locations in the ship or dock where dock works are carried and where dock workers are employed are kept clean and maintained in a hygienic condition;” Read it with all sub-rules and provisos below.
Does Rule 39 contain a proviso or explanation?
No standalone proviso or explanation was extracted from this rule text. Check the complete rule below for clause-level conditions.
What deadline, period, percentage or amount appears in Rule 39?
The rule contains this numerical/time expression: “(viii) for technical reasons, cleaning must be carried out during working hours, appropriate means are used and precautions are taken to avoid contamination of the air with dust or other obnoxious substances;” Apply it only in its notified context.
Which Code sections are linked to Rule 39?
The current concordance maps Rule 39 to Section(s) 23.
When did Rule 39 come into force?
The final Central Rules were notified as G.S.R. 345(E), 8 May 2026; Rule 1 states that the Rules come into force on publication. Check any later amendment or corrigendum before reliance.