Rule 54: First Aid and Medical Appliances

Finin2min analysis — operative rule mechanics

Full notified text — Rule 54

54. First Aid and Medical Appliances. - Employer of every factory, mine, building or other
     construction work, industrial premise for manufacture of beedi and cigar, motor transport undertaking,
     dock work and plantation shall ensure that:-

     (i)     in every establishment mentioned above or part thereof where employees are at work, first aid
             boxes or cup-boards in adequate numbers with necessary items are provided and maintained so as
             to be readily accessible during working hours. A Notice containing details of first-aid facilities,
             along with the name, contact detail of the person in-charge and the nearest hospitals, shall be
             displayed at a conspicuous place in English or Hindi and in local language;
     (ii)     in each shift, every first-aid box or cupboard is kept in the charge of a worker or supervisor who
             holds a certificate in first-aid treatment and who is always be readily available during the working
             hours of the above establishments or part thereof. At least one fully equipped first-aid box or
             cupboard in every department or section is available and maintained properly all the time during
             working hours. The number of first aid boxes has to increase if the number of employees is more
             than 200 employees in department or section. The illustrative list of contents of every first-aid box
             or cupboard is at Annexure- I and employer may add more items as per requirement;

     (iii) in case of mines, the illustrative list of contents of every first-aid box or cupboard is at
             Annexure- III and employer may add more items as per requirement.
     (iv) at least thirty-three percent of the workers in every establishment mentioned above are trained in
             first-aid procedures and refreshers training to be imparted in every three years and wherever
             woman workers are employed, at least one-woman worker is trained. First Aid training is
             conducted by the trainer having medical qualification included in the Schedule- I or Schedule- II
             or Part- II of the Schedule- III of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956). The person
             possessing qualifications included in Part II of Schedule- III of the Indian Medical Council Act,

              1956 (102 of 1956), should also fulfil the condition specified in sub-section (3) of section 13 of
              the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 or as per the Chapter- VI of National Medical Commission
              Act 2019 or diploma or degree in Industrial Health or Public Health or Emergency Medicine, or
              Associate Fellow in Industrial Health (AFIH) or equivalent;
      (v)     every case of injury or illness during the course of work is reported to the supervisor in the above
              establishments for injury and illness surveillance and adequate and suitable arrangements are
              made available for speedy evacuation or referral of persons employed in every establishment
              mentioned above who while on duty suffers from serious bodily injury or illness of a serious
              nature or as the nature of injury and illness as decided by the first aider, from every establishment
              mentioned above or part thereof to the nearest dispensary or hospital;
      (vi)     every employee receiving an injury during the course of work shall report the same to the worker
              or supervisor who holds a certificate in first-aid treatment and who shall make arrangements for
              rendering first-aid to the injured as may be required. Where the employee receiving an injury is
              not in a position to report the same to the worker or supervisor who holds a certificate in first-aid
              treatment, it shall be the duty of the person who first comes to know of it to report the same to the
              worker or supervisor;
      (vii) if in the opinion of the supervisor or worker who holds a certificate in first-aid treatment, the injury
              is of such a nature so as to require immediate medical attention by the qualified medical
              practitioner, such person shall arrange for the qualified medical practitioner to be called or bring
              it to the notice of the occupier or their representative in every establishment mentioned above;
      (viii) it is the duty of the employer or their representative to ensure that adequate and suitable
              arrangements are made available for speedy transportation of that employee to nearest dispensary
              or hospitals preferably by means of a proper ambulance van;
      (ix)     additionally, following provisions shall be followed in case of mines:

      (A)     adequate and suitable arrangements are made for the training of the workers and supervisors in
              first-aid procedures;

  (B) at every mine there shall be provided and maintained first aid station equipped with first-aid equipment
  as prescribed in the Annexure-V, at conveniently accessible places where injured persons may receive
  first-aid treatment as follows-
      (a) above ground, a first- aid station –
      (i) at the top of every shaft or incline where men or material are normally wound or hauled;
      (ii) in every workshop;
      (iii) at every screening plant and loading place; and
      (iv) at every other place where more than 50 persons are employed at any one time.
      (b) in every opencast working, a first-aid station-
            (i) at every shovel or dragline loading point;

           (ii) at rest shelter and portable rest shelter, if any;
           (iii) at pumping station;
        (iv) at re-fueling station;
        (v) at dump yard;
            (vi) at every other place where more than 50 persons are employed at any one time.
     (c) below ground, one first-aid station –
     (i) at the bottom of every shaft where men or material are normally wound and at or near every plant;
     (ii) near the drive end of every haulage;
     (iii) in or at the entrance to every district or section of the mine:

     Provided that nothing in this sub-rule shall be construed to require the provision of a first-aid station
     within 300 metres of another first-aid station;

     (iv) it shall be the duty of the persons appointed to be in charge of a first-aid station to see that the
     equipment provided at the first-aid station is kept in good order and that it is replenished whenever
     necessary;

     (v) every first-aid station shall be kept under the charge of a worker or supervisor holding a first-aid
     certificate from institutes recognized by Central or State Government;

     (vi) an up-to-date list of all first-aid stations provided in the mine shall be kept in the office of the mine;

     (vii) every supervisor or official possesses a valid first-aid certificate shall carry, while on duty, a first-
     aid outfit consisting of one large sterilised dressing, one small sterilised dressing, adhesive bandage,
     skin closure strips, cotton balls, antiseptic solution, and scissor with rounded tips, such outfit shall be
     securely packed to protect it against dirt and water.

Application and evidence

1. Primary statutory test — - Employer of every factory, mine, building or other construction work, industrial premise for manufacture of beedi and cigar, motor transport undertaking, dock work and plantation shall ensure that:- (i) in every establishment mentioned above or part thereof where employees are at work, first aid boxes or cup-boards in adequate numbers with necessary items are provided and maintained so as to be readily…
2. Additional operative limb — A Notice containing details of first-aid facilities, along with the name, contact detail of the person in-charge and the nearest hospitals, shall be displayed at a conspicuous place in English or Hindi and in local language;
3. Qualification / exception to test — Provided that nothing in this sub-rule shall be construed to require the provision of a first-aid station within 300 metres of another first-aid station; (iv) it shall be the duty of the persons appointed to be in charge of a first-aid station to see that the equipment provided at the first-aid station is kept in good order and that it is replenished…
4. Numerical or timing control — First Aid and Medical Appliances. - Employer of every factory, mine, building or other construction work, industrial premise for manufacture of beedi and cigar, motor transport undertaking, dock work and plantation shall ensure that:- (i) in every establishment mentioned above or part thereof where employees are at work, first aid boxes or cup-boards in…
5. Code Section mapping — 24. Read the mapped provision together with this text rather than treating the concordance as a substitute for it.
6. Evidence file — retain facts and records proving the role/status of: Employer, Employee / worker, Worker, State Government.

Cross-references & prescribed forms

Worked example

Q&A — Rule 54

Primary sources