Rule 56: Shelter and Rest Room
Reviewed by Finin2min Editorial Desk · Last reviewed 30 August 2026
Rule 56 — Governs shelter and rest room and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this rule. Key operative text: Employer of every factory, mine and motor transport undertaking shall ensure that:- (i) in every factory and mine wherein more than fifty workers are ordinarily employed and in motor transport undertaking wherein employee is…
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
- Employer of every factory, mine and motor transport undertaking shall ensure that:- (i) in every factory and mine wherein more than fifty workers are ordinarily employed and in motor transport undertaking wherein employee is required to halt at night, sufficient and a suitable lunchroom, with provision for drinking water and washing facilities, where employees can eat their meals is provided;
- Provided that any canteen maintained in accordance with the provisions under rule 53 shall be regarded as compliance of this rule.
- Provided that in case of motor transport undertaking the employer shall ensure that the motor transport workers employed in the undertaking are provided with uniforms, raincoats and other like amenities, free of charge.
Provisos / explanations
- Provided that any canteen maintained in accordance with the provisions under rule 53 shall be regarded as compliance of this rule. (iii) the shelters or rest rooms and lunch rooms conform to the following: (a) such rooms are sufficiently lighted and ventilated and maintained in a clean and hygienic condition at all times; (b) all the walls and roof are…
Thresholds & timelines
- No explicit day/month/year/hour/percentage/rupee expression was detected in this rule text.
Mapped Code sections
Full notified text — Rule 56
56. Shelter and Rest Room.- Employer of every factory, mine and motor transport undertaking shall
ensure that:-
(i) in every factory and mine wherein more than fifty workers are ordinarily employed and in motor
transport undertaking wherein employee is required to halt at night, sufficient and a suitable
lunchroom, with provision for drinking water and washing facilities, where employees can eat
their meals is provided;
(ii) these facilities are provided separately and maintained for male, female, and transgender
employees:
Provided that any canteen maintained in accordance with the provisions under rule 53 shall
be regarded as compliance of this rule.
(iii) the shelters or rest rooms and lunch rooms conform to the following:
(a) such rooms are sufficiently lighted and ventilated and maintained in a clean and hygienic condition
at all times;
(b) all the walls and roof are of suitable heat resisting materials;
(c) the roof of such room is at suitable height from the floor level and there is sufficient floor area for
employee employed at any given time;
(d) every room is sufficiently furnished with suitable seating and eating arrangement:
Provided that in case of motor transport undertaking the employer shall ensure that the motor transport
workers employed in the undertaking are provided with uniforms, raincoats and other like amenities,
free of charge.Application and evidence
- Primary statutory test — Employer of every factory, mine and motor transport undertaking shall ensure that:- (i) in every factory and mine wherein more than fifty workers are ordinarily employed and in motor transport undertaking wherein employee is required to halt at night, sufficient and a suitable lunchroom, with provision for drinking water and washing facilities, where employees can eat their meals is provided;
- Additional operative limb — Provided that any canteen maintained in accordance with the provisions under rule 53 shall be regarded as compliance of this rule.
- Qualification / exception to test — Provided that any canteen maintained in accordance with the provisions under rule 53 shall be regarded as compliance of this rule. (iii) the shelters or rest rooms and lunch rooms conform to the following: (a) such rooms are sufficiently lighted and ventilated and maintained in a clean and hygienic condition at all times; (b) all the walls and roof are…
- Code Section mapping — 24. 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 shelter and rest room, 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: “Employer of every factory, mine and motor transport undertaking shall ensure that:- (i) in every factory and mine wherein more than fifty workers are ordinarily employed and in motor transport undertaking wherein employee is required to halt at night, sufficient and a suitable lu” Also test the express qualification/proviso before concluding the result. Reconcile the mapped Code Section(s) 24.
Illustrative only. Use the exact notified rule, prescribed form and competent authority.
Q&A — Rule 56
What is Rule 56 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026?
Rule 56 — Governs shelter and rest room and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this rule. Key operative text: Employer of every factory, mine and motor transport undertaking shall ensure that:- (i) in every factory and mine wherein more than fifty workers are ordinarily employed and in motor transport undertaking wherein employee is…
What does Rule 56 require or permit?
A principal operative clause extracted from the notified rule is: “Employer of every factory, mine and motor transport undertaking shall ensure that:- (i) in every factory and mine wherein more than fifty workers are ordinarily employed and in motor transport undertaking wherein employee is required to halt at night, sufficient and a suitable lunchroom, with provision for drinking water and washing facilities, where employees can eat their meals is provided;” Read it with all sub-rules and provisos below.
Does Rule 56 contain a proviso or explanation?
Yes. One extracted qualification is: “Provided that any canteen maintained in accordance with the provisions under rule 53 shall be regarded as compliance of this rule. (iii) the shelters or rest rooms and lunch rooms conform to the following: (a) such rooms are sufficiently lighted and ventilated and maintained in a clean and hygienic condition at all times; (b) all the walls and roof are…”
What deadline, period, percentage or amount appears in Rule 56?
No explicit day/month/year/hour/percentage/rupee expression was detected in this rule text.
Which Code sections are linked to Rule 56?
The current concordance maps Rule 56 to Section(s) 24.
When did Rule 56 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.