Rule 123: Establishment and location of rescue station
Reviewed by Finin2min Editorial Desk · Last reviewed 30 August 2026
Rule 123 — Governs establishment and location of rescue station and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this rule. Key operative text: (1) The Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may permit or require the employer of a below ground mine or a group of below ground mines to establish and maintain rescue stations with such designs and specifications and at such…
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
- (1) The Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may permit or require the employer of a below ground mine or a group of below ground mines to establish and maintain rescue stations with such designs and specifications and at such places as may be considered necessary in consultation with the employer:
- Provided that where there are below ground mines belonging to more than one employer, the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may permit or require two or more employers to jointly establish common rescue stations:
- Provided further that all the existing rescue stations as on the date of coming into force of these rule, shall continue to function for a period of three years from that date.
- (2) At every rescue station, there shall be a superintendent and at least two instructors and there shall be maintained a rescue brigade of not less than eighteen rescue trained persons.
- (3) Where in absence of the superintendent at a rescue station exceeds sixty days, the employer shall appoint another superintendent.
Provisos / explanations
- Provided that where there are below ground mines belonging to more than one employer, the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may permit or require two or more employers to jointly establish common rescue stations:
Thresholds & timelines
- Provided further that all the existing rescue stations as on the date of coming into force of these rule, shall continue to function for a period of three years from that date.
- (3) Where in absence of the superintendent at a rescue station exceeds sixty days, the employer shall appoint another superintendent.
- (4) The employer shall, on the same day of assumption or relinquishment of charge by the superintendent, inform the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator and the Inspector-cum-Facilitator of the region where the mine is situated.
Mapped Code sections
Full notified text — Rule 123
123. Establishment and location of rescue station.- (1) The Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may
permit or require the employer of a below ground mine or a group of below ground mines to
establish and maintain rescue stations with such designs and specifications and at such places as
may be considered necessary in consultation with the employer:
Provided that where there are below ground mines belonging to more than one employer,
the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may permit or require two or more employers to jointly establish
common rescue stations:
Provided further that all the existing rescue stations as on the date of coming into force of these
rule, shall continue to function for a period of three years from that date.
(2) At every rescue station, there shall be a superintendent and at least two instructors and there shall
be maintained a rescue brigade of not less than eighteen rescue trained persons.
(3) Where in absence of the superintendent at a rescue station exceeds sixty days, the employer shall
appoint another superintendent.
(4) The employer shall, on the same day of assumption or relinquishment of charge by the
superintendent, inform the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator and the Inspector-cum-Facilitator of the
region where the mine is situated.Application and evidence
- Primary statutory test — (1) The Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may permit or require the employer of a below ground mine or a group of below ground mines to establish and maintain rescue stations with such designs and specifications and at such places as may be considered necessary in consultation with the employer:
- Additional operative limb — Provided that where there are below ground mines belonging to more than one employer, the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may permit or require two or more employers to jointly establish common rescue stations:
- Qualification / exception to test — Provided that where there are below ground mines belonging to more than one employer, the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may permit or require two or more employers to jointly establish common rescue stations:
- Numerical or timing control — Provided further that all the existing rescue stations as on the date of coming into force of these rule, shall continue to function for a period of three years from that date.
- Code Section mapping — 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73. 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, Inspector-cum-Facilitator.
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 establishment and location of rescue station, 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: “Provided further that all the existing rescue stations as on the date of coming into force of these rule, shall continue to function for a period of three years from that date.” Also test the express qualification/proviso before concluding the result. Reconcile the mapped Code Section(s) 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73.
Illustrative only. Use the exact notified rule, prescribed form and competent authority.
Q&A — Rule 123
What is Rule 123 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026?
Rule 123 — Governs establishment and location of rescue station and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this rule. Key operative text: (1) The Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may permit or require the employer of a below ground mine or a group of below ground mines to establish and maintain rescue stations with such designs and specifications and at such…
What does Rule 123 require or permit?
A principal operative clause extracted from the notified rule is: “(1) The Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may permit or require the employer of a below ground mine or a group of below ground mines to establish and maintain rescue stations with such designs and specifications and at such places as may be considered necessary in consultation with the employer:” Read it with all sub-rules and provisos below.
Does Rule 123 contain a proviso or explanation?
Yes. One extracted qualification is: “Provided that where there are below ground mines belonging to more than one employer, the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may permit or require two or more employers to jointly establish common rescue stations:”
What deadline, period, percentage or amount appears in Rule 123?
The rule contains this numerical/time expression: “Provided further that all the existing rescue stations as on the date of coming into force of these rule, shall continue to function for a period of three years from that date.” Apply it only in its notified context.
Which Code sections are linked to Rule 123?
The current concordance maps Rule 123 to Section(s) 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73.
When did Rule 123 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.