Rule 131: Equipment
Reviewed by Finin2min Editorial Desk · Last reviewed 30 August 2026
Rule 131 — Governs equipment and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this rule. Key operative text: (1) At every rescue station and rescue room, there shall be provided and maintained for immediate use, apparatus and equipment as may be specified by the Chief Inspector- cum-Facilitator through general or special order.
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) At every rescue station and rescue room, there shall be provided and maintained for immediate use, apparatus and equipment as may be specified by the Chief Inspector- cum-Facilitator through general or special order.
- (2) A below ground mine, where no rescue room is located, there shall be apparatus and equipment as may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator through general or special order issued from time to time and shall be maintained at the entrance of such mine.
- (3) Self- contained breathing apparatus shall be provided at a rescue station and that at rescue rooms under it shall be of the same type and make.
- (4) The following apparatus and equipments provided under of sub-rules (1),(2) and (3), shall be of a type or standard approved by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator, namely:- (a) breathing apparatus;
- (5) All breathing apparatus and every flow meter shall be adjusted and tested and the purity of oxygen for use in breathing apparatus shall be tested in such manners as may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator through general or special order issued from time to time.
Provisos / explanations
- No proviso/explanation was separately extracted from this rule.
Thresholds & timelines
- (6) In event of an accident in a below ground mine arising out of the use of any rescue apparatus, a written report thereof shall be sent, within 24 hours of such accident, by the manager of the mine to the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator and Inspector-cum-Facilitator in the form, as may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator through general…
- (7) In case of an accident in a rescue station or rescue room arising out of the use of any rescue apparatus a written report thereof shall be sent electronically, within 24 hours of such accident, by the Superintendent to the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator and Inspector-cum-Facilitator in the form, as may be specified by the Chief…
Mapped Code sections
Full notified text — Rule 131
131. Equipment.-(1) At every rescue station and rescue room, there shall be provided and
maintained for immediate use, apparatus and equipment as may be specified by the Chief Inspector-
cum-Facilitator through general or special order.
(2) A below ground mine, where no rescue room is located, there shall be apparatus and equipment as
may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator through general or special order issued from
time to time and shall be maintained at the entrance of such mine.
(3) Self- contained breathing apparatus shall be provided at a rescue station and that at rescue rooms
under it shall be of the same type and make.
(4) The following apparatus and equipments provided under of sub-rules (1),(2) and (3), shall be of a
type or standard approved by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator, namely:-
(a) breathing apparatus;
(b) smoke helmets, tube apparatus and apparatus serving the same purpose;
(c) reviving apparatus;
(d) electric safety lamps and flame safety lamps;
(e) gas detector; and
(f) self-rescuers.
(5) All breathing apparatus and every flow meter shall be adjusted and tested and the purity of oxygen
for use in breathing apparatus shall be tested in such manners as may be specified by the Chief
Inspector-cum-Facilitator through general or special order issued from time to time.
(6) In event of an accident in a below ground mine arising out of the use of any rescue apparatus, a
written report thereof shall be sent, within 24 hours of such accident, by the manager of the mine to
the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator and Inspector-cum-Facilitator in the form, as may be specified by
the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator through general or special order issued from time to time.
(7) In case of an accident in a rescue station or rescue room arising out of the use of any rescue apparatus
a written report thereof shall be sent electronically, within 24 hours of such accident, by the
Superintendent to the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator and Inspector-cum-Facilitator in the form, as
may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator through general or special order issued from
time to time.
(8) No absorbent charges, chemicals, self-rescuer and gas detector tubes shall be kept at any rescue
station, rescue room or below ground mine for use beyond the expiry date, which shall be legibly
marked on the boxes thereof.Application and evidence
- Primary statutory test — (1) At every rescue station and rescue room, there shall be provided and maintained for immediate use, apparatus and equipment as may be specified by the Chief Inspector- cum-Facilitator through general or special order.
- Additional operative limb — (2) A below ground mine, where no rescue room is located, there shall be apparatus and equipment as may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator through general or special order issued from time to time and shall be maintained at the entrance of such mine.
- Numerical or timing control — (6) In event of an accident in a below ground mine arising out of the use of any rescue apparatus, a written report thereof shall be sent, within 24 hours of such accident, by the manager of the mine to the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator and Inspector-cum-Facilitator in the form, as may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator through general…
- 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: 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 equipment, 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: “(6) In event of an accident in a below ground mine arising out of the use of any rescue apparatus, a written report thereof shall be sent, within 24 hours of such accident, by the manager of the mine to the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator and Inspector-cum-Facilitator in the form” 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 131
What is Rule 131 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026?
Rule 131 — Governs equipment and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this rule. Key operative text: (1) At every rescue station and rescue room, there shall be provided and maintained for immediate use, apparatus and equipment as may be specified by the Chief Inspector- cum-Facilitator through general or special order.
What does Rule 131 require or permit?
A principal operative clause extracted from the notified rule is: “(1) At every rescue station and rescue room, there shall be provided and maintained for immediate use, apparatus and equipment as may be specified by the Chief Inspector- cum-Facilitator through general or special order.” Read it with all sub-rules and provisos below.
Does Rule 131 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 131?
The rule contains this numerical/time expression: “(6) In event of an accident in a below ground mine arising out of the use of any rescue apparatus, a written report thereof shall be sent, within 24 hours of such accident, by the manager of the mine to the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator and Inspector-cum-Facilitator in the form, as may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator through general…” Apply it only in its notified context.
Which Code sections are linked to Rule 131?
The current concordance maps Rule 131 to Section(s) 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73.
When did Rule 131 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.