Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026 — Key Highlights & Compliance Guide

On 8 May 2026, the Ministry of Labour and Employment notified the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026 to ensure safe, healthy, and fair working conditions for workers across different sectors in India. The provisions came into force on 8 May 2026.

Key Points:

1. These Rules comes under the ambit of Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.

2. Registration of Establishment:

   • Application will be filed online in Form-I on the Shram Suvidha Portal and the employer will have to provide establishment details, registration documents and proof of identity and address.

   • If the application is complete, the Certificate will be issued online under Form-III within 7 days.

     In case it is not issued in 7 days then it will be automatically generated, and the registration will be considered as deemed registration.

   • If the registration is done after 60 days, a late fee will be applicable.

   • The certificate cannot be transferred and should be displayed at visible places in the establishment.

   • Existing Registered Establishments will have to update their details in Form-I within 6 months.

   • In case of changes in detail, it has to be updated within 30 days from the changes made.

   • Authorities will have to maintain records of all registered establishments in a register in Form-V.

   • In case of closing of establishment, the employer will have to inform within 30 days of closure in Form-V and provide the date of closure and proof of payment dues to workers.

     This information will be shared with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation.

3. Free Annual Health Examination:

   • Employees in dock work and building/ construction work who are 40 years of age or older will get free Annual Health Examination;

   • The employers will have to arrange for the same;

   • It will be conducted by a qualified medical practitioner, and a certificate will be issued in Form-VIII and given to the employer and the employee;

   • Employers can also use Employees’ State Insurance Corporation facilities for medical exams.

   • For mine workers, extra tests and conditions will be conducted during medical examinations.

4. Notice of accidents and dangerous occurrences:

   • If an accident causes death, the employer will have to inform immediately to the Inspector-cum Facilitator, District Magistrate/ Sub-divisional Officer, Police station, and to the family of the victim.

   • If an accident causes injury and the worker will not be able to work for 48 hours or more then the employer will have to inform the Inspector-cum- Facilitator and send a report within 12 hours after those 48 hours.

   • In case of dangerous occurrence, even without injury, the employer will have to report within 12 hours to the Inspector-cum- Facilitator and to the District Magistrate/ Sub- Divisional Officer.

   • In case the injured person later dies due to injury or is diagonsed with disability after 48 hours, the employer will have to inform immediately and send a written confirmation within 12 hours.

   • Examples of “Dangerous Occurrences”:

     ✓ Explosion, fire, or gas leak;

     ✓ Collapse of building, scaffolding, or structure;

     ✓ Crane or lifting equipment failure;

     ✓ Equipment or machinery breakdown;

     ✓ Chemical spillage or hazardous leakage;

     ✓ Mine accidents (collapse, gas influx, explosion, etc.);

     ✓ Fall from height or falling objects;

     ✓ Transport accidents inside the workplace;

     ✓ Electrical flash or burn incidents.

5. It will be the duty of Employees to report unsafe conditions to the employer, safety officer, health and safety representative, workplace official, agent or manager in case of mines.

6. National Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Board:

   • Members will be appointed by the Central Government through notification.

   • Member can resign, who is not an ex-officio, by sending a written letter the Chairperson.

   • The resignation will take effect, and the seat will become vacant only when the Central Government accepts the resignation or after 30 days, whichever is earlier.

   • If a member misses 3 consecutive meetings without permission, he will cease to be a member, except if the Central Government allows such absence due to a valid reason.

7. Other Committees which will be constituted under these rules:

   • Technical Committee;

   • Advisory Committee;

   • Safety Committee.

8. These Rules also lay down health, safety and working conditions of employees of factories, mines, building or other construction work, beedi and cigar work, motor transport work, dock work, and plantation.

9. Common rules which every employer will have to follow:

   • Provide potable water;

   • Avoid overcrowding;

   • Arrange for artifical lighting when natural light is insufficient to carry out operations;

   • Provide proper bathroom facilities;

   • Proper arrangements for discharging liquid effluents and gaseous emissions, and disposal of solid waste generated;

   • Proper and sufficient washing facilities with adequate amount of water supply, soap, towels, etc.;

   • Provisions for bathing places and locker rooms;

   • Provide proper sitting arrangements.

   • Provision of canteen;

   • Provide proper first aid and basic medical appliances;

   • Maintain proper ambulance room;

   • Provide shelter and rest rooms;

   • Appointment of Welfare officer;

   • Provide creche facility;

   • Conduct mock drills quarterly.

10. No worker is required to work in a establishment for more than 48 hours per week.

11. Wages for overtime:

    • A worker will get overtime if:

      ✓ Daily wage worker- works for more than 8 hours in day;

      ✓ Other workers- works for more than 48 hours a week.

    • Overtime pay rate:

      ✓ It will be paid double the normal wages;

      ✓ Payment will be made at the end of the wage period.

    • Calculation of overtime:

      ✓ 15mins to 30 mins- will be calculated as 30mins;

      ✓ More than 30 minutes- will be counted as 1 full hour.

    • Calculation wages:

      ✓ For monthly paid workers- daily wages= monthly salary ÷ 26

      ✓ For other- their actual daily wage/ earnings.

12. Special provision relating to employment of women in establishment: If a woman is employed during night or before 6:00 a.m. and beyond 7:00 p.m. then the following provisions will apply:

    • Employer will have to take written consent from the woman employee.

    • Employer cannot employe women in violation of maternity banefit laws.

    • Employers will have to provide safe pick-up and drop from residence.

    • Employer will have to ensure the workplace:

      ✓ is well lit, including entry/ exit and pathway;

      ✓ Have toilets, washrooms and drinking water nearby;

      ✓ Equipped with CCTV surveillance.

    • The work environment should be safe, secure and healthy without discrimination to women employees;

    • Emergency contact numbers should be displayed at workplace and inside transport vehicles;

    • The establishment should follow the law on Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

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[Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026, dt. 8-5-2026]