Section 38 of FA, 1948 : Section 38: Precautions In Case Of Fire

Explanation using Example

Imagine a garment manufacturing factory where hundreds of workers are employed. The factory management, in compliance with Section 38 of The Factories Act, 1948, has implemented the following measures:

• Installed clearly marked fire exits and emergency doors that remain unobstructed to ensure a safe escape route for workers in case of a fire.
• Equipped the premises with fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, and fire alarms at strategic locations.
• Conducted regular fire drills to educate workers on evacuation procedures and the use of firefighting equipment.

One day, a small fire breaks out in a section of the factory due to an electrical fault. The workers, already familiar with the evacuation plan, quickly locate the nearest fire exit and evacuate the building in an orderly fashion. The trained safety personnel use the provided fire extinguishers to control and extinguish the fire before it spreads.

Following the incident, the Chief Inspector visits the factory for an inspection and determines that additional smoke detectors are needed due to the factory's layout. An order is issued for the factory to install these additional detectors by a specified date to further enhance fire safety measures.