Andhra Pradesh explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Chapter VI and Chapter VII of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Andhra Pradesh) Rules, 2026 list the registers every establishment keeps, how long they are kept, what goes on the notice board, the returns to be filed and the powers of the Inspector-cum-Facilitator. They are the inspection-day rules of the State.
To see how your records stand against these rules, ask our labour law compliance team for a records review.
The rules are the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Andhra Pradesh) Rules, 2026, as notified by G.O.Rt.No.146 dated 6 August 2026. Records are preserved for five calendar years after the last entry (rule 32(3)). An annual return in Form-XII reaches the Inspector-cum-Facilitator not later than 1 February following each calendar year, and a contractor files half-yearly returns in Form-XII(A) within thirty days of each half-year (rule 32(5)). Improvement notices are in Form-XII B (rule 36).
Notification and commencement
The rules are the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Andhra Pradesh) Rules, 2026, as notified by G.O.Rt.No.146 dated 6 August 2026. Later amendments and State notifications under these rules should be checked in the State Gazette. Rule 1(3) says they come into force on the date of their final publication in the Official Gazette; the four Labour Codes were brought into force from 21 November 2025. The matching wage-rule registers are in our article on wage registers and Forms, and the hours rules in our OSH article on hours.
Registers and records (rule 32(1))
The Central rule is rule 72. Registers are kept electronically or manually and produced on demand before the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator, an Inspector-cum-Facilitator or an authorised person. The Andhra Pradesh list:
| Register or record | Form | Notes as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Register of employees | Form-VIII | By every employer or contractor; electronically or otherwise |
| Attendance register-cum-muster roll | Form-VIII(A) | Entries up to date at the start of work each day; weekly day of rest, substituted or compensatory holiday, leave and overtime hours reflected |
| Register of workers, wages, overtime, fine, deduction for damage or loss | Form-IX | Every employer |
| Record of leave with wages | Form X | Electronic form or otherwise |
| Registers of accidents and dangerous occurrences | Form-XI | Every employer |
| Overtime slips issued to each worker | (record) | Each time workers are employed on overtime |
| Register of adolescent workers | Form- XXII | Every employer |
| Environment monitoring records | As prescribed by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator | In the factory or establishment |
Manual entries are made in indelible ink in the language understood by a majority of the persons employed. Reports, registers and records are "preserved in original for a period of five (5) calendar years after the date of the last report or entry"; if an original is lost or destroyed before then, true copies, if available, are preserved for the period.
Notice board and displays (rule 32(4))
Every employer displays at the entrance a prominent board with the name and address of the establishment, and a notice in a conspicuous place showing hours of work, wage period, date of payment of wages, details of accidents and dangerous occurrences for the last five years, and the name and address of the Inspector-cum-Facilitator having jurisdiction, in Telugu, English and the language understood by the majority of the workers. A factory's entrance board shows, in addition, the registration number, the licence number and the licence limits (maximum employment and horse power), the wage period and wage payment date, and the Inspector-cum-Facilitator's name, address and telephone number. Workplaces display safety precautions, standard safe operating procedures, signages relating to personal protective equipment and other safety, health and welfare information as the Inspector-cum-Facilitator suggests, kept clean and legible. The Central rule is rules 73 and 74.
Returns (rule 32(5))
- Annual return. Every employer submits annually a return in Form-XII to the Inspector-cum-Facilitator through the State's online portal, "so as to reach him not later than 1st February following the end of each calendar year", with a copy to the Director General, Labour Bureau electronically.
- Contractor's return. Every contractor submits half-yearly returns in FORM-XII(A) electronically through the portal not more than thirty days after completion of each half-year of the calendar.
Under the Social Security rules of the same State, a unified annual return in Form-XIII is also due by 1 February; see our social security article on registers and returns.
The Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator and the Inspectors (rules 33 and 34)
The Central rule is rule 78. Rule 33 provides that the State Government appoints a Gazetted officer as Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator by notification, with the powers of an Inspector-cum-Facilitator throughout the State for establishments in the State sphere, and appoints Inspectors-cum-Facilitators with local limits under the Chief's control. For factories the Chief's qualification is as in the Andhra Pradesh Factories Service Rules for the post of Director of Factories. All of these officers are deemed public servants within section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, as the rule prints. Rule 34 provides that the State Government, by notification, lays down a comprehensive procedure for web-based inspections and calling for information electronically.
Samples, orders and improvement notices (rules 35 and 36)
- Samples (rule 35). An Inspector-cum-Facilitator takes a sufficient sample of a substance used in a factory after informing the employer, divides it into three portions, seals and marks them in the employer's presence and allows him to add his own seal. One portion goes to the employer, the second to a Government Analyst or an NABL laboratory, the third is retained for court. The expenses of collection, testing and preserving are incurred by the establishment.
- Dangerous condition (rule 36(1)). If a building, way, machinery or plant is dangerous to human life, safety or health, an order in writing specifies the measures to be carried out before a specified date.
- Follow-up (rule 36(2)). At each inspection, the Inspector-cum-Facilitator ascertains how far earlier shortcomings were rectified.
- Improvement notice (rule 36(3)). After an inspection as deemed necessary, the Inspector-cum-Facilitator issues an improvement notice in Form-XII B pointing out non-compliance.
Third-party audit, alternative employment and the Medical Officer (rules 37 to 39)
Rule 37 lets the State notify a scheme to empanel experts for third-party audit and compliance certification in factories. Under rule 38, if an Inspector-cum-Facilitator's order affects a worker's employment, the occupier provides alternate employment without reducing the wages paid immediately before the order, matching skills where practicable, never compelling a worker to take a job he considers unsuitable, and paying wages in full even without alternate employment; the occupier sends a notice to the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator within 24 hours of providing it. Rule 39 sets the qualification of the Medical Officer (recognised qualification and Occupational Health training, including ILO classification of chest radiograph) and the duties for age and fitness certificates and for examination of workers in hazardous processes.
A worked example
Bheemili Granite Works, an invented factory, keeps a Form-VIII employee register and a Form-VIII(A) attendance roll in an online system, with overtime hours recorded. Its entrance board shows its registration and licence numbers, the licence limits and the last five years of accident details. On 25 January the occupier files the Form-XII annual return on the portal, and the contractor who supplies loaders files the Form-XII(A) half-yearly return within thirty days of the half-year end. After an inspection it receives an improvement notice in Form-XII B and acts on it before the specified date.
Common lapses
- Disposing of registers before five calendar years.
- Omitting the licence limits or the five-year accident details from the board.
- Filing the annual return after 1 February.
- Contractors overlooking the half-yearly Form-XII(A).
- Not intimating the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator within 24 hours of providing alternate employment.
Need help with registers and returns?
A single records calendar covering the registers, the board and the two returns avoids the common lapses. Our labour law compliance team can set one up for your units.
Key takeaways
- Registers in Forms VIII, VIII(A), IX, X, XI and XXII; overtime slips kept.
- Retention: five calendar years after the last entry.
- Annual return Form-XII by 1 February; contractor's Form-XII(A) within thirty days of each half-year.
- Improvement notice: Form-XII B; alternate employment notice within 24 hours.
Read next
- OSH (Andhra Pradesh) Rules, 2026: hours of work, overtime, leave and employment of women
- Code on Wages (Andhra Pradesh) Rules, 2026: registers, wage slip, forms and compounding
- Andhra Pradesh G.O.Ms.No.7 of 2026: officers appointed as authorities under the four Labour Codes
- Rule 72 of the OSH Central Rules, 2026: registers and records
Disclaimer: Based on the State or Union territory rules named above, as notified under the Labour Codes and consulted on 4 October 2026. Later amendments, State notifications, fees and forms should be checked in the State Gazette and on the State labour department website. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.