And returns 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.
Chapters VI and VII of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Bihar) Rules, 2026 (rules 26 to 41) tell an employer which registers to keep, what to display, which return to upload and by when, and how the Inspector-cum-Facilitator inspects and issues notices. They also set conditions for women working at night. These are the rules an employer meets on the day an inspection begins.
The rules are the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Bihar) Rules, 2026, notified under notification 1/OSHC-01/2021-100, as notified on 30 June 2026 and published in the Bihar Gazette (Extraordinary) No. Patna 699 of 1 July 2026. Rule 1(3) says they come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. Registers are kept electronically or otherwise and preserved for five calendar years (rule 27). The accident register goes to the Inspector-cum-Facilitator in electronic form once in three months (rule 30). The Inspector-cum-Facilitator issues prohibition or improvement notices in Form XII (rule 34).
Later amendments and State notifications under these rules should be checked in the State Gazette. A labour law compliance review can match each register below to your establishment.
The registers and the wage slip (rules 26 to 31)
| Obligation | Rule | As printed |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of periods of work | 26 | Displayed at conspicuous places on a notice board or electronic board, maintained in Form VII, and a copy sent to the Inspector-cum-Facilitator electronically or by registered or speed post |
| Register of employees | 27(1) | Form VIII |
| Attendance-cum-muster roll | 27(1) | Form VIII A |
| Register of wages, overtime and deduction | 27(1) | Form VIII B |
| Wage slip | 27(1) | Form VIII C |
| Accident and dangerous occurrences register | 30 | Form X; communicated in electronic form to the Inspector-cum-Facilitator once in three months |
| Register of leave with wages | 31 | Form XI, for every employee, electronically or manually; preserved for five years after the last entry |
Registers may be maintained electronically or otherwise, entries are in English or Hindi, and they are produced on demand before the Inspector-cum-Facilitator or an authorised person (rule 27(1)). They are preserved in original for five calendar years from the last entry; where the original is lost or destroyed before five years, true copies if available are preserved. All registers are kept complete and up to date at an office or the nearest convenient building within the precincts of the workplace or within a radius of three kilometres (rule 27(3)).
Where an establishment already keeps the register of employees, attendance-cum-muster roll, register of wages, overtime and deductions and the wage slip under the rules framed under the wage or social security codes, those are deemed to be maintained under these rules too. Rule 27(2) says wage slips are issued "before one day of payment of wages"; the Bihar wage rules say the slip is issued on or before payment (see our article on Bihar wage registers and forms). An employer under both sets should issue the slip a day ahead.
The Central rules are explained in our posts on rule 72 of the OSH Central Rules, maintenance and production of reports, registers and records.
Notice board and returns (rules 27(4), 28 and 29)
Rule 28 requires a notice at a conspicuous place, in English and Hindi, showing the name and address of the establishment, hours of work, wage period, date of payment of wages, details of accidents and dangerous occurrences for the last five years, the name and address of the Inspector-cum-Facilitator having jurisdiction, and the date of payment of unpaid wages to such workers.
Two return provisions appear in the chapter, each as printed:
| Return | Rule | Date and form |
|---|---|---|
| Unified annual return | 27(4)(a) | Uploaded online on the State web portal, in Form IX and IXA prescribed under the Central OSH rules, on or before the 28th or 29th day of February in each year, for the preceding year |
| Annual return to the Inspector-cum-Facilitator | 29 | In Form IX, on category of employees, health and welfare facilities, retrenchment or layoffs, bonus, maternity benefits and so on, 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 |
An employer who sells, abandons or discontinues an establishment uploads a further unified return within one month of sale or abandonment, or four months of discontinuance, for the period up to that date (rule 27(4)(b)). Because rule 27(4)(a) and rule 29 print different dates, an employer should file by the earlier date, 1st February, unless the State notifies otherwise. Our post on rules 73 and 74 of the OSH Central Rules, display on notice board and annual return covers the Central rules.
Inspection and the Inspector-cum-Facilitator (rules 32 to 36)
- Inspection scheme (rule 32). The State Government by notification mandates inspection of all establishments and lays down a web-based inspection scheme based on risk assessment, assigning inspecting authorities by jurisdiction. The qualification and experience of the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator are notified by the State.
- Samples (rule 33). The Inspector-cum-Facilitator may take samples of substances used or intended for use, after informing the employer, if he believes the use contravenes the Code or the substance is likely to injure health. He divides the sample into three portions, seals and marks them in the presence of the person informed, who may add his own seal; one portion goes to that person, one to a Government Analyst or a NABL laboratory and one is retained for the Court. The report may be used as evidence.
- Prohibition and improvement notices (rule 34). After every inspection or enquiry the Inspector-cum-Facilitator issues a prohibition or improvement notice in Form XII, pointing out the non-compliance, to the employer, occupier, owner, agent or manager. At each inspection he ascertains how far earlier shortcomings were rectified, and records his findings and orders.
- Experts (rule 35). The qualification, duties and responsibilities of experts empanelled for start-up establishments are notified by the State.
- Alternative employment (rule 36). Where an order under section 38(1)(A)(a) affects a person's employment, the Inspector-cum-Facilitator may direct the occupier to provide alternative employment in the same capacity and on the same service conditions in his factory or another under his control, without reducing wages.
The Central rule is explained in our post on rule 78 of the OSH Central Rules, powers and duties of the Inspector-cum-Facilitator and improvement notice.
Medical officers (rules 37 to 39)
The Medical Officer is a medical practitioner with a recognised qualification under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, enrolled on the Indian and State Medical Registers, and trained in an occupational health course including the ILO classification of chest radiographs (rule 37). The State may notify other establishments engaged in dangerous occupations (rule 38). On a reference, the Medical Officer gives prior notice of the date, time and place of examination and prepares an age and fitness certificate for the manager (rule 39).
Women employed at night (rules 40 and 41)
Women may be employed before 6.00 a.m. and beyond 7.00 p.m. only if these conditions are met (rule 40(1)):
- written consent of the woman employee;
- no employment against the maternity benefit provisions of the Social Security Code;
- adequate transport with CCTV coverage for pick-up and drop at her residence;
- a well-lit workplace and passage, with toilet, washroom and drinking facilities near the workplace;
- safe, secure and healthy working conditions;
- not less than 2 women employees on duty at the same time at any workplace;
- compliance with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013;
- adequate lighting and CCTV coverage of areas inside and outside the factory that women workers can access, with footage preserved for a minimum of 45 days; and
- any other protective provision the State notifies.
Under rule 41 the State may declare by notification the class of establishments, scheme and standards for safeguarding women in hazardous and dangerous processes.
A worked example
Pataliputra Garments Pvt Ltd, Patna, runs a night shift with women operators. Before starting it takes each woman's written consent, arranges a transport vehicle with CCTV, checks that at least 2 women are on duty at the same time, and sets its CCTV storage at 45 days or more. At the next inspection, an Inspector-cum-Facilitator issues an improvement notice in Form XII. The company records its rectification, sends the accident register to the Inspector in electronic form in the quarter, and files its annual return before 1 February.
Need help preparing for an inspection in Bihar?
Registers, the notice board and the annual return all feed one inspection. Our labour law compliance team can run a mock inspection against rules 26 to 41, correct the Forms and set the return dates.
Key takeaways
- Registers use Forms VIII, VIII A, VIII B, VIII C, X and XI; preserved for five calendar years (rules 27, 30 and 31).
- The accident register goes to the Inspector-cum-Facilitator electronically every three months (rule 30).
- The rules print two return dates, 1st February (rule 29) and 28th or 29th February (rule 27(4)); file by the earlier date.
- Improvement and prohibition notices are in Form XII (rule 34).
- Night work for women needs consent, transport with CCTV, at least 2 women on duty and 45 days of CCTV footage (rule 40).
Read next
- OSH (Bihar) Rules, 2026: working hours, weekly holidays, compensatory leave and overtime
- OSH (Bihar) Rules, 2026: the contractor's licence, fees, security deposit and inter-State migrant workers
- Code on Wages (Bihar) Rules, 2026: registers, wage slip, forms and miscellaneous rules
- Rule 72 of the OSH Central Rules: maintenance and production of reports, 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.