Rules 22-23 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.
Rules 22 and 23 set the basic health standards for every factory: clean and dry workrooms, drainage and anti-skid footwear for wet work, safe waste handling, suitable air, temperature and humidity, mechanical ventilation where natural air is not enough, and protection from heat and extreme weather. Each rule is a list of things the employer "shall ensure".
Rule 22 covers cleanliness and hygiene in eight clauses, from sanitary passageways and clean walls to dry, non-slippery floors, drainage and anti-skid footwear for wet processes, cleaning without raising dust and daily waste arrangements. Rule 23 covers ventilation, temperature and humidity in seven clauses, including mechanical ventilation when natural air is inadequate and protection from heat radiation. Both bind the employer of every factory.
Where these rules come from
Section 23 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (the OSH Code) makes the employer responsible for health, safety and working conditions as the Central Government prescribes, and section 23(2) lists matters the rules may cover, including cleanliness and hygiene; ventilation, temperature and humidity; and an environment without dust, noxious gas, fumes and other impurities. Rules 22 to 25 implement the factory part of that list; see our section 23 explainer. Rules 24 and 25 are in our next article.
The Central Rules apply where the Central Government is the appropriate Government; for factories where the State Government is the appropriate Government, the State's own rules apply and may differ. For a site-by-site comparison, our labour law compliance team can assist. The old framework, in the repealed Factories Act, 1948, is explained in our guide on health provisions in factories.
Rule 22: cleanliness and hygiene
The employer of every factory shall ensure that:
| Clause | Requirement |
|---|---|
| (i) | All workplaces, workrooms, passageways, staircases, storerooms and service rooms are kept in sanitary and hygienic condition |
| (ii) | Wall and ceiling surfaces, including windows and skylights, are always kept clean and hygienic |
| (iii) | The floor of every workroom is clean and, so far as reasonably practicable, dry and non-slippery |
| (iv) | Where wet processes are carried out: (a) effective drainage is maintained; (b) false floors, platforms, mats or other dry standing places are provided; (c) anti-skid footwear and other suitable safety and protective gear are provided without expense to employees |
| (v) | Workrooms are cleaned as often as the nature of the work requires |
| (vi) | As far as practicable, sweeping and cleaning are done during intervals between work and in a way that prevents raising dust |
| (vii) | Where, for technical reasons, cleaning must be done during working hours, appropriate means are used and precautions taken to avoid contaminating air with dust or other obnoxious substances |
| (viii) | Suitable arrangements for daily collection, storage, disposal or treatment of every type of waste, under effective supervision |
Points to note.
- Clause (iii) is qualified by "so far as reasonably practicable" for dryness, but the floor must be clean at all times.
- In clause (iv), the employer bears the cost of anti-skid footwear and protective gear: "without expense to the employees". Deductions from wages for such items would contradict the rule, and section 6(1)(g) of the Code bars any charge on an employee for safety and health measures.
- Clause (vi) and (vii) are paired: cleaning happens in breaks where possible, and in a dust-controlled manner if it must happen during work.
- Clause (viii) requires daily arrangements for waste of every type. The Code's section 6(1)(e) separately speaks of disposal of hazardous and toxic waste, including e-waste; see our section 6 explainer. Treatment of waste and effluents has its own rule, rule 48.
Rule 23: ventilation, temperature and humidity
The employer of every factory shall ensure that:
| Clause | Requirement |
|---|---|
| (i) | Suitable atmospheric conditions in workplaces, by natural or artificial means, to avoid insufficient air supply, stagnant or vitiated air, harmful draughts, excessive heat or cold, sudden temperature variations and, where practicable, excessive humidity or dryness and objectionable odours |
| (ii) | Adequate ventilation to clear smoke, fume, steam and dust and to dilute inflammable or noxious gases to render them harmless |
| (iii) | Adequate measures to protect employees from extreme weather by suitably changing working hours, providing protective clothes or other provisions as necessary, without charge |
| (iv) | Mechanical ventilation where adequate fresh air cannot be had by natural ventilation or where the desired air cannot reach the workroom without uncomfortable draughts near inlets |
| (v) | Where local heating apparatus is installed, the layout prevents combustion gases from entering the room's atmosphere |
| (vi) | Temperature suitable for the work, and humidity maintained for comfort |
| (vii) | Where excessive high temperatures arise, employees protected by heat insulation of equipment or other suitable means against heat radiation and excessive temperature from steam, hot-water pipes or other hot surfaces |
Points to note.
- Clause (iii) names three levers: changing working hours, protective clothes and other suitable provisions. The rule treats extreme weather as a workplace hazard to be managed, not a matter of individual endurance. Protective measures are provided without charge.
- Clause (iv) makes mechanical ventilation a requirement when natural ventilation cannot do the job; it is not an optional extra.
- Clause (vii) puts the control at the source: insulate the equipment, or use other suitable means, so that radiant heat from steam lines and hot surfaces does not reach people.
- Humidity and dryness are dealt with "where practicable, having regard to the nature of the processes carried on". Artificial humidification has its own rule, rule 25.
A working checklist for a plant
- Housekeeping schedule: who cleans what, when, and how dust is kept down; log it.
- Wet areas: map every wet process and confirm drainage, false floors or mats, and issued anti-skid footwear.
- Air and heat survey: identify rooms with stagnant air, heat radiation or temperature swings; decide on mechanical ventilation, insulation or layout changes.
- Seasonal plan: for summer and monsoon, plan shift timings, protective clothing and cooling arrangements, and record them.
- Waste flow: define daily collection, storage and disposal or treatment points, under a named supervisor.
- Records: keep photographs, inspection notes and purchase records for footwear and protective gear.
Consequences
Rules 22 and 23 state no penalty of their own. Contravention is handled under the Code's penalty provisions; see our section 94 explainer. In an inspection, floors, drainage, ventilation and heat are the first things an inspector sees.
Practical examples
Example 1. A textile dyeing unit has wet processes on the ground floor. The employer builds drainage channels, lays perforated mats at workstations and issues anti-skid boots to all dye-house staff. No cost is recovered from wages. This meets rule 22(iv).
Example 2. A forging shop reaches high temperatures in summer. The employer insulates the furnace shell and steam lines, adds mechanical ventilation near the hammer bays, moves heavy work to early morning hours and supplies protective clothing. These steps answer rule 23(iii), (iv) and (vii).
Need help with factory working-condition compliance?
Translating clauses about air, heat and housekeeping into a site checklist is where many plants struggle. Our labour law compliance team can review your factory against rules 22 and 23 and set up the records you will want at inspection.
Key takeaways
- Rule 22 covers cleanliness and hygiene in eight clauses; rule 23 covers ventilation, temperature and humidity in seven.
- Wet processes need drainage, dry standing places and anti-skid footwear provided without expense to employees.
- Cleaning should happen in breaks and without raising dust.
- Extreme weather calls for changes to working hours and protective provisions, provided without charge.
- Mechanical ventilation is required where natural ventilation is inadequate.
- State rules apply where the State is the appropriate Government.
Read next
- Section 23 of the OSH Code: employer responsibility for health, safety and working conditions
- Rules 24 and 25: factory dust, fumes and artificial humidification
- Rules 26 to 29: mines cleanliness, ventilation, dust and humidification
- Health provisions in factories: cleanliness, ventilation, lighting
Disclaimer: Based on the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (as enacted) and, where noted, the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026 (G.S.R. 345(E), 8 May 2026), as on 30 September 2026. The Code is in force from 21 November 2025; some provisions may be notified later, and State Governments make their own rules for establishments where the State is the appropriate Government. Verify the current position before acting.