Rules 26-29 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 26 to 29 are the health rules for mines. Rule 26 applies to every mine and covers cleanliness and hygiene. Rules 27, 28 and 29 apply to belowground mines and cover ventilation, temperature and humidity, dust, noxious gas and fumes, and artificial humidification.
Every mine must meet the eight-clause cleanliness and hygiene standard in rule 26. Belowground mines must also maintain suitable air and temperature with regular measurements at each air measurement station (rule 27), limit respirable dust, gas, fume and vapour and keep people out of workplaces and confined spaces until levels are within permissible limits (rule 28), and test, record and regulate humidity with trained staff and proper water (rule 29).
The Code source
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 prescribed, and section 23(2) lists cleanliness and hygiene; ventilation, temperature and humidity; an environment without dust, noxious gas, fumes and other impurities; and humidification among the matters the rules may cover. Rules 26 to 29 do this for mines. The factory equivalents are rules 22 to 25; see our rules 22 and 23 article and rules 24 and 25 article.
Who is liable? The employer of the mine, who under section 67 of the Code acts through the manager; see our section 67 and 68 explainer. Central Rules apply where the Central Government is the appropriate Government; State rules apply otherwise. For a review of mine-level health compliance, see our labour law compliance service.
Rule 26: cleanliness and hygiene (every mine)
Rule 26 reads almost word for word like rule 22 for factories. The employer of every mine shall ensure that:
- (i) all workplaces, workrooms, passageways, staircases, storerooms and service rooms are kept sanitary and hygienic;
- (ii) wall and ceiling surfaces, including windows and skylights, are kept clean and hygienic;
- (iii) the floor of every workroom is clean and, so far as possible, dry and non-slippery;
- (iv) where wet processes are carried out, there is effective drainage, false floors, platforms, mats or other dry standing places, and anti-skid footwear and suitable protective gear provided without expense to employees;
- (v) workplaces are cleaned as often as the work requires;
- (vi) sweeping and cleaning are, as far as practicable, done in intervals between work and without raising dust;
- (vii) if cleaning must be done during working hours, appropriate means and precautions avoid contaminating the air with dust or other obnoxious substances; and
- (viii) suitable arrangements exist for daily collection, storage, disposal or treatment of every type of waste, under effective supervision.
The word used in clause (iii) is "so far as possible", and in (v) "workplaces", slightly different from the factory text ("so far as reasonably practicable" and "workrooms"). Follow the mine wording.
Rule 27: ventilation, temperature and humidity (belowground mines)
The employer of every belowground mine shall ensure that:
| Clause | Duty |
|---|---|
| (i) | Suitable atmospheric conditions by natural or artificial means, avoiding 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 at all workplaces to clear smoke, fume, steam and dust and to dilute inflammable or noxious gases to render them harmless |
| (iii) | Adequate and sufficient measures to protect employees from extreme weather by suitably changing working hours, providing protective clothes or other suitable provisions as necessary |
| (iv) | Mechanical ventilation where natural ventilation cannot supply adequate fresh air or cannot reach the workrooms without uncomfortable draughts near inlets |
| (v) | At every workplace at the surface of the mine, temperature suitable for the work, with humidity varied in accordance with the kind of work and outside temperature and humidity |
| (vi) | Measurements of air quantity, temperature and humidity are regularly taken and the entries at each air measurement station are brought up to date |
Clause (vi) is the record-keeping anchor: regular readings, with entries updated at each air measurement station. Unlike the factory version, rule 27(iii) does not add a "without charge" qualifier after protective clothes; the text simply says "as necessary". Clause (v) speaks of surface workplaces of a belowground mine, recognising that surface sheds and offices also need suitable temperature.
Rule 28: dust, noxious gas, fumes and other impurities (belowground mines)
The employer of every belowground mine shall ensure that:
- (i) steps are taken to minimise emissions of any gas, fume, vapour or dust entering the air at any workplace, and to ensure that employees' exposure to respirable dust, gas, fume or vapour is limited to an extent reasonably practicable but, in any case, not exceeding the limits that are harmful to health; and
- (ii) no employee is required or allowed to enter any workplace or confined space until all practicable measures have been taken to remove noxious gas, fume, vapour or dust so as to bring levels within permissible limits.
The two clauses set a standard and a bar. The standard in (i) is reasonable practicability, capped by a hard ceiling (the limits harmful to health). The bar in (ii) is identical in concept to rule 24(iii) for factories. The maximum permissible limits for chemical and toxic substances are addressed in section 88 of the Code; see our sections 86 to 88 explainer.
Rule 29: artificial humidification (belowground mines)
The employer of every belowground mine shall ensure that:
| Clause | Duty |
|---|---|
| (i) | In any belowground mine or part of it, tests for relative humidity are carried out and recorded; if the level is harmful, it is artificially regulated so that humidification and temperature do not cause discomfort |
| (ii) | The water used is from public supply or another source of drinking water, or is purified before use |
| (iii) | Instruments for measuring and recording humidity and temperature are provided and maintained at appropriate locations |
| (iv) | Employees are trained to recognise symptoms which may lead to heat stress |
Compare rule 25 for factories. Rule 29 is shorter: it does not contain the detailed risk assessment, work-rest cycle and electrolyte provisions of rule 25(i)-(v), but it keeps the recorded tests, water quality, instruments and heat-stress recognition training.
Factory and mine rules side by side
| Topic | Factory rule | Mine rule |
|---|---|---|
| Cleanliness and hygiene | 22 | 26 (every mine) |
| Ventilation, temperature, humidity | 23 | 27 (belowground mines) |
| Dust, gas, fumes | 24 | 28 (belowground mines) |
| Artificial humidification | 25 | 29 (belowground mines) |
Opencast mines are covered by rule 26 but not by rules 27 to 29 as worded; the text of those rules addresses belowground mines. For other rules affecting all mines, read the safety committee and safety officer rules in our articles on rules 16 and 17 and rules 20 and 21. For the older mines framework, see our guide to Mines Act safety provisions and the DGMS framework.
Consequences
Rules 26 to 29 state no penalty of their own. Contravention is dealt with under the Code's penalty provisions; see our section 94 explainer. Ventilation and gas measurement records are among the first documents requested after a mine accident.
Practical examples
Example 1. An underground metal mine keeps a register at each air measurement station. Each shift's air quantity, temperature and humidity readings are entered and the entries are brought up to date, meeting rule 27(vi). The ventilation officer reviews them weekly.
Example 2. A belowground coal mine finds gas accumulation in a dead-end roadway. Under rule 28(ii) nobody is sent in until the ventilation has been restored and readings are within permissible limits. The manager records the measures and the readings.
Example 3. A deep mine uses humidification in one section. It tests and records humidity, draws water from the public supply, maintains hygrometers and trains workers to recognise heat-stress symptoms. This answers rule 29(i) to (iv).
Need help with mine health and ventilation compliance?
Measurement stations, registers and training records need to be in place before an inspection or an incident. Our labour law compliance team can help you test your systems against rules 26 to 29 and the Code.
Key takeaways
- Rule 26 sets eight cleanliness and hygiene duties for every mine.
- Rules 27 to 29 apply to belowground mines.
- Rule 27(vi) requires regular measurement of air quantity, temperature and humidity and up-to-date entries at each air measurement station.
- Rule 28 limits exposure to respirable dust, gas, fume and vapour and bars entry until levels are within permissible limits.
- Rule 29 requires recorded humidity tests, proper water, instruments and heat-stress training.
- State rules apply where the State is the appropriate Government.
Read next
- Rules 22 and 23: factory cleanliness, ventilation, temperature and humidity
- Rules 24 and 25: factory dust, fumes and artificial humidification
- Rules 30 to 32: construction work cleanliness, ventilation and dust
- Mines Act: safety provisions and the DGMS framework
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.