Section 18 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.
Section 18 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (the OSH Code) lets the Central Government declare standards on occupational safety and health, by notification, for factories, mines, dock work, beedi and cigar premises, building and other construction work and other establishments. It lists what such standards must address and ties them to the Second Schedule.
The Central Government shall declare, by notification, standards on occupational safety and health for workplaces relating to factory, mine, dock work, beedi and cigar, building and other construction work and other establishments (section 18(1)). The standards relate in particular to the matters in 18(2)(a) to (f), including the Second Schedule matters. The Centre may amend the Second Schedule on the National Board's recommendation after notifying its intention for not less than forty-five days (18(3)). A State Government may amend the standards for its establishments only with the prior approval of the Central Government (18(4)).
What the standards must relate to (section 18(2))
The standards, "without prejudice to the generality" of 18(1), relate to:
| Clause | Subject |
|---|---|
| 18(2)(a) | Physical, chemical, biological and other hazards for the working life of the employee, so that, to the extent feasible on the available evidence or functional capacity, no employee suffers material impairment of health or functional capacity even with regular exposure |
| 18(2)(b) | Norms for: (i) appraising hazards; (ii) relevant symptoms, treatment and proper conditions and precautions of safe use or exposure; (iii) monitoring and measuring exposure; (iv) medical examination and other tests made available by the employer or at his cost to exposed employees; (v) hazard evaluation procedures such as safety audit, hazard and operability study, fault-tree analysis, event-tree analysis and similar requirements |
| 18(2)(c) | Medical examination including criteria for detection and reporting of occupational diseases, extended to employees even after they cease to be employed, if suffering from an occupational disease arising out of or in the course of employment |
| 18(2)(d) | Other aspects the Central Government considers necessary on the report of the authority it designates |
| 18(2)(e) | Safety and health measures required for the specific conditions at workplaces relating to mine, factory, building and other construction work, beedi and cigar, dock work or any other notified establishments |
| 18(2)(f) | Matters in the Second Schedule |
(The gazette scan prints the last two analysis terms with odd wording; we give the sense as read.)
Employers and industry bodies who want to know which standards are in force for their sector can get help from our labour law compliance service.
Amending the Second Schedule (18(3))
Notwithstanding section 131, the Central Government may, on the recommendation of the National Board and after notifying its intention for not less than forty-five days, amend the Second Schedule by notification. Two points follow:
- The Board's recommendation is a precondition; see section 16.
- The 45-day notice period gives employers and others a window to comment. Watch for such notices.
Our article on the Second Schedule covers its contents.
State amendment (18(4))
The State Government may, with the prior approval of the Central Government, amend the standards made under 18(1) and 18(2) for the establishments for which it is the appropriate Government in the State. A State cannot on its own make the standards weaker or stronger; the Centre must approve first. See section 17 for the State Board.
How standards link to other duties
Standards under section 18 are not stand-alone. They feed into:
- the employee's duty to comply with safety and health requirements in the standards (section 13(b));
- the employer's responsibility for health, safety and working conditions (section 23);
- emergency standards and permissible exposure limits dealt with later in the Code; see sections 86 to 88.
The text of section 18 does not itself set any numerical limit. A reader looking for a specific exposure limit or procedure must find it in the notified standard, the Central Rules, 2026 or the State rules, as applicable. The Central Rules, 2026 contain provisions on matters such as cleanliness, ventilation and welfare (for instance Rules 22 and 23 for factories), but we do not treat the Rules as the standards notified under section 18 unless a notification says so.
Example. A chemical plant employs workers exposed to a solvent for years. A notified standard under 18(2)(b) could require exposure monitoring and periodic medical examination at the employer's cost. Under 18(2)(c), the examination could continue after the worker leaves if he develops an occupational disease linked to the work. The employer should therefore keep exposure records and health files for ex-employees who were exposed.
Need help with OSH standards and audits?
Whether a standard applies to your sector, and whether your safety audit and exposure records meet it, are matters that turn on the notification in force. Our labour law compliance team can help you identify the standards, rules and State amendments that apply to each establishment.
Key takeaways
- The Central Government declares OSH standards by notification for factories, mines, dock work, beedi and cigar, construction and other establishments.
- Standards cover hazards, exposure monitoring, medical examination (including after employment ends), hazard evaluation and the Second Schedule matters.
- The Second Schedule can be amended only on the National Board's recommendation after at least 45 days' notice.
- A State may amend standards for its establishments only with the Central Government's prior approval.
- Employees must comply with the standards (section 13(b)).
Read next
- Section 17: State Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Board
- Sections 19 and 20: research activities and safety and occupational health surveys
- Second Schedule: matters for OSH standards
- Section 23: employer responsibility for health, safety and working conditions
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.