Section 28: Safe means of access and safe place of employment

(1) All floors, steps, stairs, passages, gangways and other parts of a structure or building used as a factory shall be of sound construction and properly maintained and kept safe at all times and before the construction of any factory, the building plans and such other documents as the Director of Factories may require, shall be submitted to him for approval not less than six months before the commencement of such construction.
(2) All openings in floors shall be securely fenced, except in so far as the nature of the work renders such fencing impracticable.
(3) There shall, so far as it is reasonably practicable, be provided and maintained in every factory safe means of access to every place at which any person has to be or work.
(4) For every staircase in a building or affording a means of exit from a building, a substantial handrail shall be provided and maintained, which, if the staircase has an open side, shall be on that side, and, in the case of a staircase having two open sides, such a handrail shall be provided and maintained on both sides; and any open side of a staircase shall also be guarded by the provision and maintenance of a lower rail or other effective means.
(5) All ladders shall be soundly constructed and properly maintained.
(6) Sufficient clear and unobstructed space shall be maintained at every machine while in motion to enable the work to be carried on without unnecessary risk.
(7) Where any person is to work at a place from which he will be liable to fall a distance more than two metres, then, unless the place is one which affords secure foothold and, where necessary, secure hand-hold, means shall be provided so far as is reasonably practicable, by fencing or otherwise for ensuring his safety.
(8) Every teagle opening or similar doorway used for hoisting or lowering goods or materials, whether by mechanical power or otherwise, shall be securely fenced, and shall-
(a) be provided with a secure hand-hold on each side of the opening or doorway; and
(b) be properly maintained and shall, except when the hoisting or lowering of goods or materials is being carried on at the opening or doorway, be kept in position.