Section 88: Interpretation.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
"article" includes any solid, liquid or gas, or any combination thereof;
"bodily injury" includes injury to health;
"building operation" means the construction, structural alteration, repair or maintenance of a building (including re-painting, re-decoration and external cleaning of the structure), the demolition of a building, and the preparation for, and laying the foundation of, an intended building but does not include any operation which is a work of engineering constructions within the meaning of this Act;
"class or description" in relation to factories, includes a group of factories described by reference to locality;
"contravention" includes, in relation to any provision, a failure to comply with that provision, and the expression "contravene" shall be construed accordingly;
"Director of Factories" means the Director of Factories of the Federation appointed under section 64 of this Act;
"driving belt" includes any driving strap or rope;
"fume" includes gas or vapour;
"Gazette" means official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
"general register" means the register kept in accordance with the requirements of section 58 of this Act;
"inspector" means an inspector appointed under Part IX of this Act;
"inspector of the district", in relation to any factory or other premises, means the inspector specified in the notice which by virtue of the provisions of paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 60 of this Act, is required to be kept posted in such factory or other premises;
"machinery" includes any driving-belt;
"maintained" means maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order, and in good repair;
"mine" has the same meaning as in Minerals and Mining Act;
[Cap. MI2.]
"Minister" means Minister charged with responsibility for labour matters;
"owner" means the person for the time being receiving the rents or profits of the premises in connection with which the word is used, whether on his own account or as the agent or trustee for any other person, or who would so receive the same if the premises were leased;
"prescribed" means prescribed by order of the Minister;
"prime movers" means every engine, motor or other appliance which provides mechanical energy derived from steam, water, wind, electricity, the combustion of fuel or other sources;
"quarry" means any place, excavation or working, other than a mine, wherever, wherein or whereby any operation in connection with the extraction of sand, stone, laterite or any similar materials is carried on;
"railway" means any railway used for the purposes of public traffic, whether passenger, goods or other traffic, and includes any works used in connection with and for such purposes;
"sanitary conveniences" includes urinals, water closets, earth-closets, privies, ashpits, and any similar conveniences;
"steam boiler" means any closed vessel in which for any purpose steam is generated under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, and includes any economiser used to heat water being fed to any such vessel, and any super-heater used for heating steam;
"transmission machinery" means every shaft, wheel, drum, pulley, system of fast and loose pulleys, coupling, clutch, driving-belt or other device by which the motion of a prime mover is transmitted to or received by any machine or appliance;
"work of engineering construction" means the construction of any railway line or siding, and the construction, structural alteration or repair (including painting and repainting) or the demolition of any dock, harbour, inland navigation, tunnel, bridge, viaduct, waterworks, reservoir, pipeline, aqueduct, sewer works, or gas holder, and includes such other works as may be prescribed.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, machinery or plant shall be deemed to have been constructed or reconstructed before the enactment of this Act or the making of regulations under this Act and a factory or building shall be deemed to have been constructed, reconstructed, extended, added to or converted for use as a factory, before the commencement of this Act if the construction, reconstruction, extension, addition or conversion was begun before the commencement of this Act or the making of regulations under this Act.
(3) For the purposes of this Act, mechanical power shall not be deemed to be used in a factory by reason only that mechanical power is used for the purpose of heating, ventilating or lighting the workroom or other parts of the factory.
(4) For the purposes of this Act, an apprentice shall be deemed to be a person employed.
(5) A person who has not attained the age of eighteen years and works in a factory, whether for wages or not, in collecting, carrying or delivering goods, carrying messages or running errands, shall be deemed to be employed in the factory for the purposes of this Act or of any proceedings thereunder.