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49
Part VIII of the Act
Outwork

OFFICES, SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES ACT, 1963
The preamble to the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act
describes it as:—
"An Act to make fresh provision for securing the health, safety and
welfare for persons employed to work in office or shop premises and
provision for securing the health, safety and welfare of persons to work
in certain Railway Premises; to amend certain provisions of the Factories
Act, 1961;
The provisions of the Act relate, among other things, to overcrowding;
temperature; ventilation; lighting; sanitary conveniences; washing
facilities; drinking water; accommodation for clothing; seating; the
fencing of machinery and fire precautions. The Act applies generally to
all offices and shops and to most railway buildings and in addition its
provisions also cover those parts of premises that are occupied together
with the shop or office, i.e. stairs, passages, store rooms, entrances, etc.
It does not, however, apply to premises where only self-employed
people work, or where the only persons employed are the immediate
relatives of the employer.
A part of the Act came into operation during February, 1964, a part
during May, and with the exception of Sections 24, 26 and 83 (2) which
relates to first aid and Section 79 which concerns reports by the Minister,
the remaining sections came into operation on the 1st August.
The registration of premises as required by the Act proceeded during
the year and by the 31st December the register contained entries
relating to 1,638 establishments.
The most interesting feature of this Act is perhaps its application to
Offices. Office accommodation has not hitherto been covered by any
special legislation such as that relating to factories and the amenities to
provided, and a marked improvement in the standard of office
accommodation must result from this new piece of legislation.