OHC rules
What the law asks of your workplace health set-up, with the sections quoted.
- Sized to your workforce, hazards and shifts
- Built to the rules for your site
- Full turnkey or equipment supply only
OHC setup guide: all topics
- OHC setup (overview)
- Turnkey OHC setup
- OHC design and layout
- OHC rules and requirements
- OHC medical equipment
- OHC audit and upgrade
- OHC by industry
- OHC FAQ
Key requirements
| Rule | What it requires |
|---|---|
| Factories Act, 1948, s.45(1) | First-aid boxes or cupboards, readily accessible during working hours: not less than one for every 150 workers ordinarily employed |
| Factories Act, s.45(3) | Each box in the charge of a separate responsible person holding a first-aid certificate recognised by the State Government |
| Factories Act, s.45(4) | More than 500 workers ordinarily employed: an ambulance room of the prescribed size and equipment, in the charge of the prescribed medical and nursing staff |
| Factories Act, s.41C | Hazardous process: medical examination before a worker is assigned to work with a hazardous substance, then at intervals not exceeding 12 months |
| OSH Code, 2020, s.6(1)(c) and (g) | Free annual health examination for employees of the age or class prescribed by the government; no charge to employees for medical examinations |
| State Factories Rules (Karnataka Factories Rules, 1969 in Karnataka) | Detailed requirements: ambulance room size and equipment, occupational health centres, medical officers and staff |
What this means in practice
- Every factory: enough first-aid boxes for the workforce, each with a certified first-aider
- More than 500 workers: an ambulance room with prescribed size, equipment and medical and nursing staff
- Hazardous processes: pre-placement and periodic medical examinations, with health records
- All employers covered by the OSH Code: free annual health examinations for the prescribed employees, at no cost to them
The detailed size, staffing and equipment rules are in each state’s factories rules, and some industries (mines, oil and gas, major-hazard units) and client groups have their own standards. We map all of them for your site before design starts.
The OHC itself may need licences such as biomedical waste authorisation, and AERB registration if it has an X-ray unit. See healthcare licences.
Get a free OHC plan
Tell us your company, site location, industry, total workers and largest shift, whether you have hazardous processes, and whether you need a full turnkey OHC, design only, an upgrade or equipment only. We will suggest the right OHC size, layout and equipment list.
Frequently asked questions
How many first-aid boxes does a factory need?
When is an ambulance room required?
Do hazardous-process factories need regular medical examinations?
Does the OSH Code require annual health check-ups?
Which rules apply in Karnataka?
Planning an OHC?
Talk to Medasus Healthcare, Bengaluru. One team to plan, design, equip and hand over your occupational health centre, or to supply the equipment only.
Last reviewed on 7 November 2026 against: Factories Act, 1948 (DGFASLI copy); Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020; Model Rules under the Factories Act, 1948 (DGFASLI). Medasus Healthcare Pvt Ltd is a private consultancy and medical equipment supplier. Requirements vary by state, industry, process and client standards, and inspections and approvals are by the authorities; Medasus cannot guarantee approval. Check the rules that currently apply to your establishment before you build.
