FACTORIES ACT
Act · Labour
An Act sets standards for safety in Nigerian factories, including machinery and working conditions. It targets factory owners, workers, and inspectors to prevent accidents and health risks. This protects employees from industrial hazards.
FACTORIES ACT
What Is This Policy?
The principal occupational health and safety legislation for Nigerian factories and industrial workplaces, prescribing standards for machinery safety, hazardous substances, working conditions, and accident reporting.
Who Does It Target?
Factory owners and operators Workers in industrial and manufacturing premises Factory inspectors in the Ministry of Labour Occupational health and safety professionals
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Protect factory workers from industrial injuries, occupational diseases, and unsafe working conditions by setting minimum legal standards for factory design, equipment, and operations.
Key Features
Machinery Safety: Requires guarding of dangerous moving parts and prescribes safe procedures for maintaining machinery. Hazardous Substances: Regulates use of toxic chemicals and requires exposure monitoring and protective equipment. Working Environment: Sets standards for lighting, ventilation, sanitation, and overcrowding in factory premises. Accident Reporting: Requires immediate reporting of serious injuries and fatal accidents to factory inspectors.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Active Coverage: All factories and industrial workplaces nationwide Beneficiaries: Factory workers; occupational safety system Funding: Federal Government
How to Access
All factories must register with the Ministry of Labour Factory Inspectorate Comply with periodic factory inspections Report accidents causing serious injury or death within 7 days Application method: Factory registration at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Important Terms
Failure to guard dangerous machinery is an immediate criminal offence Employers must maintain accident books recording all workplace injuries Inspectors may issue prohibition notices stopping operations immediately if imminent danger is found
Official Resources
Website: https://www.labour.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment — Factory Inspectorate Division
Legal Framework
Enacted under the legislative powers of the National Assembly as the Factories Act (Cap F1 LFN 2004), the principal occupational safety statute for industrial workplaces. Operates alongside the Employees Compensation Act 2010, the Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004), the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Act 2007, and the Petroleum Industry Act for oil facilities. Aligns with ILO Convention No. 155 on Occupational Safety and Health.