Setting Up a Factory in Bangalore: Do We Need a Doctor on the Ambulance for Worker Safety?

Esteemed colleagues,

I am in the USA, and my company is establishing a production factory in Bangalore (>500 employees). We plan to have an on-site medical clinic, ambulance room, and on-site ambulance. My question is: Is there a requirement for a physician to be on board the ambulance while transporting an ill or injured worker to the hospital? I did not see anything regarding this in The Factories Act, 1948.

Your replies are greatly appreciated.

Dear Joseph,

You stated 500 employees; therefore, you need to have a medical officer appointed full-time. If possible, they can accompany an injured or ill person, but not necessarily always. It is an employee welfare point, so it need not be mentioned in the Factories Act for assistance by the company medical officer. In general, we expect such help to be rendered to an employee. On the flip side, you can have a trained first aider or first aiders who can assist you with these matters.

Dear Joseph, your office will have to maintain an Occupational Health Centre (OHC) if your production facility is in a hazardous industry, as per Sec 2(cb) of the Factories Act 1948. For hazardous industries with more than 500 employees, a regular Occupational Health Centre (OHC) needs to be established. Your office will also need to maintain an ambulance. You will be required to appoint a regular (full-time) Occupational Health Physician (OHP) as the designated Factory Medical Officer (FMO). The OHC should have one registered nurse and other nursing assistants and paramedics.

The OHC will provide primary/emergency treatment in case of an on-site medical emergency or accidental injury. The employee (patient) should be transferred to a secondary level healthcare facility (hospital) for further medical treatment.

As a rule of thumb, the OHP/FMO does not need to travel with the patient to the designated hospital. An OHC nursing assistant, paramedic, or a trained first aider may accompany the patient. Only in serious cases should the OHP accompany the patient to the hospital.

Your office will need to provide First Aid Training to some employees so that First Aiders are available throughout the work shifts.

Regards, Dr. Kamal Jain.